According to the newly released 38th Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI 38), Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) ranks 95th out of 120 cities, climbing 3 positions compared to the March assessment. This marks a significant 10-position rise since 2024, with HCMC notably surpassing Bangkok, Thailand, in the global financial hub rankings.
Specifically, HCMC advanced from 98th (GFCI 37) to 95th in GFCI 38, scoring 664 points—a 10-point increase. In contrast, Bangkok dropped 6 places to 102nd, scoring 657 points. The GFCI score is calculated based on 145 input factors provided by third-party organizations, including the United Nations, World Economic Forum (WEF), World Bank (WB), Transparency International, and the World Wide Web Foundation.
In a short period, HCMC has climbed 10 positions, narrowing the gap with regional financial hubs. Photo: Hoàng Triều
The latest rankings place New York (USA) and London (UK) at the top, with Hong Kong (China) securing the third spot as the world’s leading financial center. Singapore, representing Southeast Asia, gained 13 points while maintaining its 4th position globally. Following are San Francisco, Chicago, and Los Angeles (USA); Shanghai and Shenzhen (China); Seoul (South Korea); Dubai (UAE); and Frankfurt (Germany), among others.
In an interview with Báo Người Lao Động, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Hữu Huân from the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City noted that HCMC is among the centers predicted to gain importance in the next 2–3 years, with 12 mentions alongside major hubs like Dubai, Singapore, Riyadh, and Abu Dhabi.
“In a short period, HCMC has climbed 10 positions, narrowing the gap with regional financial hubs, particularly Singapore—Southeast Asia’s neighbor and a consistent top-4 global contender. This progress underscores HCMC’s momentum in enhancing its financial competitiveness,” said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Hữu Huân.
Long-term goals outlined by Vietnam aim for HCMC’s International Financial Center to enter the top 75 global financial hubs by 2035, laying the groundwork for further advancements in the following decade.
As per the National Assembly’s resolution, Vietnam’s International Financial Centers will be located in HCMC and Da Nang. The HCMC center will span approximately 686 hectares, encompassing the former District 1 and the Thu Thiem New Urban Area (An Khánh Ward).
In mid-August 2025, the Saigon Marina International Financial Center (Saigon Marina IFC) at 2 Ton Duc Thang, Saigon Ward, was inaugurated, marking the beginning of HCMC’s International Financial Center development.
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