Vietnam Economic Times December 08, 2025

Dear readers,

Vietnam has been buffeted by some 15 typhoons this year, with these extreme weather events having caused an estimate $3.22 billion in economic losses as of November 24, making it among the most damaging storm seasons in half a century. Rising waters tore through lives, supply chains, and urban infrastructure. Against such a backdrop, sustainability is no longer a distant ambition; it is today’s non-negotiable responsibility.

This week’s Cover Story, drawn from the Green Economy Forum (GEF) 2025 in Hanoi, held by EuroCham and VIETRADE, looks at Vietnam’s next chapter of growth - one that turns climate resilience into competitive advantage and green ambition into economic momentum.

Articles cover discussions exploring Vietnam’s priority sustainability areas, including clean energy, green finance, sustainable agriculture, AI, water resilience, and green manufacturing, translating global insights into practical measures Vietnamese businesses, policymakers, and communities can implement today.

At GEF 2025, held as Vietnam and the EU celebrate 35 years of diplomatic ties, policymakers, CEOs, and innovators converged on a single truth: the requirements and nature of Vietnam’s next stage of economic growth demand a deliberate pivot towards climate resilience, energy security, and sustainable investment. These are no longer optional add-ons; they are the very foundations of future competitiveness in a rapidly-changing global economy.

During these discussions, experts dissected the bottlenecks holding back progress and also shared practical solutions to contribute to the ambitious targets Vietnam has set for itself.

Mr. Bruno Jaspaert, EuroCham Chairman, emphasized that “the green transition is a must-win battle,” noting that Vietnam’s economic ambitions cannot be sustained without a decisive shift towards long-term climate resilience and sustainable development.

He added that the country has already taken bold steps: a net-zero emissions by 2025 pledge at COP26, supported by the National Strategy for Green Growth, Power Development Plan VIII (PDP8), targeting 47 per cent renewable energy by 2030, and a carbon market roadmap towards full operations by 2029. At the same time, the country has become one of the world’s fastest growing economies, attracting $33.69 billion in FDI in the first eleven months of 2025. “Vietnam is surfing a wave of change and relentless growth, creating real momentum,” he said.

With the theme “Shaping Changes, Building Futures,” GEF 2025 was not only a conference but also a call to action, and reminded us that this current era of rising growth is the precise moment to choose bold, clear strategies that secure prosperity for decades to come.

The time has arrived to shape the changes needed to build the future ahead of us. Vietnam has the momentum, the partnerships, and the vision. Now is the moment to act.

Warmest regards

Dr. CHU VAN LAM
CHAIRMAN OF THE EDITORIAL BOARD