Abstract:
Vietnam is a key player in global trade, leveraging its comparative advantage in textiles, electronics, footwear, and furniture. This study assesses Vietnam’s export competitiveness using the Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) and Partner Commercial Advantage (PCA) indices. Findings show strong advantages in labor-intensive industries, while high-tech manufacturing is rising due to foreign direct investment (FDI) and supply chain shifts. However, challenges such as market dependence, rising labor costs, and regional competition persist. By conducting a long-term, cross-industry analysis that incorporates structural changes and recent global disruptions, this study fills a critical gap in the literature on Vietnam’s evolving comparative advantage. Policy recommendations include enhancing value-added production, trade diversification, and investment in research and development (R&D) to sustain long-term growth. This study provides insights into Vietnam’s trade dynamics and strategies for economic resilience.

Keywords:
Vietnam, export competitiveness, comparative advantage, RCA index, PCA index, trade diversification, supply chain, foreign direct investment, economic resilience.