Vietnamese Finance Minister Nguyen Van Thang made the statement at an investment promotion conference held in London, the United Kingdom, on September 16. The event attracted a large gathering of international business and financial communities, reaffirming Vietnam as a transparent, sustainable, and promising investment destination.

Vietnam – A regional investment hub

In his opening remarks, Minister Thang highlighted Vietnam’s strategic vision and resilience, noting the country’s ability to seize opportunities and adapt flexibly to maintain high growth, establishing itself as a key investment destination in the region.

He said, Vietnam’s economy continued to show positive signals in the first eight months of 2025, with disbursed FDI reaching US$15.40 billion, up 8.8% compared to the same period last year. Among 74 countries and territories with newly licensed investment projects in the reviewed period, the United Kingdom emerged as a strategic partner, an important investor, and the third-largest European trade partner of Vietnam.

Alongside FDI growth, foreign indirect investment (FII) has also shown strong progress, reflecting the impressive development of Vietnam’s stock market. The total market capitalisation, including equities and bonds, met 103.75% of estimated GDP in 2024. Vietnam now has 1,600 listed and registered companies, including seven with market capitalisations exceeding US$10 billion and 61 exceeding US$1 billion.

As of August 2025, the VN-Index rose 33% compared to the end of last year, making Vietnam one of the world’s fastest-growing stock markets. Vietnam leads ASEAN in liquidity, with an average daily trading value exceeding USD$1.1 billion, and the number of securities accounts surpassed 10 million, equivalent to 10% of the population, exceeding prior targets.

Minister Thang emphasised that Vietnam is continuously improving its legal framework to meet international standards and best practices, ensuring a safe, transparent, and sustainable stock market. Recent reforms have made it easier for foreign investors, while the Ministry of Finance and State Securities Commission actively conduct investment promotion programmes, engaging directly with the global financial community in major financial centres.

Vision for sustainable development

At the conference, Minister Thang shared that the Vietnamese Government is determined to implement comprehensive reforms to usher in a new era of development, focusing on reforming lawmaking and enforcement; promoting science, technology, and innovation; developing the private sector; and proactively integrate internationally.

The country continues to prioritise high-quality FDI to support industrial upgrading, productivity, technology, and value addition, while attracting indirect investment through the stock market to diversify capital sources, optimize financial structure, and enhance market liquidity and stability.

“In Vietnam, policies are designed for transparency and fairness. The investment environment is increasingly improved to achieve ‘win-win’ outcomes, encourage innovation, and protect investors’ rights, making Vietnam a sustainable, long-term investment destination,” stated Minister Thang, reaffirming the Government’s strong commitment to foreign investors.

He also highlighted the importance of international cooperation, particularly with the United Kingdom, a strategic partner in key sectors, and encouraged businesses, investment funds, and financial institutions from the UK, Europe, and beyond to expand investment, share knowledge, and develop green finance and technology, contributing to Vietnam’s sustainable development vision.

The conference introduced Vietnam’s investment potential, economic achievements, and incentives for foreign investment, covering both direct investment and the stock market, while providing a platform for dialogue, feedback, and understanding investors’ needs and concerns.

The event opened the door for long-term, sustainable cooperation between Vietnamese and British businesses. Following the conference, numerous bilateral meetings and networking sessions were held, paving the way for new investment projects and strengthening economic and financial ties between the two countries.

LSE pledges to support Vietnam in stock market upgrade

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