Vietnam’s Ascent to Global Financial Hub Status

In the era of deep global economic integration, finance has transcended its traditional boundaries, evolving from a niche domain of banks and stock markets into the lifeblood connecting nations, businesses, and the aspirations of individuals worldwide.

On August 1, 2025, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Chairman of the Steering Committee for the International Financial Center in Vietnam, officially signed Decision No. 114, promulgating the Action Plan for the establishment of an International Financial Center in Vietnam.

The Plan aims to launch and operationalize International Financial Centers in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang by the end of 2025. This initiative is poised to be a breakthrough in attracting medium and long-term financial resources, laying the groundwork for Vietnam’s socio-economic growth in the new era.

Amid these ambitious goals, a critical question arises: How can Vietnam position itself as an attractive and sustainable global financial hub?

Ms. Thi Anh Dao, Marketing Director of Masterise Group, and Dr. Vo Tri Thanh, Director of the Institute for Brand and Competition Strategy, shared insights at the “Building the Nation” Talkshow, themed “Vietnam – A Global Financial Destination.”

At the “Building the Nation” Talkshow, Dr. Vo Tri Thanh emphasized that an International Financial Center creates comprehensive value by converging advanced global standards, enabling Vietnam to learn, refine its institutions, and enhance financial market efficiency. It also serves as a catalyst for innovation, particularly in technology, driving the growth model from cost-based to productivity and innovation-driven. With transparent mechanisms, the center opens diverse funding channels—from credit and green bonds to sustainable finance—supporting long-term business development and stimulating trade, services, and consumption through high-spending clientele. Crucially, the pressure to integrate compels institutions and individuals to innovate continuously, elevate capabilities, and adhere to global standards, fostering faster, more sustainable, and equitable economic growth.

However, Dr. Vo Tri Thanh noted that building a financial center entails significant challenges, notably the capacity to create foundational infrastructure for a livable, workable, and investable environment.

Ms. Thi Anh Dao, Marketing Director of Masterise Group, shared insights at the Talkshow.

Ms. Thi Anh Dao highlighted that to operate a global financial center, Vietnam must go beyond commercial, logistics, or technological infrastructure, focusing on modern urban infrastructure—including transportation, energy, amenities, education, healthcare, and an international living environment. This expands the concept of “national competitiveness” beyond financial indices or capital flows to encompass overall quality of life.

A financial center is truly sustainable only when professionals, entrepreneurs, and investors choose to come, work, and stay long-term. From this perspective, building a financial center is inseparable from urban development strategy. Only by combining “workability” and “livability” can a financial center become “investable.”

Ms. Dao also pointed out that Vietnam is moving closer to an integrated “financial-technology-urban ecosystem” akin to Singapore or Dubai. “Many international investors now view Vietnam as the next potential destination after Singapore for data center development. To realize this, Vietnam must prepare land planning, technical infrastructure, and legal frameworks for these strategic projects,” she stated.

According to Ms. Thi Anh Dao, alongside innovation and technology, real estate will play a pivotal role in shaping and realizing Vietnam’s vision as a global financial destination. Beyond constructing offices or residences, real estate’s role is to create internationally standard living and working spaces where finance, technology, and people connect daily. Real estate is not just a “location” but an ecosystem that actualizes the intangible values of a financial center: transparency, connectivity, safety, and quality of life.

The ambition to establish an International Financial Center for Vietnam marks a new journey—a narrative that continues at the “Building the Nation” Talkshow, themed “Vietnam – A Global Financial Destination.”