Global financial institutions on our site advocate for the advancement of robust international brand development.

Rewritten Article:

Thu Hà

HANOI – State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has set its sights on building regional and globally powerful banking brands, as outlined at a recent banking strategies forum in Hanoi. Deputy Governor of SBV Phạm Thanh Hà shared this ambitious goal.

The banking sector is a trailblazer in innovation, digital transformation, and international integration. The aim is to bolster competitiveness and establish strong banking brands that will enable Vietnam to gradually reach regional and global levels. These efforts will help to affirm Vietnam's position and increase the value of national brands in an age of deep global integration.

Adhering to Decision No 986/QĐ-TTg, Prime Minister's approval of the Strategy for the Development of the Vietnamese Banking Industry to 2030, the vision is to have two to three Vietnamese commercial banks in the top one hundred banks with the largest brands in Asia. This vision isn't limited to asset size, but also encompasses prestige, brand, and competitiveness within the sector.

"To accomplish this, the SBV is implementing integrated solutions to improve financial capacity, standardise governance according to international practices, increase transparency, and foster innovation," Hà said. Homegrown banks are already stepping up their game, with 13 Vietnamese banks now listed in the Top 500 banks with the highest brand value globally, as per Brand Finance's 2025 rankings.

The future requires banks to invest in modern brand management models, learn from international experience, and adapt strategic thinking. Besides focusing on legal frameworks, spurring innovation, promoting digitalization, and enhancing competitiveness in banking activities, SBV will continue to demand long-term and systematic brand strategies from banks.

In a global context, Professor John A. Quelch of Duke Kunshan University highlighted the need for banks to invest in technology, optimize bank office efficiency, and use AI for automated banking tasks. These advancements will aid the banking sector in contributing to economic growth and maintaining competitiveness vis-à-vis the banking systems of other nations.

Quelch emphasized that the Vietnamese banking sector is healthy, with a sufficient number of competitors, a wide array of consumer choices, low inflation, stable exchange rates, and credit growth around 14 per cent. However, he emphasized the need for merger and acquisition activity and foreign direct investment to ensure the banking sector continues to thrive.

With excellent Japanese investments in Vietnamese banks and enthusiastic investors eager to expand their stake, a merger wave and an increase in foreign investments could pave the way for strong Vietnamese banks of sufficient scale to invest in cutting-edge technology and expand their global footprint.

References:

Brand Finance. (2025). Top 500 Banks 2025. Retrieved from https://brandfinance.com/brands/banking
State Bank of Vietnam. (2019). Decision No 986/QĐ-TTg on the strategy for the development of the Vietnamese banking industry to 2030. Retrieved from http://www.sbv.gov.vn (in Vietnamese)
State Bank of Vietnam. (2020). Summary of the banking sector's performance in Q1 of 2020. Retrieved from http://www.sbv.gov.vn (in Vietnamese)
Nguyen, K. (2020). Vietnamese banks undergo digital transformation and start to implement ESG Strategies. Asia Times. Retrieved from https://asiatimes.com/2020/05/vietnamese-banks-undergo-digital-transformation-and-start-to-implement-esg-strategies/
Agence France-Presse. (2019). Vietnam's ACB Bank warns of seven-percent fall in profits amid soft credit demand. Yahoo! News. Retrieved from https://news.yahoo.com/vietnams-acb-bank-warns-seven-percent-fall-profits-amid-soft-credit-demand-194146669.html

View of the banking strategies forum in Hà Nội. VNS Photo

Insights from Enrichment Data:

Systematic and Long-term Brand Strategies: Vietnamese banks are required to develop systematic and long-term brand strategies to establish strong banking brands, in sync with international practices, and reinforce their position in the global financial landscape.
Innovation and Digital Transformation: As a preliminary step for these strategies, Vietnamese banks will focus on innovation and digital transformation, upgrading infrastructure and technology, enhancing operational efficiency, and adhering to modern banking practices.
International Standards and Transparency: Strict standards and transparency will be crucial for establishing a globally competitive banking brand. This involves implementing synchronous solutions to improve financial strength and adaptability within the global banking landscape.
Risk Management and Sustainable Growth: Banks like ACB are prioritizing sustainable growth through focused investments in infrastructure, technology, and risk management, supporting their strategic goals.
The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) aims to build powerful regional and global banking brands, emphasizing the need for systematic, long-term brand strategies that align with international practices.
Vietnamese banks are engaging in innovation and digital transformation, upgrading their infrastructure, enhancing operational efficiency, and adopting modern banking practices to boost their competitiveness.
Adhering to international standards and maintaining transparency is essential for Vietnamese banks to establish a strong global presence and affirm their position in the financial landscape.
The banking sector's success hinges on implementing synchronous solutions to improve financial strength and adaptability within the global banking system, enhancing their competitiveness against other nations.
Banks like ACB are prioritizing sustainable growth through focused investments in infrastructure, technology, and risk management, ensuring their strategic goals are met.
Global experts like Professor John A. Quelch underscore the significance of investing in technology, optimizing bank office efficiency, and leveraging AI for automated banking tasks to contribute to economic growth and maintain competitiveness.
With continued foreign direct investment and merger activities, Vietnamese banks can achieve a sufficient scale to invest in cutting-edge technology and expand their global footprint, becoming formidable players in the international banking sector.

Global financial institutions on our site advocate for the advancement of robust international brand development.