ESG report increases but quality is not uniform
According to a survey of PwC Vietnam's ESG Practice appraisal Report 2025 with 174 business representatives, the majority of businesses focus on risk management (65%), corporate governance (45%) and ESG reporting (36%).
According to Mr. Nguyen Hoang Nam - ESG Consulting Service leader, Deputy General Director of PwC Vietnam, in terms of social aspects, the survey shows that some businesses have begun to pay more attention to the human and community factors. However, the implementation level is still not uniform. Many businesses have only stopped at charity and basic welfare activities, but have not yet built a long-term social strategy associated with sustainable development goals.
Regarding governance, Mr. Nguyen Hoang Nam said that, according to the report's results, 68% of businesses confirmed that the Board of Directors participated in ESG. However, the level is still differentiated: only a small percentage really consider ESG an indispensable part of corporate governance, included in the internal control system, decision-making process, and continuous supervision. Most businesses are only at the level of indirect participation, or include ESG in periodic reports without deeply integrating.
According to Mr. Nguyen Hoang Nam, a major challenge that Vietnamese enterprises face is resources, costs and expertise. Many businesses, especially small and medium enterprises, do not have the capacity to build ESG reports that meet international standards, or invest in projects to reduce emissions, save energy, and innovate technology. This leads to a situation where some businesses are reluctant to change, or only do at a minimum level to meet partner requirements.
According to PwC Vietnam's report, although the number of ESG reports has increased, the quality is not uniform. Only 32% of audited reports showed that the level of information security was not high.
When analyzing by industry, enterprises in the manufacturing sector, especially textiles, footwear, electronics and agriculture - which are heavily dependent on exports - showed stronger interest, due to direct pressure from international customers and buyers. Meanwhile, the service, finance, and real estate sectors tend to implement ESG in other directions, focusing on corporate governance, information disclosure, and developing green products and services.
Enterprises have more opportunities to access green capital
According to Dr. Pham Hong Diep - Chairman of the Board of Directors of Shinec Joint Stock Company, the ESG report will bring practical benefits to businesses.
Firstly, for investors, the fact that an industrial park with an ESG report is built according to international standards is clearly a huge advantage. In fact, about 70% of current investors, especially foreign investors, are interested in and highly appreciate the ESG factor. If the industrial park has a transparent ESG report, investors will easily make decisions and be willing to invest faster.
Second, from a financial perspective, ESG reports help businesses have more opportunities to access green capital sources and enjoy preferential interest rates. Although the cost to meet initial technical standards is not small, in return, businesses can reduce loan interest rates by 1-2%, shorten disbursement time and reduce long-term financial costs. This benefit is fundamental and long-term.
Third, when ESG is applied, compliance in the entire industrial park is also improved. For example, instead of each enterprise having to manage itself, all will follow a common set of standards set by the industrial park.
Fourth, ESG reporting also helps businesses limit risks related to the environment and society.
ESG not only benefits the director or investor, but also spreads to all workers in the industrial park. If it is possible to give a specific problem on economic and social benefits, businesses - whether FDI or domestic - are ready to report ESG. Because, in the end, the ESG value is brought not only to an individual enterprise, but to the entire business community in the industrial park - Mr. Diep assessed.
