Vietnam has officially launched its International Financial Center (VIFC), marking a major milestone in its strategy to position itself as a regional financial hub. The Da Nang center was inaugurated on January 9, 2026, followed by the official launch of the Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) hub on February 11, 2026. The establishment follows Resolution 222 issued June 2025 on the creation of an international financial center in Vietnam. On December 18, 2025, the Government formalized the VIFC’s legal foundation with Decree 323, and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh officially announced its establishment three days later.
The VIFC is structured as a single legal entity under a complementary dual-hub model. VIFC–HCMC focuses on building a full-spectrum financial ecosystem, including capital markets, investment banking, asset management, fintech, green finance, payments, and the trading of financial products. VIFC–Da Nang is positioned as a technology-driven hub centered on innovation, digital assets, digital payments, sustainable finance, and regulatory sandboxes for new financial models. To attract investors, the Government introduced major incentives, including corporate income tax rates as low as 10% for up to 30 years, personal income tax exemptions for qualified experts, long-term land leases of up to 70 years, and greater flexibility for cross-border transactions. A broader regulatory package was issued simultaneously to accelerate operations, including Decree 324 on financial policies at the IFC; Decree 330 on commodity and derivatives trading exchange; and Decree 327 on entry, exit, and residence policies for foreigners at the IFC, granting key investors, experts, and highly skilled workers visas of up to 10 years.
Founding and strategic members were also unveiled. For VIFC–HCMC, founding members include Sovico Group, MB Bank, TPBank, SHB, Son Kim Capital, VinaCapital, and Nasdaq, while strategic members include Nam A Bank, the Ho Chi Minh City State Financial Investment Company, University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, the On-Chain Economy Alliance, Gemadept Group, and Tikok. VIFC–Da Nang has twelve official members, including companies such as Makara Capital, Bybit Technology, 9Pay, Apex Vietnam, Remi Tech, among others. Several major international organizations, such as Binance, Tether, Abu Dhabi Global Market, DTCpay, the Swiss Fintech Association, and Frankfurt Main Finance, have also signed cooperation agreements with the city.
Early capital mobilization is gaining momentum. The Asia-Pacific Aviation Financial Hub, launched under VIFC-HCMC at the Singapore Airshow 2026, aims to mobilize more than US$6.1 billion initially and facilitate up to US$50 billion in transactions by 2035, positioning Vietnam as an emerging regional center for aviation finance. Vantage Point Asset Management committed to mobilizing US$10 billion from global institutional investors over five years, with capital allocated to key sectors such as infrastructure, real assets, and strategic fixed-income investments. In parallel, the planned HCMC Digital Asset Fund, a strategic partnership between VIFC-HCMC, VinaCapital, and the Global On-Chain Economic Alliance, targets US$1 billion in phased fundraising to support the development of an on-chain financial ecosystem within the IFC framework. With a strengthened legal framework, targeted incentives, and early investor commitments, the VIFC represents a significant shift in Vietnam’s financial development strategy, with long‑term success dependent on effective regulation, capital attraction, and coordinated implementation.
