Vietnam remains a “bright star” in Southeast Asia despite last year’s power shortages and a weakened real estate market, according to Kai Wei Ang, an ASEAN economist at BofA Securities Inc. Speaking on CNBC’s Squawk Box, he said Vietnam’s competitive labour market and numerous free trade agreements (FTAs) are key factors attracting investments. He noted that the power shortages, caused by extreme weather, have prompted Vietnamese authorities to adopt better preparations and preemptive measures to prevent future issues. Vietnam has excelled in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) over the past decade, with over USD11bn invested from January to May 20 this year and USD8.25bn disbursed, marking year-on-year increases of 2% and 7.8%, respectively.