By 2026 marks a turning point for the global robotics industry. A wave of investment from China, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan and Europe is looking for new destinations – and Vietnam is emerging both as a fast-growing consumer market and as a manufacturing base for exporting worldwide. This is an opportunity that industrial parks should not miss.
The robotics market: large, real, and growing fast
Robot demand is no longer a distant forecast. According to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), the world installed 542,000 new industrial robots in 2024 – double the figure of a decade ago, and the fourth consecutive year above 500,000 units. The total operational stock reached 4.66 million units, with Asia accounting for 74% of new installations. Notably, for the first time the electronics industry overtook automotive as the largest adopter of robots – precisely Vietnam’s export strength.
Alongside the mature industrial-robot segment, humanoid robots are entering an explosive phase, growing 35-50% per year. Forecasts vary by institution and scope (Morgan Stanley: USD 108 billion for China alone by 2030; Goldman Sachs: USD 38 billion globally by 2035), but all point in the same direction: an industry expanding rapidly and pulling an entire supplier ecosystem with it.
Why Vietnam is an attractive destination
Vietnam leads Southeast Asia in robot revenue with roughly a 24.51% regional share in 2025, ahead of Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. Robot density in electronics rose from 90 to 150 units per 10,000 workers in just 2024-2025 – real evidence that the market is accelerating.
Three standout advantages:
- An export base through 17 free trade agreements (FTAs) covering over 55 countries. EVFTA and CPTPP eliminate up to around 99% of tariff lines; RCEP’s cumulative rules of origin suit a “hybrid” model – sourcing components from China, Korea or Japan and assembling in Vietnam while still qualifying for preferences.
- A fast-forming domestic robotics and AI ecosystem: Vingroup has built an entire ecosystem (VinRobotics, VinMotion, VinDynamics), targeting industrial-scale humanoid robot production from late 2026. NVIDIA has chosen Vietnam as its “second home,” establishing an AI R&D Center and an AI Data Center. Viettel, FPT and Phenikaa-X are also active.
- Strong policy support: Decree 182 offers up to 50% support for R&D costs in semiconductors and AI; corporate income tax as low as 10% for high-tech; a target to train 50,000 semiconductor engineers by 2030.
Investors are coming – and Vietnam does not win automatically
Many major groups already have clear plans: Foxconn has registered to manufacture humanoid robots in Bac Ninh, with production from November 2026; LG is investing USD 9.8 billion in semiconductors, robot materials and robotics through 2035; Hesai, Inovance, Bosch, Samsung and Amkor all have a presence or plans in Vietnam.
But competition is real. Some investors are choosing Thailand or Indonesia over Vietnam. This means industrial parks must be proactive: prepare shared ESG infrastructure and green power, solve the “clean origin” challenge so investors can avoid the 40% US transshipment tariff, train engineering talent, and approach investors with genuine understanding rather than simply offering land.
HOUSELINK has prepared a comprehensive report on this topic, including: a six-tier robotics supply chain map, analysis of the global and Vietnamese markets, detailed profiles of nine potential investors with concrete plans (fully sourced), and recommendations plus a 12-24 month engagement roadmap for industrial parks.
➡️ Download the full report here
The report is produced by HOUSELINK – an investment promotion and ESG advisory firm – compiled from public sources updated to June 2026. Contact HOUSELINK for in-depth advice on industrial park positioning and investor engagement.
