Every so often, long-term investors are presented with an opportunity that does not come from hype or speculation, but from time and patience. An opportunity is created when a major region of the world delivers very little for years, only to begin moving again, just as many investors have lost interest.
I think that is exactly what is happening right now with the Vanguard FTSE Asia Ex-Japan Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAE).
A strong year that hides lost years
At first glance, the VAE ETF does not look like a contrarian idea. The fund has performed strongly over the past 12 months, reflecting a recovery across parts of Asia.
But zoom out, and the picture changes dramatically.
Remarkably, all of the Vanguard FTSE Asia Ex-Japan Shares Index ETF's gains in 2025 account for almost its entire return over the last five years. In other words, Asian equities have spent most of the past half-decade going sideways while US and Australian markets surged ahead.
That kind of long-term underperformance often sets the stage for the next cycle. It suggests there may still be a lot of lost ground to make up over the coming decade, especially if growth, innovation, and demographics begin to reassert themselves.
Exposure to the engines of Asian growth
This Vanguard index fund offers broad exposure to Asia, excluding Japan, Australia, and New Zealand, covering approximately 1,400 stocks across 12 markets.
Its largest country exposures are China, Taiwan, India, and South Korea, together accounting for around 80% of the portfolio. These are not fringe markets. They are central players in global manufacturing, technology, finance, and consumption.
The ETF's top holdings include some of the most important companies in the global economy, such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Tencent, AIA Group, China Construction Bank, Alibaba, Samsung Electronics, and SK Hynix. These businesses sit at the heart of long-term themes like semiconductors, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and digital payments.
Importantly, this exposure is diversified across sectors, company sizes, and countries. That diversification matters in a region that can be volatile in the short term but powerful over longer time horizons.
A demographic and economic tailwind
Asia is home to more than half of the world's population and many of its fastest-growing middle classes. Over time, rising incomes, urbanisation, and consumption tend to translate into higher corporate earnings and expanding capital markets.
India's growing financial sector, Taiwan and Korea's dominance in advanced manufacturing, and China's vast domestic economy all contribute to the long-term investment case. This Vanguard index fund allows investors to access this growth without needing to pick individual winners.
A simple way to diversify an Australian portfolio
For Australian investors, the VAE ETF also plays a useful portfolio role.
Local portfolios are often heavily concentrated in banks, miners, and domestic equities. Adding Asian exposure can improve diversification and reduce reliance on a single economic cycle. Vanguard itself suggests this ETF can complement broader diversified funds, helping investors balance their exposure geographically.
It is worth noting that the Vanguard FTSE Asia Ex-Japan Shares Index ETF is unhedged, meaning returns will be influenced by currency movements. That adds volatility, but for long-term investors, it also adds diversification benefits.
Foolish Takeaway
The Vanguard FTSE Asia Ex-Japan Shares Index ETF is not a short-term trade. It is a buy-and-hold investment for those willing to think in decades, not quarters.
After years of underperformance followed by a strong but still early recovery, Asian equities may be entering a new phase. If that happens, the VAE ETF offers a low-cost, diversified way to participate.
For investors looking ahead to 2026 and beyond, this could be one of those rare moments where patience today is handsomely rewarded over the next decade.
