Vietnam's economy on the rise

This episode of Marketplace's Make Me Smart explores Vietnam's rapidly rising economy through the lens of demographic shifts and global trade dynamics. Host Kimberly Adams welcomes back Kai Rizdahl, who shares insights from his reporting trip to Ho Chi Minh City as part of Marketplace's 'Age of Work' series. Rizdahl highlights Vietnam's youthful, tech-savvy workforce—driven by a post-war baby boom—as a key engine of economic growth, contrasting it with aging populations in the U.S., Europe, and Japan. He describes the vibrant street commerce, government-led infrastructure investments, and the growing tech sector, including ambitions to lead in AI research. The episode also reveals the deep economic and cultural ties between Vietnam and the U.S., exemplified by Little Saigon in Orange County, California, where Vietnamese-American entrepreneurs maintain strong links to their homeland. A powerful anecdote from a garment factory owner illustrates how U.S. trade policy—specifically Trump’s removal of the $800 de minimis tariff exemption—directly impacts working conditions in Vietnam, preventing air conditioning upgrades despite extreme heat. Rizdahl concludes with a bold prediction: Ho Chi Minh City will mirror today’s modern Beijing within 30 years, signaling Vietnam’s transformation into a global economic powerhouse. The episode ends with a tease of upcoming reporting in India.