The good thing about having a 10-year investment horizon is that it allows you to focus on what is likely to endure and grow over time.
One way I can do this is by looking for exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that provide exposure to long-term trends, strong underlying businesses, and markets that can continue evolving over the years ahead.
With that said, here are three ASX ETFs I would feel comfortable owning for the next decade.
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BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ)
The BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF is often described as a technology ETF, but I think that undersells what it really represents.
To me, it is a collection of businesses that sit closest to how the modern economy operates.
These are the companies shaping how people search, communicate, shop, store data, and build software. In many cases, they are not just participants in those industries, they define them.
What I find interesting is how that influence evolves. Ten years ago, the narrative around these companies was very different to today. And I suspect ten years from now, it will be different again. The common thread is that they tend to adapt faster than the industries around them.
That adaptability is what makes the NDQ ETF compelling for a long-term holding.
It is not about picking a single winner. It is about owning a group of companies that are constantly redefining what growth looks like.
Vanguard FTSE Asia Ex-Japan Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAE)
The Vanguard FTSE Asia Ex-Japan Shares Index ETF offers exposure to a part of the world that I think is still underappreciated in many portfolios.
Asia is often discussed in terms of growth, but I think it is more useful to think about it in terms of scale and momentum.
You are looking at regions with expanding middle classes, increasing urbanisation, and a growing digital economy. These trends are not new, but they are ongoing and likely to play out over a long period.
What I like about the VAE ETF is that it captures that progression without needing to pick individual countries or companies.
It provides exposure to a mix of economies at different stages of development, which I think helps balance opportunity and risk.
For a 10-year horizon, that kind of exposure can add a different dimension to a portfolio that might otherwise be heavily weighted toward Australian and US shares.
Vanguard Diversified High Growth Index ETF (ASX: VDHG)
The Vanguard Diversified High Growth Index ETF is often seen as a set and forget ETF, and I think that description holds up over the long term.
But what stands out to me is not just the diversification, it is the structure.
This ETF combines multiple asset classes, including Australian shares, international shares, and fixed income, all within a single fund. It also rebalances automatically, which removes the need for investors to make those decisions themselves.
That may sound simple, but I think it is powerful. Over a 10-year period, markets will move in different directions at different times. Having a structure that adjusts to those changes without requiring action from the investor can make it easier to stay invested.
For someone who values simplicity and consistency, I think the VDHG ETF is a top choice.
Foolish takeaway
A long-term ETF strategy comes back to owning exposures that can grow and adapt over time.
The NDQ ETF provides access to companies shaping the modern economy, the VAE ETF captures the ongoing expansion of Asian markets, and the VDHG ETF offers a diversified, all-in-one approach.
Each ETF plays a different role, but I think all three can support a portfolio built with a long-term mindset.
