The national forum featured the participation of around 350 experts, policymakers, leaders of financial institutions, investors, businesses, banks, and representatives of capital markets and financial infrastructure organisations from Vietnam and abroad.

Addressing the forum, Ho Ky Minh, Vice Chairman of the Da Nang municipal People's Committee, said the National Assembly's adoption of special mechanisms and policies for establishing an international financial centre in Vietnam had provided an important legal foundation for developing a financial centre operating in line with international practices across Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang.

According to Ho Ky Minh, Da Nang envisions the international financial centre not only as a financial hub but also as a new institutional space to pilot innovative financial models, gradually align with international standards, and promote innovation, digital transformation and green growth.

The city is set to develop a next-generation international financial centre focused on innovation, financial technology and sustainable finance, with an emphasis on high-value sectors aligned with global financial trends.

In the initial phase, Da Nang will prioritise five categories of financial products and services: tokenised real-world assets, carbon credits and carbon trading, investment funds and fund management companies, commodity exchanges, and bonds and other medium- and long-term capital-raising instruments.

Ho Ky Minh pointed out that these sectors will help build a modern financial ecosystem, support businesses in raising capital, promote the green transition, infrastructure, trade and logistics development, and create new investment channels for Vietnam's market.

He expressed hope that Da Nang will become a bridge linking Vietnam's financial sector with emerging global trends while making it easier for international financial institutions, investment funds and global businesses to access the Vietnamese market.

Discussions at the forum focused on capital market development, digital finance, financial infrastructure, sustainable investment, venture capital and emerging technologies shaping the future of the global financial industry.

Chris Vanloon, Chairman of the Vietnam Central Business Alliance, said the establishment of Vietnam's international financial centre in Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City within a short period demonstrated Vietnam's determination to develop the initiative. He noted that following last year's US-Vietnam Finance Forum in Da Nang, organisers had sought to expand the event nationwide, stressing the need for fresh ideas, committed investment capital and concrete steps to develop the international financial centre.

Rich McClellan, Chief Executive Officer of the Vietnam International Financial Centre, highlighted the establishment of an international financial centre as a strategic decision for Vietnam. 

Alongside a sound legal framework, the country would need to attract international capital, market operators, regulators and skilled professionals to build an effective financial centre, he added.

According to McClellan, the forum was designed to bring together global experts, institutional investors, market operators, regulators and businesses to help Vietnam turn its ambition into concrete progress in developing internationally connected financial centres.

The forum is expected to help bridge policy priorities and market needs while reaffirming the potential of Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City as destinations for financial innovation, public-private cooperation and stronger international investment links.

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