VIPC Summit 2025: Vietnam’s Innovation & Investment Vision

On April 22, 2025, the Vietnam Innovation and Private Capital Summit (VIPC Summit 2025) officially took place at the National Convention Center in Hanoi under the theme “Fostering Innovation, Unlocking Private Capital, and Propelling Vietnam into a New Growth Era.”

1. Vietnam Gathers Global Capital to Drive Innovation-Led Growth

Gathering over 1,000 delegates, including investors from Asia, the Gulf region, and Europe, the event featured major global investment funds and financial institutions such as CDH Investments, Partech Ventures, Temasek, Do Ventures, Golden Gate Ventures, VinaCapital, and Mekong Capital. The summit reaffirmed its role as a strategic platform bridging the public and private sectors, aiming to channel private capital into Vietnam’s key innovation-driven industries.

The event was co-hosted by the National Innovation Center (NIC), the Ministry of Finance, and the Vietnam Private Capital Development Association (VPCA), with the support of Golden Gate Ventures and Do Ventures. It marked a pivotal moment in Vietnam’s journey to become Southeast Asia’s leading innovation and private capital hub.

With the goal of mobilizing USD 35 billion in private investment for Vietnam by 2035, the VPCA has been actively advancing global standards, enhancing industry capabilities, and driving value creation across the ecosystem.

The opening session featured the Deputy Prime Minister and representatives from key ministries such as the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance. Government leaders delivered strong messages reaffirming Vietnam’s commitment to creating a stable, transparent, and innovation-friendly investment environment—particularly for high-tech startups and enterprises.

Throughout the day, the summit hosted in-depth sessions addressing global investment trends and high-growth sectors, including fintech & green finance; investing in early-stage digital startups, particularly in AI & deep tech, automation, and high-tech agriculture; accelerating the digitalization of fragmented traditional sectors; renewable energy; developing smart infrastructure and digital public services in secondary cities; and impact investing & ESG. 

2. Regional Cooperation and Milestone Agreements

One of the most significant highlights was the signing of bilateral Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between NIC and three major Asian private capital organizations:

• Korea Venture Capital Association (KVCA).
• Singapore Venture & Private Capital Association (SVCA)
• Hong Kong Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (HKVCA).

Together, these associations manage over USD 5 trillion in assets. This marks the first time leading private capital bodies from Asia have formed a coordinated investment bloc. According to the MoUs, the parties will collaborate to:

1. Promote co-investment opportunities between Vietnam, Korea, Singapore, and Hong Kong (China).
2. Support startup expansion and talent mobility.
3. Enhance access to training, policy forums, and innovation events.
4. Launch joint advocacy efforts to harmonize legal frameworks across markets.

3. Insights, Impact, and a Vision for 2035

The “Vietnam Innovation and Private Capital 2025” report—jointly developed by NIC, VPCA, and Boston Consulting Group (BCG)—was also released during the event. Spanning over 100 pages, the report outlines a comprehensive landscape of Vietnam’s innovation economy during a transformative growth phase where science, technology, and innovation are key to shaping the country’s future. Key insights include:

• AI startups received USD 80 million in investment in 2024, an 8x increase from 2023 (USD 10 million).
• AgriTech funding grew 9x, from USD 8 million in 2023 to USD 74 million in 2024.
• USD 2.3 billion in innovation investment was disbursed through 141 deals in 2024.
• Digital economy contributed 18.3% of GDP, aiming for 35% by 2030
• Although total private capital dropped by 35%, the number of active venture capital funds rose to nearly 150, mainly from Singapore, Japan, and Vietnam. Notably, deals under USD 500,000 increased by 73%, indicating a strong rebound in the early-stage startup ecosystem.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyễn Chí Dũng, in his remark, called on key stakeholders across the innovation ecosystem—especially investors and startups—to pursue several strategic actions:

1. Continue proposing institutional and policy reforms that support a vibrant private capital market in Vietnam, with a focus on emerging and strategic technologies.
2. Utilize forums like VIPC Summit to establish concrete partnerships and align on mutual investment priorities.
3. Empower ministries, research institutes, universities, and innovation centers to actively create open platforms for investment, collaboration, and startup growth.

The direction set forth by VIPC Summit 2025 demonstrates Vietnam’s bold strategic commitment to innovation-led growth and its readiness to collaborate across sectors. The government pledges to support and create the most favorable conditions for all stakeholders, including global investors, technology enterprises, and startups, to thrive.

For international business communities, venture capital funds, and innovation-oriented enterprises, Vietnam is no longer just an emerging market—it is an emerging innovation hub with a clear vision, strong policy backing, and a collaborative ecosystem ready to scale.

VIPCS, formerly known as the Vietnam Venture Summit, was launched in 2019 by the Ministry of Planning and Investment (now the Ministry of Finance) in collaboration with Golden Gate Ventures. Its original aim was to place Vietnam’s tech startup ecosystem on the global investment map. As it evolved into VIPCS, the summit expanded its scope to encompass innovation funds, private equity, and financial institutions, reflecting Vietnam’s rapid economic development and growing appeal as an investment destination. This leading driving force behind VIPCS’s broader impact lies in the strategic coordination of the Vietnam Private Capital Association (VPCA). This leading organization brings together top venture capital and private equity firms with deep experience in developing Vietnam’s private capital ecosystem and international investment networks.

Read more: Ho Chi Minh (HCM)—From A Startup Hub to the Leading Service-oriented City

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