At the forum theming "Promoting Ho Chi Minh City's International Financial Center - Opportunities and Challenges for Enterprises," held on November 7, experts emphasized that an International Financial Center (IFC) to be established in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang will play a vital role in Vietnam’s digital economy and sustainable finance strategy.
Mr. Anirban Roy from InnoLab Asia recommended integrating the IFC with technology, finance, and governance to create new value, while Mr. Vo Duc Anh from the Da Nang Innovation Startup Support Center stressed the need for a blockchain- and AI-based financial ecosystem supported by flexible policies, open data, and a dynamic startup-investment environment.
Mr. Tran Huyen Dinh, Chairman of the VBA Fintech Application Committee, urged Vietnam to develop synchronized digital financial infrastructure by combining policies, technology, and market mechanisms. Drawing from global experiences, he noted that the success of IFCs in Hong Kong (China), Singapore, and Dubai stems not from tax incentives but from strong institutional capacity, flexible regulations, and advanced regtech systems.
According to the Global Financial Centers Index 38 (announced in September 2025), Ho Chi Minh City ranked 95th globally, surpassing Bangkok but still trailing behind Singapore and Hong Kong (China). Mr. Dinh cited Hong Kong (China)’s “Ensemble Sandbox,” Singapore’s “Project Guardian,” and Dubai’s “Tokenisation Regulatory Sandbox” as models integrating blockchain and tokenization under clear legal frameworks.
From the enterprise perspective, Mr. Will Ross of Dragon Capital said stable growth and improving capital markets create favorable conditions for IFCs, but investor confidence remains crucial. Dragon Capital proposed launching Vietnam’s first digital asset ETF based on tokenized stocks and bonds.
Mr. Tran Huy Vu of Kyber Network emphasized that IFCs should connect fintech and traditional finance, while Mr. Le Anh Quoc of AlphaTrue Solutions shared lessons from Da Nang’s Basal Pay sandbox project, highlighting the need for rigorous testing frameworks.
Experts agreed that Vietnam now has a unique opportunity to shape a transparent and tech-driven IFCs aligned with international standards.
Resolution No. 222/2025/QH15 of the National Assembly and Resolution No. 05/2025/NQ-CP of the Government serve as an institutional foundation for Vietnam to develop digital finance, paving the way for Ho Chi Minh City to become a regional financial hub in the ASEAN network.
Google translate