Japanese Companies Operating in South Vietnam

This paper analyzes the results of a survey conducted in Vietnam in late 2003 and forms part of a research project aimed at clarifying the current situation in Vietnam as the country enters a new stage in its development by interpreting the impact made by Japanese companies operating there. The first phase of the research focuses on Japanese companies with a certain amount of experience in Vietnam that operate around Ho Chi Minh City in the southern part of the country, including machinery and metals enterprises. Specifically, it presents case studies of 16 companies, classified into five groupings: leading manufacturers of assembled products targeting the Vietnamese domestic market, companies looking to supply local Japanese affiliates, firms aiming to establish export production bases, companies wanting to hedge their risks throughout the South Asia region as a whole, and SMEs.