Vietnam’s stock market was upgraded by FTSE Russell, creating fresh opportunities for foreign capital. The change matters because investors are now looking at Vietnam as a more credible destination for their money.

Vu Chi Dung, head of the Department of Legal and International Affairs at the State Securities Commission, said the regulator is prioritising reforms to improve market access, transparency, corporate‑governance and English disclosure. The goal is to satisfy MSCI’s upgrade criteria by 2030.

Nguyen Hung, CEO of TPBank, explained that banks can tap international funding only if they follow global standards such as Basel and ESG and provide clearer information to investors. He added that foreign funding helps banks lower exchange‑rate risk costs and supports medium‑ and long‑term lending.

Tran Hoang Son, market strategy director at VPBank Securities, noted that despite the FTSE Russell upgrade, foreign investors have been net sellers, withdrawing about $4.8 billion this year. He warned that sustained inflows will depend on market reforms and the quality of listed companies.

High hedging costs and limited English‑language reporting still block foreign investors. Bui Minh Tuan, senior director of equity capital markets at Techcom Securities, said Vietnam’s hedging expenses are higher than in Thailand, Indonesia or Japan, and that insufficient English disclosures deter investors.