Danish brewer Carlsberg plans to put about US$65 million into its Phú Bài brewery in Huế between 2026 and 2031, the Vietnamese government's news outlet Báo Chính phủ reported on 23 October 2026. The group has also handed letters of intent to the chairmen of the Huế and Đà Nẵng People's Committees, signalling further investment and business expansion in both central Vietnamese cities over the same period.
The plan surfaced after the state visit to Denmark by General Secretary and State President Tô Lâm from 19–21 October 2026, during which Carlsberg chief executive Jacob Aarup-Andersen held talks with senior Vietnamese leaders.
Where the money goes
According to Báo Chính phủ, the Huế investment targets production modernisation, digital and green transformation, a stronger supply chain, better product quality and tighter food safety standards.
No figure was given for Đà Nẵng. There, Carlsberg intends to grow its commercial operations, digitise and modernise how it runs, and build a more efficient and sustainable logistics network, alongside environmental and community projects tied to the city's goal of becoming green, smart and liveable.
Aarup-Andersen described Vietnam as one of Carlsberg's key markets and said the company's confidence in the country's long-term potential rests on more than three decades of presence and investment there. He framed the Phú Bài expansion as proof of that commitment.
Phú Bài so far
The new money follows a Phú Bài expansion worth nearly US$90 million that opened in August 2025. That project lifted the plant's annual output capacity by more than 50% and made Phú Bài Carlsberg's largest brewery in Asia.
| When | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1847 | Carlsberg founded by J.C. Jacobsen |
| 1993 | Enters Vietnam, among the first Danish multinationals to invest there |
| August 2025 | Phú Bài expansion (nearly US$90 million) opens; capacity up more than 50% |
| 19–21 October 2026 | State visit to Denmark by Tô Lâm |
| 2026–2031 | About US$65 million planned for Phú Bài; expansion in Đà Nẵng |
What it means for Vietnam
Carlsberg's Vietnamese portfolio includes Huda, a brand the report calls closely tied to consumers in central Vietnam, as well as Carlsberg, 1664 Blanc, Tuborg and Somersby locally. Carlsberg Vietnam supports more than 3,000 direct and indirect jobs. Because the new spending goes into an existing plant rather than a new site, the main effect is on capacity, supply chain and quality at Huế, with Đà Nẵng the focus for commercial growth and logistics.
Carlsberg has also agreed with Sapporo Breweries to form a strategic joint venture in six markets (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong, China) plus a partnership in the UK, which would add the Japanese brand Sapporo Premium Beer to its portfolio. Globally the group owns more than 180 beer and beverage brands, employs about 37,000 people and operates in more than 150 markets.
What comes next
The Huế and Đà Nẵng commitments are letters of intent covering 2026–2031. The report gives no disbursement schedule and no date for the Sapporo venture to start in Vietnam; those are the next details to watch.