Benefits of investing in Vietnam include:
Rapidly Growing Economy. Vietnam's economy has been growing at between 4% and 8% since its recovery from the Asian Financial Crisis of 1997.
Reliance on Key Industries. Vietnam relies on the petroleum industry for its domestic energy consumption and for export; crude oil product is expected to gradually decline.
Risks of investing in Vietnam include:
Socialist-orientated Economy. Vietnam may have transitioned from a centrally planned economy, but the government still controls many key industries.
Early Stage Market Economy. Vietnam remains at an early and vulnerable stage of its economic development and is therefore more risky than developed markets.
Key Points to Remember
Vietnam may be familiar to the American public, after a lengthy war fought in the 1960s and 1970s, but the country is just starting to gain investor attention.
The Market Vectors Vietnam ETF (NYSE: VNM) is the most popular fund for investors looking for exposure to the country with diverse exposure.
Investors should keep in mind the many benefits and risks associated with investing in Vietnam, including its economic circumstances and reliance on key industries.