Vietnam Joins SelectUSA Summit Led by Finance Chief

Vietnam’s Strategic Play: Why the 2025 SelectUSA Summit Marks a Turning Point in U.S. Investment Ties
The global investment landscape is shifting, and Vietnam isn’t just watching—it’s elbowing its way to the front row. The country’s decision to send its largest-ever delegation to the 2025 SelectUSA Investment Summit (May 11–14, National Harbor, Maryland) isn’t just a RSVP; it’s a calculated power move. With 120+ Vietnamese businesses—from tech startups to rice exporters—packing their briefcases, this isn’t mere networking. It’s Vietnam’s loudest statement yet about betting big on the U.S. market. But what’s fueling this sudden spending spree of diplomatic capital? Let’s dissect the receipts.
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The SelectUSA Summit: Vietnam’s Golden Ticket

Forget Davos—SelectUSA is where the real money talks. As the U.S. government’s flagship investment promo event, it’s a four-day schmooze-fest where global CEOs rub shoulders with state governors, all vying for a slice of America’s $25 trillion GDP pie. Vietnam’s delegation, led by Finance Minister Nguyen Van Thang, isn’t just window-shopping. They’re here to cut deals, particularly in sectors where Vietnam holds aces:
– Tech & Software: With Vietnam’s IT exports hitting $136 billion in 2023 (up 12% YoY), firms like FPT Software are eyeing U.S. cloud-computing contracts.
– Agri-Trade: The U.S. already slurps up 30% of Vietnam’s shrimp exports. Now, companies like Vinh Hoan Corp want FDA approvals for ready-to-eat rice dishes.
– Manufacturing: Post-China supply chain drama? Vietnamese electric vehicle upstart VinFast is already building a $2B factory in North Carolina.
But here’s the kicker: SelectUSA isn’t just about signing MOUs. It’s Vietnam’s crash course in navigating the U.S.’s regulatory obstacle course—think FDA labeling laws, Buy American clauses, and that infamous Section 301 tariffs.
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Why the U.S.? Vietnam’s Love-Hate Calculus

Sure, America’s consumer market is juicy ($18 trillion in spending power), but Vietnam’s courtship isn’t just about dollars. It’s about survival.

Yet, the U.S. market isn’t all free samples. Vietnamese firms are sweating over:
– Regulatory Quicksand: One mislabeled seafood shipment can trigger an FDA ban (ask Indian spice exporters).
– Labor Costs: Paying $15/hour in Texas vs. $150/month in Hanoi? Ouch.
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The Delegation’s Game Plan: More Than Just Name Tags

Vietnam’s 120+ delegates aren’t just wandering the summit’s coffee stations. They’ve got a battle plan:
Sector-Specific Raids
– Tech Squad: Hunting for joint ventures with AWS and Google Cloud to dodge China-style data localization laws.
– Farm Mafia: Persuading Kroger and Walmart to swap Brazilian coffee for Vietnamese robusta (cheaper, 50% more caffeine—what’s not to love?).
Regulatory Bootcamp
The U.S. Department of Commerce is hosting a “Doing Business in America” workshop exclusively for Vietnamese attendees. Translation: “Here’s how not to get sued.”
The Elon Effect
VinFast’s rocky U.S. launch (recall: cars catching fire, stocks crashing 80%) is a cautionary tale. This time, they’re bringing compliance officers, not just sales brochures.
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The Verdict: Vietnam’s Make-or-Break Moment

The 2025 SelectUSA Summit isn’t another trade junket—it’s Vietnam’s audition for the big leagues. Success means locking in U.S. supply chain contracts before Thailand or Indonesia can undercut them. Failure? Getting stuck as America’s backup plan while China retools.
But here’s the twist: America needs Vietnam too. From rare earth minerals (Vietnam has the world’s second-largest reserves) to cheap microchips (Intel’s $1.5B Ho Chi Minh City plant), this isn’t a one-way courtship. As U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo quipped last month, “Vietnam isn’t the next China—it’s the first Vietnam.”
One thing’s clear: When that Maryland summit wraps up, Vietnam’s delegation better have more than just free pens to show for it. The real prize? A seat at the table where the rules of global trade are rewritten—no tariffs attached.