VCCI President Ho Sy Hung speaks at the Maekyung Vietnam Forum 2026.

This was highlighted by VCCI President Ho Sy Hung at the Maekyung Vietnam Forum 2026, held on May 20 in Ho Chi Minh City.

Speaking at the forum, the VCCI President noted that after 34 years of diplomatic relations (1992–2026), cooperation between Vietnam and South Korea has made remarkable progress and has been elevated to a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership" - the highest level of bilateral relations.

According to the VCCI President, South Korea remains Vietnam’s largest foreign investor. As of the end of March 2026, South Korea had 10,447 active projects in Vietnam with total registered capital reaching US$98.9 billion, accounting for over 23% of total projects and 18% of total registered FDI capital in the country.

Investment flows have concentrated on key sectors including manufacturing and processing industries, high technology, electronics, automobiles and auto parts, construction and real estate.

In trade, bilateral turnover reached US$89.49 billion in 2025. In the first three months of 2026 alone, two-way trade reached US$26.9 billion, representing a 30% increase compared to the same period last year. South Korea is currently Vietnam's third-largest trading partner, while Vietnam has become South Korea's fourth-largest trading partner.

The VCCI President noted that bilateral relations have continued to strengthen through a series of high-level visits. Among these, the State visit to South Korea by General Secretary and President To Lam in August 2025 was considered an important milestone in strengthening political trust between the two countries.

Subsequently, in April 2026, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and a delegation of major corporations paid a State visit to Vietnam. According to the VCCI President, the visit opened a new chapter in bilateral cooperation while shaping long-term strategic directions under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework.

Both sides agreed to promote cooperation based on three key pillars: high-tech industries; sustainable investment with deeper linkages to domestic enterprises; and science and technology, particularly innovation, digital transformation and emerging technologies.

Vietnam is an open and dynamic economy and is considered a gateway to ASEAN through its FTA network connecting more than 60 economies worldwide. The country is also targeting double-digit economic growth in the coming years.

Maekyung Vietnam Forum 2026.

According to VCCI leadership, South Korean FDI is now expanding beyond high-tech industries and increasingly entering strategic energy infrastructure sectors.

This trend is expected to strengthen Vietnam's role in global supply chains while supporting energy transition and improving the economy's resilience and self-reliance.

The VCCI President reaffirmed that VCCI will continue serving as a bridge between Vietnamese businesses and international partners, supporting enterprises in global economic integration, assisting localities in attracting high-quality investment capital and promoting sustainable development.

He also called on South Korean businesses to further expand investment in Vietnam in key sectors such as green finance, digital transformation, semiconductor technology, green energy, circular energy and smart transportation infrastructure.

The Maekyung Vietnam Forum 2026 attracted more than 250 delegates, including leaders of major Vietnamese and South Korean corporations and businesses operating in innovation, finance and banking, investment, chemicals and healthcare.

The event was organized by South Korea's Maekyung Media Group in collaboration with VCCI and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), with support from South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), the Korea Federation of SMEs (KBIZ), and sponsorship from Maritime Commercial Joint Stock Bank (MSB).

Under the theme "Korea–Vietnam: Moving Forward Together for National Development," the forum focused on sectors including semiconductors, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, digital transformation, energy transition and advanced manufacturing.

These areas are expected to further strengthen the strategic partnership between Vietnam and South Korea amid major global supply chain restructuring and rapid technological advancement.

Business networking and exchange sessions were also designed to create momentum for new bilateral projects and investments, while participants discussed Vietnam's investment environment and regional economic opportunities.

This also marked the first time the Maekyung Forum returned to Vietnam since 2017, at a time when global supply chains are undergoing significant restructuring and Vietnam is emerging as one of ASEAN's most dynamic economic centers.