Vietnam is emerging as a key destination for green finance as international capital increasingly flows into the country to support its energy transition and long-term green growth objectives. Strong economic momentum, combined with a formal commitment to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, is positioning Vietnam as one of Southeast Asia’s most promising markets for sustainable investment.

These dynamics were discussed at the “Sustaining Growth: Green Bonds, Corporate Finance & Bankable Infrastructure” session held during the Green Economy Forum 2025, where policymakers, banks, and multilateral institutions assessed the foundations, constraints, and next steps for scaling green finance in Vietnam.

Policy Frameworks Creating Investor Confidence

Participants agreed that policy clarity remains the most decisive factor in attracting green capital. Vietnam is entering a phase where regulations supporting energy transition and green growth are developing more rapidly and with greater coherence.

Executives from BNP Paribas highlighted that Vietnam’s long-term economic and climate goals are clearly articulated and measurable, ranging from sustained high GDP growth to achieving high-income status by 2045 and net-zero emissions by mid-century. These targets are increasingly reflected in sector-specific policies.

Central to this framework is Power Development Plan VIII, which promotes renewable energy while modernising the national power grid and expanding energy storage. The plan offers long-term visibility that aligns closely with the requirements of international financial institutions seeking policy stability and transparency.

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Green Taxonomy and Regulatory Alignment

Another major milestone has been the introduction of the Vietnam National Green Taxonomy in 2025. Officials from BIDV noted that the taxonomy is aligned with both the EU and ASEAN frameworks, reducing friction for cross-border investors.

Vietnam’s State Securities Commission has also played an early role in advancing responsible investment standards and participates in regional taxonomy coordination. This alignment from policy to issuer level is helping international investors navigate Vietnam’s market using familiar sustainability standards.

Multilateral lenders such as the European Investment Bank see Vietnam as a strategic market due to its growth profile, climate vulnerability, and stated sustainability ambitions. Together, these factors are strengthening Vietnam’s credibility as a destination for climate-focused capital.

From Awareness to Bankable Projects

Despite positive momentum, Vietnam’s green finance market remains underdeveloped relative to its potential. Green bond issuance currently stands at roughly $1.1 billion, a figure experts describe as modest given the scale of investment required.

Market participants point to investor preferences as a limiting factor, with many private investors still prioritising short-term returns over sustainability-linked instruments. However, this mindset is beginning to shift. Awareness and interest in green, sustainability-linked, and ESG bonds among non-financial corporates is increasing, even as product structures continue to evolve.

Financial institutions are also playing a more active role beyond issuance, providing verification, advisory, and structuring services that support transparency and credibility. At the same time, both banks and capital markets authorities have introduced guidance frameworks to standardise green bond issuance.

Legal Stability and Risk Mitigation Remain Key

Experts consistently emphasised that regulatory stability is essential for scaling green finance. While Vietnam’s policy environment is evolving quickly, investors continue to seek predictability and long-term consistency.

Legal transparency, stable rule-making, and diversification of financing instruments are viewed as prerequisites for unlocking larger pools of capital. For large-scale renewable and infrastructure projects, blended finance structures are increasingly seen as necessary to mitigate risks and crowd in private investment.

Multilateral institutions are expected to remain central in this process, using concessional finance and guarantees to enhance project bankability and lower entry barriers for private capital.

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Catalysing International and Domestic Capital

As energy transition financing needs exceed the capacity of domestic banks alone, international institutions are playing a catalytic role. The European Investment Bank, operating under Paris Agreement and UN Sustainable Development Goal principles, is deploying capital through the EU’s Global Gateway initiative, with Vietnam identified as a priority market.

Global commercial banks are complementing this effort by connecting Vietnamese projects with international investors and introducing financing structures beyond traditional corporate lending. Meanwhile, domestic banks are expanding green credit portfolios, issuing green bonds, and strengthening ESG-based project evaluation frameworks.

This integration between international and domestic capital channels is accelerating the flow of green finance into Vietnam’s real economy.

A Critical Decade Ahead

Vietnam is entering a decisive period marked by rapid economic growth, rising energy demand, and increasingly ambitious climate targets. Estimates suggest that more than $130 billion will be required to finance the country’s energy transition in the coming years.

With supportive policy frameworks, improving market infrastructure, and growing engagement from global financial institutions, conditions are increasingly favourable for green finance. The challenge now lies in translating momentum into a deep, stable, and scalable market capable of supporting Vietnam’s long-term transition objectives.

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