Vietnam Emerges as a Vital Gateway for Turkey into the Southeast Asian Market

Introduction During a recent Policy Dialogue on Vietnam – Turkey cooperation held in Istanbul, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man emphasized Vietnam’s strategic role as a crucial gateway for Turkish enterprises aiming to expand into the Southeast Asian and broader Asia-Pacific markets.

A Thriving Economic Hub Over the years, Vietnam has solidified its reputation as a stable, safe, and highly attractive destination for international investors. As a highly integrated and dynamic manufacturing hub, Vietnam’s economic scale in 2025 reached an estimated $514 billion, ranking 32nd globally and 4th within the ASEAN region.

The country continues to be a magnet for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), ranking among the top 15 developing nations worldwide in FDI attraction. Cumulative FDI has reached approximately $530 billion, with $38.4 billion in newly registered capital recorded in 2025 alone. This robust growth is heavily supported by Vietnam’s stable socio-political environment and the National Assembly’s continuous legislative reforms, which focus on streamlining administrative procedures, enhancing transparency, and protecting investor rights.

Looking ahead, Vietnam aims to elevate its position in the global value chain by shifting its focus from basic manufacturing toward innovation, design, and technological mastery.

Unlocking Bilateral Potential Chairman Tran Thanh Man highlighted the complementary strengths of the two nations: Turkey serves as a strategic bridge between Asia and Europe, while Vietnam offers a high-growth, dynamic entry point into Asia. However, the current bilateral trade turnover of $2.3 billion does not yet reflect the true potential of this partnership.

Four Strategic Pillars for Future Cooperation To foster deeper bilateral ties, the National Assembly Chairman proposed four key directions for the future:

1. Enhancing Political Trust: Strengthening mutual trust through continuous high-level delegation exchanges, including robust parliamentary cooperation.
2. Boosting Economic Integration: Positioning economic, trade, and investment collaboration as the central pillar of the Vietnam – Turkey bilateral relationship.
3. Expanding Cross-Sector Cooperation: Deepening ties in mutually beneficial sectors such as manufacturing, textiles, footwear, high-tech agriculture, tourism, and logistics. Additionally, there should be a strong focus on emerging strategic fields, including digital transformation, innovation, renewable energy, and the green/circular economy.
4. Leveraging Parliamentary Roles: Utilizing the legislative bodies of both nations to perfect legal frameworks, oversee the implementation of mutual commitments, and guarantee a transparent, stable business environment for investors.