Includes how major projects are financed and gives examples where relevant. Explains activities of the multilateral development banks in and other aid-funded projects where procurement is open to U.S. bidders.
Last Published: 7/18/2018

United States Government supported export financing, project financing, loan guarantees and insurance programs are available for transactions in Vietnam through the U.S. Export-Import Bank (U.S. EXIM Bank) and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC). The establishment of these two agencies' programs in Vietnam, coupled with the activities of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), which provides grants for feasibility studies, technical assistance, reverse trade missions, and training for commercial projects being pursued by U.S. firms, has enhanced the competitiveness of U.S. companies doing business in Vietnam. 

In principle, state-owned banks could provide export financing to U.S. firms operating in Vietnam, but such financing is more likely to come from joint-stock banks or the branches of foreign banks in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. When dealing with importers or financing originating in Vietnam, U.S. suppliers should request irrevocable L/Cs. They should have one of their correspondent banks confirm the L/Cs. Foreign banks tend to deal for trade financing with the major joint-stock banks (Vietcombank, Vietinbank, BIDV, ACB, EXIM Bank, SACOM Bank, and Techcombank) and the biggest state-owned bank (BARD).
Bilateral government “tied” aid, commonly offered by other governments, sometimes provides non-U.S. companies with a comparative advantage that negatively affects American trade performance in Vietnam. These may be in the form of soft loan programs designed to support the financing-country’s exporters. U.S. EXIM Bank and OPIC financial services may be a tool to offset this disadvantage for American companies.  

Vietnam secures a substantial portion of its development funding from Official Development Assistance (ODA), including from the multilateral development banks (primarily the World Bank (WB) and Asian Development Bank (ADB)), the Japanese Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), German Development Bank (KFW) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). American firms can also participate in projects funded by these agencies. 

Medium, and possibly longer-term, financing is also available from commercial banks in Vietnam, although loans are provided mostly in Vietnamese dong. Foreign investors are encouraged to approach the branches of major foreign banks instead of the state banks as the state banks tend to favor Vietnamese state-owned enterprises.


Multilateral Development Banks

The Commercial Service maintains Commercial Liaison Offices in each of the main Multilateral Development Banks, including the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank. These institutions lend billions of dollars in developing countries on projects aimed at accelerating economic growth and social development by reducing poverty, inequality, improving health, education, and advancing infrastructure development. The Commercial Liaison Offices help American businesses learn how to get involved in bank-funded projects, and advocate on behalf of American bidders. Learn more by contacting the Commercial Liaison Offices to the Asian Development Bank (http://www.export.gov/adb/) and the World Bank (http://export.gov/worldbank).

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.