VIFC Zone
LPBank Becomes the Eighth Bank to Approve a VIFC Subsidiary — and the First to Name Digital Assets
LPBank's 28 April AGM unanimously approved a VIFC subsidiary — the eighth in 2026 — and the first to explicitly cite digital asset management as a target service.
The Domestic Bank Subsidiary Wave: What Eight Banks — and Now Securities Firms — Committing Capital Tells International Firms About the VIFC
Eight banks and the first securities firms have now committed capital to VIFC subsidiaries. The financial infrastructure layer is wider than originally assessed.
HDBank, the LSE, and the VIFC: How Vietnam's London Capital Markets Corridor Actually Works
HDBank's LSE partnership creates a named pathway for Vietnamese firms to access London capital markets. Three corporates are already onboard.
Vietnam Property Tax Reform: What the 2026 Roadmap Means for Real Estate Investors
Vietnam's property tax reform is moving on two tracks: a near-term amendment to the Non-Agricultural Land Use Tax Law for October 2026, and a longer-horizon Property Tax Law aimed at curbing speculation.
Vietnam Bill Opens SME Loans to Digital-Asset Collateral
Vietnam's MoF draft SME law would recognise digital assets as loan collateral — a first for mainstream banking, with a July 2027 target date.
SBV–RBI MoU Opens India Corridor for the VIFC
The SBV–RBI MoU signed 5 May 2026 targets QR code retail payment linkages — not full UPI interoperability — but opens a corridor unlike any other the VIFC has.
Resolution 05's RWA Issuance Framework: The Compliance Checklist for Tokenized Asset Issuers
Resolution 05/2025 lets Vietnamese LLCs tokenize real-world assets for foreign investors — here is every issuer obligation, from Form No. 01 to 10-year data retention.
Decree 94's P2P Sandbox: The Foreign Ownership Bar and What It Means for VIFC Firms
Decree 94/2025/ND-CP bars foreign-owned enterprises from Vietnam's P2P lending sandbox — and the term 'foreign-owned' remains undefined, raising EVFTA and CPTPP treaty questions.
CAEX's Capital Stack: How Resolution 05's Ownership Rules Work in Practice
How CAEX's VPBank-OKX-HashKey capital stack reveals the only viable entry model under Resolution 05's crypto exchange ownership rules.
DTI Law and Resolution 05: Vietnam's Crypto Licensing Framework and Where the VIFC Fits
Vietnam's DTI Law and Resolution 05/2025 create a crypto licensing regime with a $380–400M capital floor and 49% foreign ownership cap.
Resolution 05 and Decision 96: What It Actually Takes to Get a Crypto Exchange Licence in Vietnam
Vietnam requires ~$390 million in paid-up capital for a crypto exchange licence. Here is every qualifying criterion and why most applicants cannot clear the bar.
Vietnam's Two-Track Digital Asset Architecture: What the VIFC Sandbox Permits That the National Pilot Does Not
Vietnam runs two parallel digital asset regimes — a restrictive national pilot and a flexible VIFC sandbox. Here is what each permits and why it matters.
Vietnam Is Listing DeFi, Tokenisation & Stablecoins as VIFC Priority Sectors
Decree 323 names digital assets, NFTs, and DeFi as priority sectors for Vietnam's financial centre. Here's what that means for crypto firms weighing a licensed Southeast Asian base.
For Fintech and Digital Asset Firms: Sandboxes, Licensing, and the Path to Market in the VIFC
A practical guide for fintech startups, digital asset exchanges, tokenisation platforms, stablecoin issuers, and Web3 companies evaluating Vietnam's International Financial Centre — covering the sandbox mechanism, licensing pathways, and what the regulatory framework actually permits.
IMFE Launch Targets Vietnam's $6–8B Maritime-Finance Leakage
VIFC-HCMC launched the IMFE on May 21 with Gemadept as founding lead — a three-phase platform targeting the $6–8B in maritime financial value Vietnam loses offshore annually.
AAFH Deal Stack: High Ridge Aviation, 44 Aircraft, and What the $6.1B Actually Represents
High Ridge Aviation — PIMCO's JV, not PIMCO itself — holds the Vietjet financing deal. The Pratt & Whitney agreement covers exactly 44 A321NEO and A321XLR aircraft.
VIFC Sector Spotlights: Aviation Finance, Maritime Finance & Carbon Markets in Vietnam
Inside the three emerging verticals in Vietnam's VIFC — aviation finance, maritime finance, and carbon credit markets — and what they mean for firms evaluating early-mover opportunities.
Circular 09 Updates Custody Rules for SBV Repos and OMOs
Circular 09/2026/TT-NHNN, effective July 4, takes effect just as VIFC subsidiary banks go live — here is what compliance and treasury teams must act on.
SBV's Draft Circular on FDI Forex: Pre-IRC Accounts and the First IFC-to-Mainland Capital Category
SBV's draft replacement for Circular 06/2019 lets foreign investors open capital accounts before IRC approval and creates the first explicit regulatory category for IFC-to-mainland capital flows.
No More Forced VND Conversion: What Circular 72 Actually Means for Inbound Capital
Circular 72 abolished Vietnam's mandatory VND conversion for VIFC-bound foreign capital — here is what that means in practice for foreign LPs and asset managers.
Decree 328 Explained: The VIFC's International Arbitration Centre and the Annulment Waiver That Changes Everything
Decree 328 establishes Vietnam's VIFC arbitration licensing framework — including a written annulment waiver with no precedent in Vietnamese law.
Decree 324 Explained: The VIFC Tax Incentives That Matter — and the Pillar Two Problem Nobody Is Modelling
Decree 324 sets VIFC tax incentives at 10% CIT for 30 years, PIT exemptions through 2030, and IFRS flexibility — but Pillar Two floors large MNEs at 15%.
Decree 327 Explained: The VIFC's Immigration Fast Track for International Finance Professionals
Decree 327 creates 10-year UD1 residence cards and a 3-year permanent residence pathway for VIFC workers. Here is what firms need to know.
Decree 323 Explained: The Founding Charter of Vietnam's International Financial Centre
A plain-English walkthrough of Decree 323/2025/ND-CP — the decree that officially establishes the VIFC, defines its geography, governance, and priority sectors.
Decree 329 + Circular 72 Explained: Banking, Foreign Exchange, and AML Within the VIFC
A plain-English walkthrough of the VIFC's banking licensing, foreign exchange, and anti-money laundering framework — the 'money layer' of Vietnam's financial centre.
Decree 330 Explained: Commodity Exchanges, Clearing, and Settlement Within the VIFC
A plain-English walkthrough of the VIFC's commodity exchange framework — covering what can be traded, who can operate an exchange, and how clearing and settlement will work.
Singapore and the VIFC: What a Central Banker Premier's First Phone Call Signals
PM Le Minh Hung, a former SBV Governor, called Singapore's PM nine days into office to request VIFC support — here is what that means.
Singapore Backs VIFC Commercial Court in May 29 MOU
Singapore and Vietnam signed an MOU on 29 May 2026 to jointly develop the VIFC Specialised Commercial Court — the first bilateral partnership to operationalise Law 150's judicial framework.
Decree 329's AA- Floor Is Blocking JPMorgan, MUFG, and Bank of America from the VIFC
Decree 329 requires AA-/Aa3 credit ratings for foreign bank VIFC licences — a threshold that blocks JPMorgan, MUFG, Bank of China, and over 10 other named institutions.
Da Nang's Implementing Decrees Are Too Strict: The Case for Amending Resolution 222
Da Nang's VIFC Executive Agency told the National Assembly in May 2026 that Resolution 222's eight guiding decrees are too strict for practical implementation — and is now preparing formal amendment proposals.
VIFC's Eight Implementing Decrees: A Practitioner's Reference Map
All eight VIFC implementing decrees (323–330) were enacted on 18 December 2025. Here is the practitioner's reference map.
HCMC's Davos Playbook: The On-Chain Partnerships Behind the Headlines
HCMC's Davos delegation signed two on-chain MoUs and studied Lugano's crypto-city model. Here is what each engagement actually involved.
VIFC Forex and Dispute Resolution: A Practical Framework for Cross-Border Transactions
The VIFC's forex and dispute resolution frameworks interact in ways that matter for cross-border deal structuring — a practical guide.
VIFC-HCMC's Growth Engine Architecture: What the Strategic Positioning Actually Means for International Firms
Vietnam's VIFC is designed as economic infrastructure, not a standalone marketplace. What $9 billion in early commitments reveals.
Vietnam's Trust Law Gap: Why the VIFC Cannot Yet Serve as a Wealth Structuring Centre
Vietnam classified trust activities and defined beneficial ownership in 2025 — but no enabling law bridges the gap to workable trusts inside the VIFC.
VIFC FAQ: Common Questions About Vietnam's International Financial Centre
Answers to the most common questions about the VIFC — tax incentives, membership, foreign currency rules, the sandbox, crypto regulation, dispute resolution, and myths that need correcting.
Market Structure and Products: What Can Be Traded, Cleared, and Settled in the VIFC
A practitioner's map of the product universe the VIFC's legal framework creates — from conventional banking and securities to commodity derivatives, digital assets, carbon credits, and NFT-structured cultural products.
Timeline and Milestones: How the VIFC Went from Politburo Notice to Operational Launch in 14 Months
A chronological record of every significant event in Vietnam's VIFC creation — from the November 2024 Politburo directive through Resolution 222 to the February 2026 operational launch in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang.
VIFC vs DIFC, AIFC, and GIFT City: How Vietnam's Financial Centre Compares
A structured comparison of Vietnam's VIFC with DIFC (Dubai), AIFC (Kazakhstan), and GIFT City (India) — comparing legal systems, tax incentives, crypto regulation, digital assets, and scale.
Who's Who: The People and Institutions Behind the VIFC
An ecosystem map of the governance bodies, regulators, founding members, strategic partners, and advisors shaping Vietnam's International Financial Centre.
For Financial Institutions: Licensing, Membership, and Operating Within the VIFC
A practical guide for banks, insurers, asset managers, and financial services firms evaluating the VIFC — covering membership tiers, licensing pathways, capital requirements, tax incentives, and the operational realities of setting up.
Getting Started: How to Register and Enter Vietnam's VIFC
A step-by-step guide to VIFC membership registration, entity formation in Vietnam, licensing pathways, tax incentive applications, and first operational decisions for international firms.
Resolution 222 Explained: The Law That Created Vietnam's International Financial Centre
A plain-English walkthrough of National Assembly Resolution 222/2025/QH15 — the foundational law establishing the VIFC in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang.
Vietnam's VIFC: What Global Financial Institutions Must Evaluate Before 2027
Licensing pathways, tax incentives, and regulatory gaps — a practical breakdown of what banks, asset managers, and insurers need to assess before Vietnam's financial centre opens.
Decree 323 Explained: How Vietnam's VIFC Will Actually Be Governed
The 'one centre, two locations' model, 17 priority sectors, and who controls what — Decree 323 decoded for financial institutions and legal teams planning VIFC entry.
What Is the VIFC? Vietnam's International Financial Centre Explained
A complete guide to Vietnam's International Financial Centre (VIFC) — the legal framework, governance structure, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang locations, priority sectors, tax incentives, and what it means for global finance.
VIFC Personal Income Tax Exemption: What Finance Professionals Actually Keep Until 2030
Decree 324/2025/ND-CP, in force since 18 December 2025, exempts qualifying VIFC professionals from PIT on employment income until end of 2030.
Living in Da Nang: Expat Guide for VIFC Finance Professionals
A practical guide to living in Da Nang, Vietnam — neighborhoods, housing costs, international schools, healthcare, transport, and what to expect relocating to the VIFC's innovation and fintech hub.
Living in Ho Chi Minh City: Expat Guide for VIFC Finance Professionals
A practical guide to living in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam — neighborhoods, housing costs, international schools, healthcare, transport, and what to expect relocating to the VIFC's main financial hub.
Moving to Vietnam: Visas, Work Permits, Banking & Practical Essentials
Vietnam visas, work permits, banking, housing, international schools, and cost of living — everything a finance professional relocating to Ho Chi Minh City or Da Nang for the VIFC needs to know.