The Da Nang Investment Forum 2025 took place today at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore, gathering nearly 200 government leaders, investors, and financial experts. The forum highlighted Da Nang’s ambitious plan to become a leading financial hub in Southeast Asia and reaffirmed Vietnam’s strong commitment to regulatory innovation and global collaboration.
The event was jointly organised by the People’s Committee of Da Nang City and Terne Holdings, and was part of Da Nang’s high-level delegation visit to Singapore. The visit aims to deepen economic ties between the two countries and attract fresh investments from Singaporean and international businesses looking to tap into Vietnam’s growing economy.
The forum opened with remarks from H.E. Nguyen Van Quang, Secretary of the Da Nang Municipal Party Committee and Head of the National Assembly Delegation of Da Nang City. H.E. Tran Phuoc Anh, Ambassador of Vietnam to Singapore, also delivered opening remarks, focusing on Da Nang’s economic transformation and its investor-friendly policies. He also highlighted the city’s importance in Vietnam’s broader financial development strategy.
Moderated by Dr. Chua Hak Bin, Co-Head of Macro Research at Maybank, the forum’s panel discussion allowed participants to hear directly from Da Nang’s leadership. The session offered valuable insights into the city’s business-friendly environment and future development plans, giving investors a closer look at why Da Nang is emerging as a top investment destination.
Da Nang’s strategy to become Vietnam’s next economic centre
Da Nang, one of Vietnam’s six centrally governed cities, has already earned a reputation as a rising regional economic hub. The city’s development is fuelled by strong infrastructure, innovative industries, and supportive government policies designed to encourage foreign investment.
Central to Da Nang’s economic strategy are two key projects—the Da Nang International Financial Centre (DNIFC) and the Da Nang Free Trade Zone (DNFTZ). These projects aim to strengthen the city’s position at the heart of ASEAN’s economic network. With its prime location and supportive business climate, Da Nang hopes to attract global financial institutions, asset managers, and fintech companies seeking entry into Southeast Asia’s rapidly growing markets.
H.E. Tran Phuoc Anh, Ambassador of Vietnam to Singapore, emphasised this point in his welcome remarks. “Da Nang is rapidly developing and actively embracing scientific advancements to drive its growth. As Vietnam pursues its ambition of becoming an international financial centre in Southeast Asia, Da Nang plays a crucial role in realising this vision by creating value-driven opportunities in the financial sector.” He also pointed out that Singapore, already one of Vietnam’s largest investors, is set to further strengthen this relationship. Both nations are aiming to grow their bilateral trade by 10% each year, targeting a trade volume of over US$31 billion in the near future.
Da Nang’s attractiveness to global investors is underpinned by its excellent connectivity. The city has direct air links to more than 15 countries, and its international airport is poised to become even more important when the upcoming Lien Chieu Port is completed. This new port is expected to serve as a critical transshipment hub for Vietnam.
The city’s focus on innovation and high technology also plays a key role in its investment appeal. Da Nang has already positioned itself as a leader in sectors such as high-tech manufacturing, artificial intelligence, blockchain, and semiconductor production. It is home to one of Vietnam’s three national high-tech parks, reinforcing its reputation as a technology-driven economy.
Adding to this appeal is Da Nang’s reputation as a desirable place to live. Forbes has recognised it as one of the world’s top beach destinations, combining a high-quality living environment with policies that actively welcome foreign investment. This combination of work-life balance and strong business support makes Da Nang a rare find for global businesses and talent.
Da Nang International Financial Centre and free trade zone to reshape economy
One of the forum’s key announcements was the progress of the Da Nang International Financial Centre, which received Politburo approval in November 2024. The centre is expected to play a critical role in Vietnam’s evolving financial landscape, acting as a hub for international trade, sustainable finance, and innovative digital economy initiatives.
The financial centre will focus on enabling cross-border investments, fostering green finance, and supporting capital markets that align with Vietnam’s goals for responsible economic development. It will also create a regulatory sandbox for emerging fintech solutions, including blockchain innovations, AI-driven financial services, and digital payments. Additionally, it will host a dedicated exchange for commodity trading, covering key sectors like agriculture, minerals, and metals.
The financial centre will occupy a 6.17-hectare prime site and offer a mix of luxury office spaces, fintech incubation hubs, and tailored investment services. There are also plans to expand the site to 62 hectares, which would significantly increase its capacity to attract global financial players.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Andy Khoo, General Director of Terne Holdings, said, “Da Nang’s strategic location near key trade routes of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), along with its proximity to Tien Sa and Lien Chieu ports, positions it as a natural hub for trade finance. SMEs in ASEAN, one of the most underserved markets, face an annual unmet trade finance demand of US$200 billion. DNIFC can bridge this gap by introducing innovative trade finance solutions and enabling seamless cross-border capital movement. Today’s event marks a significant opportunity for Da Nang to capitalise on this potential.”
At the same time, the Da Nang Free Trade Zone is set to become a game-changer for Vietnam’s trade and logistics sector. As Vietnam’s first pilot free trade zone, DNFTZ will drive the development of high-value exports, smart logistics, and next-generation manufacturing industries.
The zone will focus on industries such as semiconductors, biotechnology, medical devices, and renewable energy, aligning with global demand for advanced manufacturing. Its seamless integration with Lien Chieu Port and Da Nang Airport will improve Vietnam’s regional trade links and supply chain efficiency. The zone will also create a specialised ecosystem to support AI, cloud computing, e-commerce, and blockchain innovation, helping to drive Vietnam’s digital economy forward.
These combined developments, supported by strong government backing and favourable policies, will cement Da Nang’s position as a strategic investment gateway in the Asia-Pacific region.
The forum also underscored the growing financial collaboration between Vietnam and Singapore. Both countries recently reached an in-principle agreement to form a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which will focus heavily on banking, fintech, and green finance.
H.E. Tran Phuoc Anh highlighted this collaboration, stating, “Vietnam and Singapore share a strong and dynamic financial partnership, built on mutual trust and a shared vision for sustainable economic growth. As Singapore continues to serve as a key financial gateway for ASEAN, enhanced collaboration in banking, fintech, and green finance will unlock new investment opportunities and drive innovation across our financial sectors.”
He added, “By deepening our cooperation, we can accelerate Vietnam’s financial integration into global markets, strengthen regulatory frameworks, and create a resilient, future-ready financial ecosystem that benefits businesses and investors in both nations.”
With strong government support, ambitious development plans, and growing interest from global investors, Da Nang is well on its way to becoming a key financial hub in Southeast Asia, opening the door to new economic opportunities for both Vietnam and Singapore.
