The semiconductor manufacturing project in Vietnam, led by the state-owned Viettel Group, is facing significant delays. Although the facility broke ground in January, satellite imagery from Planet Labs and Airbus confirms that no construction has taken place at the site near Hanoi, which remains overgrown with weeds.
The project aimed for trial production by 2027, but sources indicate this target is likely unattainable. Challenges include a lack of specialized experience within Viettel and administrative hurdles in securing government funding. The timeline for the facility is now considered unclear by industry observers.
A critical component of the project involves the procurement of chip-making equipment from ASML. Negotiations between Viettel and ASML have been ongoing for several months, yet no formal agreement has been reached. Both the Vietnamese Ministry of Finance and ASML have declined to comment on the status of these discussions.
Despite the reported setbacks, Viettel maintains that the project is proceeding according to its established plan and technical requirements. The company stated it would provide updates at an appropriate time. The original goal was to reach full operational capacity by 2030, targeting sectors such as aerospace, telecommunications, and automotive.
