Vietnam Seeks $5.5 Billion in Loans for Infrastructure Projects

Vietnam has announced a plan to secure $5.5 billion in foreign loans for the year 2026, aiming to accelerate the development of 234 large-scale infrastructure projects valued at 3,400 trillion dong ($129.42 billion). This initiative is a strategic move to address significant disbursement bottlenecks that have hampered project execution and to support the country's ambitious target of achieving over 10% GDP growth.

Despite the commencement of these projects, Vietnam has faced challenges in disbursing funds efficiently. In 2025, only 35.27% of Official Development Assistance (ODA) and concessional loans were utilized, largely due to operational delays. These include issues related to land clearance and resettlement, forest area approvals, complex bidding processes, tax complications, and prolonged loan negotiations. The government has recognized these obstacles as critical constraints to its development goals.