Samsung Electronics Vietnam started construction of its second high technology complex in northern Vietnam's Thai Nguyen province on Monday.

With an investment of 3.2 billion US dollars, the project comprises a 2-billion US dollar handset and hi-tech electronic products plant, and a microchip manufacturing plant.

Addressing the groundbreaking ceremony, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said that the plant is expected to contribute to boosting the development of hi-tech industry in northern Vietnam.

Samsung's first hi-tech complex project was built in 2009 in northern Bac Ninh province, and is capable of manufacturing some 11 million units of products per month. In 2012, its export value totaled 12.6 billion US dollars, nearly doubling the figure in 2011.

Once the second plant in Thai Nguyen becomes operational, Vietnam will become Samsung's world biggest hand device production base for exports.