Express and logistics giant DHL has announced that it will spend US$6.5 million on building two service centres in Dong Nai and Hanoi in Vietnam, as well as two courier depots in Da Nang and Hai Phong.

The funds will also be used to expand the vehicle fleet of DHL-VNPT Express Vietnam.

The investment in Vietnam is part of the company's $14 million spending package announced in November last year, a DHL statement said.

"These investments span the three major regions of Vietnam: the north, the south and the centre. This underlines our commitment to continuous improvement of our products and services to serve Vietnamese customers even better," said Scott Price, CEO, DHL Express-Asia Pacific.

Mr Price was speaking at the official inauguration of the DHL-VNPT Express joint venture in Ho Chi Minh City, which was attended by Dr Hoang Tho Thai, member of the board, Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group, as well as other DHL senior executives.

At the same event, DHL-VNPT Express Ltd also announced the appointment of Tim Baxter as general director of the DHL-VNPT Express Joint Venture. Mr Baxter, who was previously deputy country manager in New Zealand and chief financial officer for Country Operations in Singapore, will be primarily responsible for the growth and development of DHL Express in Vietnam.