Vietnam’s rapid economic rise has brought new expectations from global investors, regulators, and trading partners. As sustainability becomes a key factor in international business, the country faces a growing challenge: producing reliable, standardized Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) data that meets global standards.

While ESG awareness is increasing across Vietnam’s corporate landscape, reporting capabilities have not kept pace. Large listed companies are subject to sustainability disclosure requirements, but many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) lack the expertise, systems, and resources needed to generate consistent ESG reports. As a result, Vietnam’s ESG data remains fragmented, difficult to compare, and often dependent on manual processes.

To address these challenges, the report proposes the creation of a national ESG portal. The platform would serve as a centralized hub for collecting, standardizing, and managing sustainability data from businesses and institutions across the country. By aligning reporting methodologies and improving transparency, the portal could provide investors, regulators, researchers, and financial institutions with reliable ESG information.

The report emphasizes that international alignment is critical. Global standards such as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) should guide ESG reporting to ensure that Vietnamese companies can benchmark their performance against international peers and participate more effectively in global supply chains and capital markets.

Technology is identified as a key enabler of this transition. Digital platforms, automated workflows, and data analytics tools could reduce reporting burdens, improve accuracy, and transform ESG information from a compliance requirement into a strategic business asset. At the same time, stronger governance, verification, and assurance mechanisms would be necessary to build trust in ESG disclosures.

The report also highlights the importance of SMEs, which form the backbone of Vietnam’s economy. Without targeted support, simplified frameworks, and technical assistance, many smaller businesses could struggle to meet rising sustainability expectations from international markets.

The economic incentives are significant. Global ESG-linked investments continue to expand, while demand for sustainable finance is growing throughout Southeast Asia. According to the report, a stronger ESG infrastructure could help Vietnam attract investment, improve access to capital, and strengthen its long-term competitiveness.

Ultimately, the report concludes that Vietnam’s ESG challenge is primarily a data and infrastructure issue rather than a lack of commitment from businesses. A centralized ESG portal, supported by government agencies, financial regulators, universities, international organizations, and the private sector, is presented as the foundation for building a transparent, integrated, and globally competitive ESG ecosystem.