MEKONG PARTNERS / PRACTICAL GUIDE / LOCATION SELECTION
Choosing a location in Vietnam
Translate the operating model into a regional shortlist, then validate the actual site. Focus on the infrastructure, people and supply connections the business needs to function.
Turn a site visit into a decision
Before the visit
Issue the same site brief to each candidate: activity, footprint, access, utilities, workforce and expansion needs. Ask for documentary evidence and a named contact for each unresolved item. Agree a scorecard before travelling.
During the visit
Walk the receiving-to-dispatch flow. Check access at the hours your operation will use it, observe adjacent activities and identify practical constraints for equipment, vehicles and staff. Photographs and verbal assurances do not replace technical verification.
After the visit
Record the gap, responsible party, proposed remedy and the condition for commitment. Compare the total operating proposition, not just rent. Obtain appropriate specialist checks before accepting utility capacity, use rights or regulatory readiness.
A STARTING POINT FOR THE SHORTLIST
Use regional lenses without assuming every site is equivalent.
| Planning lens | What to investigate | Do not assume |
|---|---|---|
| Northern corridor | Connections to Hanoi, port access and the northern cross-border supply corridor; proximity to the particular customers and inputs in your model. | That proximity on a map guarantees the required lead time or qualified supplier access. |
| Central corridor | The fit between the proposed local activity, port and airport routes, labour catchment and supporting services. | That a lower headline property cost offsets missing capabilities or additional freight. |
| Southern corridor | Connections to Ho Chi Minh City, customer and supplier access, port routes and the management and workforce requirements of the project. | That access to a large commercial centre removes site-specific traffic, utility or staffing constraints. |
These are broad economic planning lenses, not a list of current administrative jurisdictions. Confirm the current authority and the exact location when reviewing a project.
BUILD A SITE REQUIREMENTS SHEET
The shortlist should reflect how the operation will run.
Logistics & inputs
Specify inbound materials, outbound destinations, shipment frequency, storage needs and acceptable disruption. Validate routes at the times and volumes the operation will use.
People & management
Identify the workforce profile, specialist skills, recruitment area and management coverage. Include commuting, training and supervision in the operating assumptions.
Utilities & premises
Define load, reliability, process water, waste treatment, space, access and expansion needs. Obtain site-specific evidence rather than relying on a general park brochure.
Specialist review should also address permitted use, construction and environmental requirements, land or lease documentation and the suitability of the premises for the intended activity. Keep incentives separate from the core operating case: eligibility and realisation need their own assessment.
VALIDATE BEFORE THE LEASE OR INVESTMENT
Make every visit answer a defined question.
- Send requirements before the visit.Request the technical, commercial and documentary information needed to assess the site.
- Check the operation on the ground.Review access, utilities, neighbouring activities, staffing assumptions and room for future change.
- Reconcile the evidence.Compare documents, discussions and observations. Record contradictions and gaps instead of treating the visit as approval.
- Compare the complete commitment.Bring lease conditions, fit-out, infrastructure, launch timing and ongoing operating cost into one decision record.
TURN THE SHORTLIST INTO A DECISION
Connect location selection with the wider entry plan.
October 2026 · Original Mekong Partners planning framework. Further reading: Invest Vietnam: location and investment guidance . Project-specific legal, tax, customs and technical requirements should be confirmed with the relevant qualified specialists before commitment.
Discuss the decision behind your project
Bring your objective, current evidence and next commitment into a focused conversation.