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LG Innotek selects DEEP C Hai Phong 2 for US$1 billion semiconductor project

LG Innotek selects DEEP C Hai Phong 2 for US$1 billion semiconductor project

Occupying approximately 32 ha Hai Phong Free Trade Zone in Đình Vũ – Cát Hải Economic Zone, currently being developed by Hải Phòng City, the new facility is expected to become one of LG Innotek's key global manufacturing bases for advanced semiconductor solutions.

HẢI PHÒNG — LG Innotek has selected DEEP C Hai Phong 2 industrial zone for its new US$1 billion semiconductor substrate manufacturing complex, marking the company's first semiconductor production facility outside South Korea.

The investment certificate for the project was officially presented to LG Innotek Vietnam Hai Phong Co Ltd during a ceremony announcing Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng’s decisions on Hải Phòng's economic zones and the launch of the Hải Phòng Free Trade Zone on July 30, 2026.

Occupying approximately 32ha, Hai Phong Free Trade Zone in Đình Vũ – Cát Hải Economic Zone is currently being developed by Hải Phòng City. The new facility is expected to become one of LG Innotek's key global manufacturing bases for advanced semiconductor solutions.

The new project at DEEP C Hai Phong 2 is entirely separate from LG Innotek Vietnam Hai Phong's existing camera module manufacturing complex. The investment represents a significant strategic expansion from camera module assembly into semiconductor substrates and packaging materials – critical components in the global semiconductor value chain.

The new facility will manufacture three core product lines designed to support next-generation telecommunications and artificial intelligence applications. These include semiconductor substrates for RF communication modules used in smartphones and wearable devices; substrates connecting memory chips and processors in mobile devices; and high-value substrates for CPUs, GPUs and server systems.

According to the latest implementation schedule, construction is set to begin in the third quarter of 2026, pilot production is expected in the third quarter of 2027, and mass production is scheduled to commence in the third quarter of 2028.

In addition to its manufacturing operations, the project will also include factory, office and warehouse leasing facilities to support the broader semiconductor ecosystem.

Beyond its investment scale, the project's most significant feature lies in its production of high-end semiconductor substrates, often described as the hidden backbone of AI servers, data centres, smartphones, autonomous vehicles and other next-generation technologies that are reshaping industries worldwide.

LG Innotek's decision to establish its $1 billion semiconductor project in Hải Phòng is expected to further strengthen the LG Group's high-tech manufacturing ecosystem in Việt Nam while reinforcing the city's position as an emerging hub in the global semiconductor value chain.

"This is a very encouraging development," said Bruno Jaspaert, CEO of DEEP C Industrial Zones.

"The fact that a global company like LG Innotek once again selected Hải Phòng to be the hometown for its newest investment demonstrates its strong confidence in the city's long-term growth potential.

"We are equally proud that LG has selected DEEP C as the location for this landmark project."

According to Jaspaert, the project's significance extends beyond its $1 billion value.

"The most important message is not the size of the investment itself, but LG's decision to continue investing in Hải Phòng. Companies only expand where they have confidence in the long-term prospects of the location," he said.

Park Hong Keun, general director of LG Innotek Vietnam Hai Phong, described Hải Phòng as one of Việt Nam's most competitive and promising investment destinations.

"Highly skilled human resources, an open investment environment and close cooperation between the government, local authorities and businesses have created strong momentum for the city's sustainable development," he said.

"As a trusted long-term partner of Hải Phòng, LG Innotek will continue expanding its investment, creating quality employment opportunities, attracting talent and contributing to the city's sustainable growth."

For DEEP C, supporting the growth of both LG Innotek and Hải Phòng is particularly meaningful. Jaspaert believes that DEEP C's integrated infrastructure, services and long-term commitment to sustainable industrial development have also contributed to LG's decision to expand its presence in the city.

Free Trade Zone expected to strengthen Hải Phòng's investment appeal

Việt Nam has yet to establish a fully operational free trade zone, making Hải Phòng's pioneering initiative a milestone with significant potential. The new model is expected to enhance the city's competitiveness in attracting international investment by creating a more favourable business environment.

"In my view, the benefits of the Free Trade Zone extend far beyond investor attraction," Jaspaert said.

According to him, an attractive policy framework that helps attract international experts, highly skilled professionals and qualified workers will significantly strengthen Hải Phòng's competitiveness compared to other locations in the region.

Competition for talent is becoming increasingly intense. Creating an environment where highly qualified people choose to live, work and build their careers in Hải Phòng is just as important as attracting investment, he said.

"That is what I value most about the Free Trade Zone, because it is designed not only to support businesses, but also to create a better place for people to live and work.

"If Hải Phòng successfully implements this model, I believe the city will enter a new phase of accelerated growth," he added.

Jaspaert said the free trade zone will give international investors greater confidence to make investment decisions more quickly. When companies think of a Free Trade Zone in Việt Nam, Hải Phòng should become their first choice.

The Hải Phòng Free Trade Zone (Locations 2 and 3), which encompasses Lạch Huyện Port, DEEP C Hai Phong 2 Industrial Park and DEEP C Hai Phong 3 Industrial Park, spans 3,369ha.

The zone was established by the Hải Phòng People's Committee under Decision No 4068/QĐ-UBND dated 13 October 2025, pursuant to the pilot special mechanisms authorised by the National Assembly under Resolution No 226/2025/QH15.


Source: vietnamnews.vn

Photo: Photo courtesy of the firm

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Rethinking productivity to drive a new growth model

Rethinking productivity to drive a new growth model

The combination of traditional tools and modern technologies is enabling many Vietnamese enterprises to make significant breakthroughs, helping build a modern productivity and quality ecosystem and driving a new growth model.

HÀ NỘI —Amid rapid changes in the global and domestic economies, productivity and quality in the new era are no longer simply about expanding scale or optimising costs. Instead, they increasingly depend on the ability to harness technology and data while pursuing sustainable development.

The combination of traditional tools and modern technologies is enabling many Vietnamese enterprises to achieve substantial productivity gains, helping build a modern productivity and quality ecosystem and driving a new growth model.

As Việt Nam accelerates the development of science and technology, innovation and digital transformation, this transition is creating both opportunities and challenges, said Nguyễn Nam Hải, chairman of the Commission for the Standards, Metrology and Quality of Việt Nam (STAMEQ).

Renewing the growth model based on higher productivity and quality has therefore become an urgent priority, he said. A new mindset is needed, with productivity measured not only by output but also by the value generated through innovation, the efficiency of resource utilisation and the sustainable value created for society.

This provides a strategic foundation for advancing the dual digital and green transition, helping enterprises strengthen their competitiveness and contributing to Việt Nam’s efforts to realise its development vision through 2045.

Việt Nam is moving towards a productivity and quality ecosystem that places enterprises at the centre and addresses practical management challenges.

To develop this ecosystem, enterprises need to adopt technologies and practices such as AI, big data, ISO 56001-based innovation management, digital traceability and environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards, alongside management tools that can be applied directly to production and business operations to optimise resources and improve international competitiveness.

Hải said institutional reform, technology adoption, digital transformation and advanced management tools would help raise national productivity and support a new growth model.

According to productivity experts, AI, the Internet of Things (IoT) and Big Data are becoming core technologies for transforming production management. They offer opportunities to raise productivity, improve product quality, strengthen competitiveness and enable enterprises to participate more deeply in global supply chains. Business decisions are increasingly supported by scientific analysis rather than relying primarily on experience, improving management accuracy and efficiency.

The integration of AI, IoT and Big Data is also accelerating the shift from traditional, experience-based production towards smart manufacturing. To make effective use of these technologies, however, enterprises need to invest in digital infrastructure, establish standardised data systems, develop digitally skilled workforces and adopt management systems based on international standards.

Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Lê Xuân Định said digital transformation and AI have brought profound changes worldwide. Technology is not only improving productivity, but also transforming management, quality control and market connectivity.

As markets impose stricter requirements for transparency, product quality, traceability and compliance, adopting digital platforms and AI has become essential to building a new growth model, he added.

New drivers of productivity growth

Hải said Việt Nam is stepping up investment in standards, productivity and quality infrastructure. Developing a strong cadre of productivity and quality experts, strengthening communications and scaling up model productivity initiatives nationwide are among the key priorities.

STAMEQ is also expanding international cooperation, leveraging the Asian Productivity Organization network and global certification bodies to strengthen Vietnamese enterprises’ capacity for international integration in productivity and standards.

In coordination with ministries, sectors and localities, STAMEQ will carry out measures to renew productivity and build a modern productivity and quality ecosystem through 2030. The aim is to maximise opportunities arising from digital transformation and international integration, making productivity and quality a central driver of economic growth.

Nguyễn Tùng Lâm, director of the Vietnam Productivity Institute, said digital transformation would be one of the most important drivers of labour productivity growth over the coming decade. Digital management platforms can help enterprises monitor production processes, optimise supply chains and ensure quality from the outset.

Meanwhile, ESG is emerging as a new measure of the quality of corporate development and an increasingly important requirement for export markets, investment funds and global supply chains.

ESG practices can help Vietnamese enterprises meet international standards while combining productivity improvements with green transformation and international integration in pursuit of sustainable development.

Apartment prices ease in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City but remain high

Apartment prices ease in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City but remain high

After a prolonged period of rising prices, Vietnam’s real estate market saw a downward adjustment in the secondary segment in the second quarter of 2026.

However, housing and land prices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City remained high, while market liquidity declined and inventories continued to rise, according to the Ministry of Construction.

Secondary apartment prices fall

Vietnam’s secondary apartment market showed a clearer downward adjustment in the second quarter of 2026, with prices nationwide falling from the first quarter, according to the Ministry of Construction.

Despite the decline, apartment prices in major cities remained high.

In Hanoi, secondary apartments averaged around VND123 million (US$4,710) per square meter.

Prices ranged from VND133-140 million ($5,090-5,360) per square meter at Hateco Laroma, VND97-103 million ($3,710-3,940) at Bamboo Airways Tower, and VND80-87 million ($3,060-3,330) at Sunshine Garden.

In Ho Chi Minh City, the average secondary apartment price stood at around VND108 million ($4,130) per square meter.

Masteri Thao Dien was priced at VND114-120 million ($4,360-4,590) per square meter, Cantavil An Phu at VND80-89 million ($3,060-3,410), and An Gia Skyline at VND64-72 million ($2,450-2,760).

High apartment prices have also spread to neighboring markets such as Hung Yen Province in the northern region, where the average reached VND69 million ($2,640) per square meter.

At the Ecopark urban area, Sol Forest apartments were priced at VND65-85 million ($2,490-3,250) per square meter, while Sky Oasis ranged from VND55-70 million ($2,110-2,680).

Dinh Minh Tuan, southern regional director of Batdongsan.com.vn, toldTuoi Tre(Youth) online newspaper that apartment prices could come under downward pressure of five to seven percent whenever bank lending rates increase.

From 2021 to 2024, when interest rates remained high at 14-16 percent, apartment prices in Ho Chi Minh City fell by five to seven percent, he said.

When interest rates began easing in 2025, apartment prices rebounded rapidly. Over the past year, prices in the city surged 22.5 percent, offsetting the declines recorded in previous years.

Villa, land prices decline

Compared with apartments, land plots in property developments recorded a more pronounced decline.

Apartment prices ease in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City but remain high- Ảnh 1.

Secondary land prices nationwide fell by around two to three percent from the previous quarter, bringing the average asking price down to VND40 million ($1,530) per square meter.

In Ho Chi Minh City, land prices fell nearly three percent to an average of around VND66 million ($2,530) per square meter.

Prices at many projects declined by three to six percent, particularly for high-value properties. Despite the drop, land prices remained high.

In Hanoi, land at the Dai Kim-Dinh Cong new urban area was priced at VND105-160 million ($4,020-6,120) per square meter, while Cienco 5 Me Linh ranged from VND40-56 million ($1,530-2,140).

In Ho Chi Minh City, Van Phuc City was priced at VND100-150 million ($3,830-5,740) per square meter, while Rio Vista ranged from VND95-110 million ($3,640-4,210).

Villa and townhouse prices also declined amid weak liquidity, although prices remained high, according to the Ministry of Construction.

In Hanoi, Sunshine Riverside was priced at VND390-440 million ($14,930-16,840) per square meter, while Louis City ranged from VND285-292 million ($10,910-11,180).

In Ho Chi Minh City, prices at The Global City stood at VND360-371 million ($13,780-14,200) per square meter, while Lakeview City ranged from VND220-250 million ($8,420-9,570).

Pressure from weak liquidity, high interest rates

Vietnam recorded more than 100,000 successful real estate transactions in the second quarter, equivalent to 71.5 percent of the previous quarter’s figure and 63.7 percent of the level recorded in the same period of 2025.

Transactions involving apartments and individual houses fell nearly 14 percent to 26,567.

Land transactions recorded the steepest decline, with only 73,438 successful deals, equivalent to 67.4 percent of the previous quarter and less than 60 percent of the year-earlier level.

Meanwhile, new project supply increased sharply, with 113 commercial housing projects comprising more than 103,200 units newly licensed during the quarter, nearly double the number in the first quarter and adding pressure on market absorption.

Financing costs also remained a major hurdle. Real estate lending rates are currently commonly at 12-14 percent per year.

After preferential periods expire, floating rates at many banks rise to 13-15 percent, with some reaching 15-16 percent per year.


30% reduction in personal and corporate income tax proposed

30% reduction in personal and corporate income tax proposed

State budget revenue is expected to decline by approximately VND 3.191 trillion ($112.12 million) in 2026 and VND 3.51 trillion ($134.2 million) in 2027.

Authorized by the Prime Minister, Minister of Finance Ngo Van Tuan, on behalf of the Government, on August 21 presented its proposal for a 30 percent reduction in personal income tax payable for the 2026 and 2027 tax periods on business income to the on-going extra session of the 16th National Assembly.

According to the proposal, the 30% reduction will be applicable to resident individuals whose annual business revenue between 2026 and 2027 does not exceed VND10 billion.

Meanwhile, a 30% reduction in corporate income tax payable for the 2026 and 2027 tax periods is also proposed for enterprises and organizations established in accordance with Vietnamese law whose annual revenue in 2026 and 2027 does not exceed VND 10 billion.

For enterprises currently eligible for tax incentives under the Law on Corporate Income Tax or other laws and resolutions of the National Assembly, the proposed corporate income tax reduction would be calculated based on the amount of corporate income tax payable after tax incentives have been deducted.

According to Minister Tuan’s presentation, the tax cuts would help ease difficulties and stabilize production and business activities for business households, individuals and enterprises.

The measures would also ensure timely support for inflation control and macroeconomic stability, contributing to the realization of the country's economic growth targets.

If these proposals will be accepted by the Legislature, state budget revenue is expected to decline by approximately VND3.191 trillion ($112.12 million) in 2026 and VND 3.51 trillion ($134.2 million) in 2027.


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