Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam is seeking to draw greater high-quality capital from the US into its Vietnam International Financial Centre (VIFC), as Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh’s working visit to the US has generated strong attention from major American corporations and investment funds.
During his March 21–30 trip to the US, Deputy PM Binh held a series of engagements aimed at promoting cooperation and mobilising capital for the VIFC, a strategic initiative designed to elevate Vietnam’s position in the global financial system.
A key highlight was an investment promotion roundtable on March 23, co-organised by Warburg Pincus, the VIFC in Ho Chi Minh City (VIFC-HCMC), and the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations (UN). The event brought together over 100 major US enterprises, corporations and investment funds.
In his remarks, Binh described the VIFC as a strategic breakthrough to boost productivity, transform the growth model and support the country’s development goals in the new era. He called on US investors to play a pioneering role in connecting large capital flows to VIFC, particularly in emerging financial services, niche products and areas of comparative advantage.
The Vietnamese Government will continue to accompany and support investors, particularly in emerging financial sectors still in the experimental stage, he stated, showing the hope that US partners will accompany Vietnam throughout the development and operation of the centre, helping position the Southeast Asian country as a vital link in the global financial network.
In a meeting with the Vietnamese official, Managing Director at Warburg Pincus Christopher Turner highlighted Vietnam’s great growth potential, especially its dynamic startup ecosystem and expanding technology sector. He affirmed that with decades of experience, the fund signalled readiness to support the development of Vietnam’s capital market and wish to participate in the VIFC.
On March 27, Deputy PM Binh attended the Vietnam–US Finance and Technology Dialogue, themed “Technology and the future of global finance,” met with a delegation from Oregon state, and held working sessions with California’s State Treasurer, and companies exploring investment opportunities in Vietnam.
Binh outlined Vietnam’s strategy to build a modern, transparent international financial centre integrated with global markets. The proposed “one centre – two destinations” model will position Ho Chi Minh City as a traditional capital market hub, and Da Nang as a hub of intech, digital assets and innovation.
He reaffirmed Vietnam’s commitment to a pro-investment environment, with exceptional incentives, breakthrough institutional reforms, transparency, and stronger protections for foreign investors.
US businesses described Vietnam as a priority destination in ASEAN, recognising the Vietnamese Government’s reform efforts and expressing a desire for deeper consultation in policymaking. They proposed upgrading financial market infrastructure to international standards, easing foreign ownership rules, refining IPO mechanisms for technology firms, and developing new investment products.
Notably, many highlighted opportunities in fintech, blockchain and digital assets, while recommending forward-looking regulatory frameworks, including the recognition of AI Agents and the implementation of sandbox mechanisms.
Developing an innovation ecosystem, attracting high-quality global talent and piloting new concepts such as “Pop-up cities” were also seen as promising orientations to draw capital and technology.
During a meeting with the Vietnamese official in San Francisco, Hong Fang, President of OKX - a digital financial technology platform operating across major economies— described Vietnam as a dynamic market with strong advantages in tech talent and a spirit of innovation.
OKX wishes to become part of Vietnam’s tech–finance ecosystem, she said, proposing deeper policy exchanges and sharing global experience in building sandbox frameworks for digital assets, and sustainable digital asset infrastructure.
Hong also expressed OKX's intention to expand cooperation, leverage Vietnam’s high-quality tech workforce, and commit to applying international compliance standards to help position the VIFC as a safe and transparent destination for capital flows.
David Ripley, CEO of Kraken, also voiced readiness to engage in policy dialogue, recommending that Vietnam maintain open communication mechanisms between regulators and businesses to ensure clear and consistent legal frameworks.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huu Huan, vice chairman of the executive board of VIFC-HCMC, noted that the National Assembly's Resolution 222/2025/QH15 provides an important legal foundation for the VIFC, but its real effectiveness will depend on designing supporting institutions. Key elements include the establishment of specialised courts and a common-law-based international arbitration mechanism, competitive tax incentives, an internationally aligned operational framework, and a regulatory sandbox to foster fintech innovation.
The VIFC-HCMC has attracted more than 9 billion USD in committed capital in just over two months of operation, a clear signal of the model’s strong appeal./.
VNA
