The Government of Vietnam has announced plans to secure USD5.5 billion in foreign loans in 2026 to accelerate the construction of large-scale national infrastructure projects and address delays in development finance disbursement, according to the government.
The planned borrowing is expected to include official development assistance (ODA), concessional loans, and other external financing instruments. In 2025, Vietnam secured USD624 million in new ODA and concessional loans for 10 projects, but only 35.27 per cent of the funds were disbursed due to land clearance issues, resettlement delays, project approvals in forest areas, bidding procedures, tax complications, and prolonged loan negotiations.
Public investment remains a key driver of Vietnam’s economic strategy, with the government targeting GDP growth of over 10 per cent in 2026. In late 2025, construction began on 234 infrastructure projects valued at VND3,400 trillion, of which 18 per cent is funded by the state and the remainder by private and other investors. Vietnam has also revised its public debt management law to streamline ODA negotiations and improve project implementation efficiency.