Investors also see Vietnam as one of few prospects right now. The country ranked No. 2 in the world, behind the U.S., on a Euromonitor list of the most likely M&A destinations for 2021, based on criteria like industrial production and technology use.

Nikkei quoted YKVN managing partner Truong Quang as saying Vietnam is the only market where you can make deals. The success story in the COVID-19 fight could be the key for Vietnam to win trust from the international community, including foreign investors, he said.