On June 27, 2025, Vietnam’s National Assembly officially adopted the Resolution on International Financial Centers (IFCs), setting out the legal framework for developing the country’s first IFCs in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang. The Resolution takes effect from September 1, 2025.
This landmark legal instrument introduces special mechanisms and preferential policies to attract capital, advanced technologies, international management practices, and high-quality human resources. The overarching goal is to position Vietnam as a competitive regional hub for financial services.
Key highlights include:
-
Liberalization of cross-border capital flows;
-
Development of the stock, insurance, banking, fintech, and digital asset markets;
-
Legal basis for supporting green and sustainable finance initiatives;
-
Recognition of foreign law in cross-border transactions (subject to public policy safeguards);
-
Application of the lex situs principle for real estate-related transactions.
The Resolution also allows regulatory authorities to impose restrictions on participants where necessary to protect national interests and security.
This development marks a significant step in Vietnam’s legal modernization and global financial integration. Businesses and investors are encouraged to monitor further implementing regulations in the coming months.
