The launch ceremony for the Vietnam International Financial Center in Ho Chi Minh City (VIFC-HCMC) took place at the Vietnam International Financial Center Building, 8 Nguyen Hue, Saigon Ward.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh noted that establishing an International Financial Center is a practical requirement, a strategic choice, and a pragmatic step for Vietnam to channel capital into priority sectors. These include strategic infrastructure, foundational industries, logistics, as well as green and digital transformation.

The center will also provide modern financial tools, enabling businesses to integrate more deeply into global value chains. This initiative aims to elevate the nation's position from a capital recipient to a co-creator of regional and international financial markets.

To develop a successful International Financial Center, the Prime Minister emphasized the need for three key elements: superior institutional and mechanistic frameworks compared to other global financial centers; a unique operational model; and flexible, effective governance.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the launch ceremony of the Vietnam International Financial Center in Ho Chi Minh City on the morning of 11/2. Photo: VPG

Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Nguyen Van Duoc affirmed that the city is committed to ensuring fair treatment and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of all investors participating in the International Financial Center. The city government will collaborate with investors and businesses, promptly resolving any difficulties or obstacles to ensure projects become operational and effective.

The International Financial Center in Vietnam was established under a National Assembly Resolution on 27/6/2025, adopting a "one center, two destinations" model located in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang. On 18/12, the Government issued Decree 323 regarding the establishment of the International Financial Center in Vietnam.

Specifically, the International Financial Center in Ho Chi Minh City announced a development model based on strategic pillars. These include an aviation finance center, a maritime finance center, a commodity exchange, and a high-tech clearing and settlement center.

Other pillars encompass a fintech and digital banking ecosystem, a green, sustainable, and transition finance value chain, and modern financial market infrastructure. This infrastructure aims for international exchanges and in-depth financial products.

VIFC-HCMC has seven founding members: Sovico Group; Military Commercial Joint Stock Bank (MB); Tien Phong Commercial Joint Stock Bank (TPBank); Saigon - Hanoi Commercial Joint Stock Bank (SHB); Son Kim Capital; VinaCapital; and Nasdaq.

The center also includes strategic members: Nam A Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Nam A Bank), Ho Chi Minh City State Financial Investment Company, University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, On-chain Economy Alliance, Gemadept, and TikTok.

These founding and strategic members participate as independent legal entities and connect client-product ecosystems, train human resources, create market structures, establish operational standards, and build international prestige for VIFC-HCMC.

Before its official launch, VIFC-HCMC operated for about one month, achieving initial results. These include the formation of an aviation finance center with 6,1 billion USD in committed capital, the development of a maritime finance center supporting trade and logistics, the mobilization of 2 billion USD for smart urban data infrastructure, and the establishment of a 1 billion USD fund for the on-chain economy (blockchain, asset tokenization, digital finance).

Vien Thong