Vietnam rises in global LEED rankings as green buildings gain momentum
Vietnam has for the first time entered the top 10 markets outside the US by certified floor area under the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green building standard, reflecting the growing momentum of sustainable development in the country’s real estate sector.
According to the latest announcement from the US Green Building Council (USGBC) and Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), Vietnam ranked eighth among countries and territories outside the US in LEED-certified floor area in 2025. The country recorded about 2.6 million sq.m of certified floor space across 100 projects, surpassing several developed markets such as Sweden and the United Arab Emirates. Two years earlier, Vietnam ranked 28th.
Statistics from Savills show that globally more than 7,500 commercial projects received LEED certification in 2025, with a combined floor area exceeding 147 million sq.m.
Green certification is expanding across various real estate segments in Vietnam. Office buildings, industrial facilities and mixed-use developments are increasingly pursuing green standards to attract international tenants, meet ESG requirements and optimise long-term operating costs. Multinational companies in manufacturing and technology are also driving demand for sustainable projects.
Developers are increasingly integrating sustainability criteria from the early design and development stages rather than treating green certification as a final step. This shift reflects a longer-term and more systematic approach to real estate development.
Experts said Vietnam’s improved position in global green building rankings demonstrates the market’s growing maturity, with sustainability evolving into a strategic foundation for many projects.
Industrial and logistics real estate are currently leading the sustainable development trend in Vietnam, according to Luca Vadala, National Business Development Director for Integrated Facilities Management at Savills Vietnam and a LEED Green Associate. He noted that the market is increasingly focusing on operational performance, cost optimisation and environmental impact, thereby enhancing asset value.
As more projects adopt measurable sustainability solutions, green standards are gradually becoming part of asset valuation rather than a standalone initiative, signalling a deeper stage of development for Vietnam’s real estate market.
Green buildings in Vietnam double last year
As many as 163 buildings in Vietnam were certified as green in 2024, doubling the number of the previous year, according to the recently released Vietnam Green Building Market Overview 2024.
