In the context of increasingly complex climate change and Vietnam’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, the development of green buildings (GBs) has been identified as one of the strategic solutions of the construction sector. Green buildings not only help reduce emissions and save energy but also create high-quality living environments, enhance competitiveness, and promote the formation of a green economy.

Numerous barriers hindering development

According to the Ministry of Construction, by the end of the third quarter of 2025, Vietnam had over 600 green buildings with a total floor area of nearly 17 million m². However, this growth rate still falls short of the country’s potential and practical requirements.

Mr. Luyen Van Phuong, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Construction, noted that current green building policies remain mostly at an encouraging level and lack strong mandatory incentives. Implementation largely depends on the voluntary commitment of investors rather than a consistent and systemic requirement. He emphasized the need for clear roadmaps and specific targets, particularly requiring public projects such as schools and hospitals to take the lead.

From a market perspective, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Hiep, Chairman of the Vietnam Association of Construction Contractors (VACC), pointed out that most investors do not fully understand GB criteria, while contractors and builders lack information about suitable materials and processes. This indicates that the system of standards and guidelines has not yet been effectively disseminated.

In addition, implementation costs remain a significant obstacle. For example, in a 37-hectare urban project in Lang Son, the cost of upgrading from a LEED Silver to a LEED Gold certification increased by 11 billion VND, mainly due to higher technical and material requirements.

From a research perspective, Dr. Nguyen Hong Hai, Director of the Institute for Building Science and Technology, stated that incorporating green criteria into national standards means mandatory evaluation and verification from the early stages, which raises initial investment costs. Meanwhile, there is still a shortage of qualified consultants and assessors, preventing the formation of a robust green building ecosystem.

Urgent need to finalize standards and green financial policies

According to Ms. Do Ngoc Diep from IFC’s Green Building Program, Vietnam has “greened” an average of 4 million m² of floor area per year since 2008, across various building types — from social housing to hotels and public facilities. Therefore, the challenge lies not in technical capacity but in financial mechanisms and policy support.

Currently, Vietnam applies several international green building rating systems such as LEED, LOTUS, Green Mark, and EDGE, which assess indicators like water, energy, materials, indoor air quality, and climate adaptation. However, Ms. Luu Thi Thanh Mau (Phuc Khang Corp) emphasized that it is time for Vietnam to establish its own national GB criteria system, while also opening a “green channel” for retrofitting and upgrading approximately 40,000 existing buildings.

In response, Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Van Sinh affirmed that the Ministry would urgently develop and issue a national GB criteria framework, while also strengthening the training of domestic assessors and inspectors to enhance professional capacity.

The path forward

In the last week of October 2025, the Ministry of Construction organized the “Vietnam Green Building and Green Transport Week 2025”, focusing on removing policy bottlenecks and promoting practical implementation across the sector.

Experts agreed that to make green buildings a mainstream trend, Vietnam must implement comprehensive actions:

• Finalize mandatory standards and codes.

• Expand green finance: preferential credit, tax incentives, and carbon credits.

• Develop the domestic green materials market.

• Train and develop specialized consulting and certification professionals.

• Strengthen communication and guidance for investors and contractors.

Conclusion

After nearly two decades of initiation, green buildings are no longer a spontaneous option but an urgent necessity for sustainable urban development. Building a synchronized ecosystem — from policy and market to human resources — will be the key for Vietnam to realize its goals of green growth and net-zero emissions by 2050.