On April 14, 2026, Marco Förster, ASEAN Director of Dezan Shira & Associates, briefed a cohort of EMBA students and faculty from the University of Colorado Boulder, Leeds School of Business about Vietnam’s economic transformation in the context of global supply chain shifts and evolving geopolitical dynamics.
Visiting Hanoi as part of their Asia immersion program, the cohort comprised approximately two dozen participants, many of whom are active investors and business leaders with operational exposure across China and ASEAN.
The briefing session focused on Vietnam’s economic transformation within the broader context of global supply chain realignment and shifting geopolitical dynamics, supported by case studies drawn from Dezan Shira & Associates’ on-the-ground advisory experience. Key topics included the practical realities of the China+1 strategy, tariff pressures and supply chain restructuring, Vietnam’s energy constraints and labor market challenges, and the evolving compliance landscape for Chinese manufacturers establishing Vietnamese entities.
The discussion also addressed what it takes to build defensible and sustainable foreign direct investment positions in Vietnam under current market conditions, with particular focus on Chinese manufacturers restructuring or expanding operations into the country. An extended Q&A reflected participants’ hands-on experience and interest in bridging the gap between headline narratives and operational realities.
Dezan Shira & Associates continues to engage with academic institutions and executive education programs to share practitioner-led insights, drawing on its experience advising Chinese and regional investors on Vietnam market entry, compliance, and operational structuring.
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