The launch ceremony of the Vietnam International Financial Centre (VIFC) was attended by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, leaders of the Central Government, Ho Chi Minh City, and a large number of financial institutions and domestic and foreign investors.
The event marks an important step in the roadmap for building Vietnam's International Financial Center, shifting from policy and orientation to a specific operating structure.
Elevating the national position to co-create regional and international financial markets
Speaking at the launching ceremony, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that in the context of a rapidly changing world, increasing strategic competition and strong capital movements, Vietnam needs to build an independent and self-reliant economy associated with deep, substantive and effective integration.
According to the Prime Minister, the formation of the International Financial Center is a strategic choice and a necessary step to attract and orient capital flows into strategic infrastructure, foundation industry, logistics, green transformation and digital transformation; and at the same time provide modern financial tools for Vietnamese businesses to participate more deeply in the global value chain, gradually raising the national position from receiving capital to co-creating regional and international financial markets.
At the event, the constituent agencies of VIFC-HCMC were officially launched, including: VIFC-HCMC Executive Agency, Specialized Court at VIFC-HCMC, International Arbitration Center at VIFC-HCMC; opening of VIFC-HCMC's Electronic Information Page; awarding certificates of founding member and strategic member of VIFC-HCMC.
The organizing committee awarded the founding membership certificate of the Vietnam International Finance Center to 11 organizations, including HD Financial - Banking Group (HDFG), Sovico and reputable institutions such as Nasdaq (USA), VinaCapital, MB, SonKim Capital...
Belief - The core element of success
Speaking at the event, Labor Hero - Dr. Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, Standing Vice President of HDBank, Chairman of Vietjet, shared the perspective drawn from more than three decades of cooperation with leading financial centers such as London, New York, Dublin, Hong Kong, Dubai... According to her, the core factor determining the success of a financial center is not the scale of capital, but the belief.
“Belief in stable and predictable institutions; belief in modern financial and technological infrastructure; and belief in people, in a transparent and honest business culture. When confidence is built, capital flows will not only come, but will stay and accompany the economy for a long time” - Dr. Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao emphasized.
This message was highly appreciated by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, considering it a foundation for the Vietnam International Finance Center to develop sustainably. Government leaders also noted encouraging initial results, including the Asia Pacific Aviation Finance Center, announced by VIFC-HCMC and Vietjet at Singapore Airshow 2026, mobilizing more than 6 billion USD right in the startup phase.
In her speech, Dr. Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao affirmed that Ho Chi Minh City is a natural convergence point for large-scale financial activities, thanks to the strong development of logistics, aviation, trade and technology ecosystems. In particular, aviation finance is identified as a strategic pillar, connecting global capital flows with Vietnam's key economic sectors.
At Singapore Airshow 2026, Vietjet and international partners announced the establishment of the Asia-Pacific Aviation Finance Center in Ho Chi Minh City, with the support of Boeing, Airbus, Pratt & Whitney, CFM, Rolls-Royce and the International Air Transport Association (IATA). This is concrete evidence of the linkage between the new financial institution and global value chains.
As a long-term investor in Ho Chi Minh City, Dr. Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao affirmed that Sovico, HDFG, HDBank, Vietjet and member units will continue to connect international capital flows, deploy new financial models, promote digital transformation, green finance, inclusive finance and develop high-quality financial - technology human resources.
The launch of the Vietnam International Finance Center in Ho Chi Minh City is therefore not only of institutional significance, but also reflects a shift in development thinking: from attracting capital to building trust; from opening up the market to building a foundation for long-term capital flow.
In the context of increasingly deep integration, the message of trust and international standards was emphasized at the launch ceremony, contributing to positioning Ho Chi Minh City as a financial center gradually forming on the regional map - not only by scale, but by institutional quality and strategic vision.
