Opening of the Roundtable “Positioning and Developing an International Financial Centre in Da Nang City: Opportunities for Attracting Transactions and Investment”

In his opening remarks, Standing Vice Chairman Ho Ky Minh noted that Da Nang holds a uniquely strategic geo-economic position, located in the central part of Viet Nam and serving as a key gateway from the East–West Economic Corridor to the East Sea. The city is also close to major trade routes under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), creating favourable conditions for deeper participation in global supply chains.
 

Following the expansion of its administrative boundaries to include the former Quang Nam province, Da Nang has become the centrally-governed city with the largest natural area, with nearly 12,000 km² and a population of more than 3 million. This is a significant advantage, not only creating room for socio-economic development but also generating the need for substantial resources to invest in infrastructure, urban rail systems, and connectivity in order to expand urban space and consolidate the foundation for the future development of a financial centre.

The city also boasts well-developed transport and international connectivity infrastructure. Da Nang International Airport, rated 5 stars by Skytrax and located right in the city centre, currently operates nearly 270 flights (arrivals and departures) per day, including more than 100 international flights.

In the not-too-distant future, Da Nang will upgrade Chu Lai International Airport, with an area of 2,000 hectares, into one of the three largest airports in Viet Nam, planned to meet 4F standards and to handle 30 million passengers per year and 3 million tonnes of cargo per year by 2050. In parallel, the largest container seaport complex in Central Viet Nam, with three major terminals – including Lien Chieu Port, which is preparing for a tender to select an international investor – is planned to be developed into an international transshipment port.

Da Nang is also a renowned tourism and resort destination, home to one of the largest concentrations of high-end accommodation facilities in Viet Nam (163 four-to-five-star establishments). The city and surrounding area feature 57 tourist sites and attractions, three UNESCO World Heritage Sites (Hoi An Ancient Town, My Son Sanctuary, and the Marble Mountains epitaph complex), one UNESCO Biosphere Reserve (Cu Lao Cham), and more than 215 km of coastline with many beautiful bays and beaches.

In just the first eight months of 2025, the city welcomed more than 12.8 million overnight visitors, including over 5 million international guests (equivalent to 36% of all international visitors to Viet Nam in the same period), generating tourism revenue of nearly USD 1.5 billion.
 

Beyond tourism and infrastructure, Da Nang is also one of Viet Nam’s leading innovation hubs. For 14 consecutive years, the city has ranked first nationwide in the ICT readiness index and for 5 straight years has been honoured across all three categories of “Smart City.” In 2025, StartupBlink selected Da Nang as one of 12 outstanding startup ecosystems worldwide.

Building on this foundation, Da Nang is focusing on investment and development to become a centre for testing and developing new technologies, from the Internet of Things to artificial intelligence and blockchain.

Standing Vice Chairman Ho Ky Minh stressed that, in line with central government orientations and the city’s existing strengths, Viet Nam’s International Financial Centre in Da Nang will be developed based on three main pillars: green finance, trade finance, and fintech/digital assets.

“Da Nang aims to become a ‘laboratory’ for new financial models – from digital assets, digital currencies and digital payments to solutions applying blockchain and artificial intelligence – alongside the strong development of fund management activities to support fintech startups. At the same time, the city will encourage green financial products and initiatives in order to support the national net-zero emissions target and the global vision for sustainable development, leveraging its potential in renewable energy and sustainable tourism,” Standing Vice Chairman Ho Ky Minh said.

Da Nang will also place strong emphasis on developing cross-border trade finance associated with seaports, logistics and international tourism, together with offshore financial services for organisations, FDI enterprises and global investors. The city will particularly focus on building a favourable financial environment for small and medium-sized enterprises as well as innovative startups, thereby creating a diverse, dynamic and creative financial ecosystem rooted in core values such as greenness, smartness, digitalisation, innovation, inclusiveness and customer-centricity, ultimately contributing to a high quality of life.
 

Standing Vice Chairman Ho Ky Minh added that, to implement this vision, Da Nang has consulted and coordinated with central ministries and agencies to finalise the legal framework and develop decrees related to international financial centres in Viet Nam, which are expected to be submitted for promulgation before 15 November.

The roundtable serves as a specialised forum for in-depth exchanges among leading experts in finance and banking, law, technology and investment, aimed at sharing international experience and proposing development models suited to Da Nang’s conditions and the orientations of the Government of Viet Nam.

The city hopes to receive many practical opinions and recommendations, especially solutions related to green finance, supply chain finance, digital assets and fintech, thereby contributing to the completion of a modern, transparent and sustainable financial ecosystem.

“We believe that, with a spirit of cooperation, openness and willingness to learn, this roundtable will generate concrete policy suggestions and action-oriented directions, helping to position Da Nang as an attractive destination for financial transactions, investment and innovation in the region,” Standing Vice Chairman Ho Ky Minh expressed.

The roundtable “Positioning and Developing Viet Nam’s International Financial Centre in Da Nang City” is taking place on 6 and 7 November 2025, focusing on two main themes: “Attracting Sustainable Financial Services to Viet Nam’s International Financial Centre in Da Nang” (6 November) and “Developing a Competitive Ecosystem for Digital Assets – International Experiences and Development Trends” (7 November).

The discussion sessions will address key areas such as trade finance, sustainable finance and green finance, digital asset development and the establishment of commodity exchanges, among others.