Energy – key to Vietnam’s growth through 2045: Belgian expert
Vietnam has a real opportunity to achieve rapid growth through 2045, provided it fundamentally changes the way value is created and ensures a sufficiently strong and reliable energy foundation, said Eric Van Vaerenbergh, an energy expert and lecturer at the Brussels Engineering School (ECAM).
Speaking to a Vietnam News Agency (VNA) correspondent in Brussels, Van Vaerenbergh noted that the targets Vietnam has set for the 2026–2045 period are highly ambitious but not risky. Maintaining high growth over the coming decades and striving to become a high-income country by 2045 are consistent with the country’s existing advantages, including deep international integration, an established industrial base, a population still in its “golden demographic period,” and relatively effective policy management capacity.
However, he stressed that the world is entering a phase of fragmentation in trade and technology, while climate-related requirements, traceability and compliance standards are becoming increasingly stringent. At the same time, physical constraints such as energy, water and material resources are becoming more apparent. Therefore, the core issue is no longer how fast Vietnam can grow, but how it grows, how to create more value with fewer resources, while enhancing resilience to external shocks, VNA reported.
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| Eric Van Vaerenbergh, an energy expert and lecturer at the Brussels Engineering School (ECAM). (Photo published by VNA) |
Assessing prospects for the 2026–2030 period, the scholar outlined three possible growth scenarios for Vietnam. The baseline scenario ranges from 6.5–7.5% per year; the high-growth scenario could reach 8–9%; while growth close to 10%, though not impossible, cannot be taken for granted without meeting key conditions. Sustaining double-digit growth in a durable manner would require the simultaneous fulfilment of many fundamental prerequisites.
First and foremost is rapid, well-targeted and effective public investment in infrastructure, particularly energy systems, seaports, roads and railways. Electricity, he said, is the “lifeblood” of the modern economy. Vietnam needs power that is affordable, safe, readily available on demand and scalable, not only in generation capacity but also in transmission networks. He warned that without a robust power grid and reliable supply contracts, electricity-intensive sectors such as electronics, semiconductors and data centers will struggle to develop as expected.
Beyond infrastructure and energy, another critical condition is genuine improvement in total factor productivity, rather than continued reliance on expanding labour and capital inputs. This is closely linked to large-scale skills upgrading, especially for engineers, technicians and industrial managers. In parallel, the legal environment must be simplified, stable and predictable, so that businesses and investors have sufficient confidence to take long-term risks.
The energy expert spoke highly of external drivers such as the EU–Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and the “China+1” strategy. However, he cautioned that these agreements will only deliver tangible benefits if Vietnam significantly increases its domestic value added. Conversely, a frequently underestimated risk lies in the economy’s high degree of openness, which exposes Vietnam to stricter rules of origin, trade fraud investigations, suspicions of “transshipment,” and new carbon-related barriers.
According to the expert, becoming a high-income country is not simply about crossing a nominal income threshold, which is adjusted annually. The greatest challenge lies in sustaining a stable development trajectory over two decades, as population growth slows and the advantage of low-cost labour fades. In this context, productivity must become the “central engine” of growth.
To achieve this, Vietnam needs a sufficiently strong institutional push, including ensuring legal security, simplifying procedures, accelerating decision-making, and effectively combating corruption without paralysing the administrative apparatus. This should be accompanied by a deliberate strategy to upgrade value chains, gradually shifting from assembly to design, component manufacturing, industrial software development, higher-margin services, and ultimately brand building.
Van Vaerenbergh particularly emphasized the role of human capital, describing it as the highest-return investment. Vietnam needs to train and attract large numbers of engineers and technicians, while organising continuous retraining to keep pace with new technological waves, from nanotechnology and biotechnology to information technology and cognitive sciences. However, he warned that all efforts in human resources and technology would be difficult to sustain without a competitive, reliable, low-emission energy system capable of meeting demand. The energy disruptions faced by many Western countries, especially those overly dependent on intermittent renewable sources, offer lessons Vietnam should heed.
According to the scholar, Vietnam must move away from a growth model based on scale and cheap labour towards one driven by productivity, quality and innovation, aligned with a circular economy. This requires substantive and transparent administrative reforms, unlocking the private sector, reforming state-owned enterprises so they do not crowd out private capital, reallocating resources to avoid excessive bias toward real estate and credit, and implementing the circular economy in a meaningful way from production to consumption.
Equally important are modernising education and skills, reducing industrial carbon emissions in line with Power Development Plan VIII, upgrading the power grid, developing energy storage technologies, and improving energy efficiency. In his view, Vietnam’s future competitiveness will ultimately be determined by electricity, grid infrastructure and the way resources are used.
Amid increasingly complex geopolitical dynamics, he recommended that Vietnam pursue a strategy of “multi-alignment,” proactively diversifying partners and strengthening its capacity to demonstrate compliance with international standards. Compliance, he said, should not be seen as a burden but as a competitive advantage, particularly in the context of new EU mechanisms such as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD).
The expert affirmed that Vietnam can indeed embark on a path of rapid and sustainable growth through 2045 if it places productivity, energy and institutions at the core of its development strategy. A 2045 vision underpinned by clear indicators on productivity, value added, workforce skills, power system reliability and institutional quality will help translate ambition into concrete action, while strengthening confidence among citizens, businesses and international partners.
Quang Ninh sees tourism surge over New Year holiday
The northern province of Quang Ninh welcomed an estimated 380,000 tourist arrivals during the New Year holiday, underscoring a strong start to the 2026 tourism season.
According to the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the total number of visitors recorded on December 31, 2025 and January 1, 2026 included about 32,000 international arrivals and 348,000 domestic tourists. Overnight stays were estimated at 103,000, while total tourism revenue reached approximately VND8.72 trillion (US$360 million).
Notably, Quang Ninh welcomed cruise ship Celebrity Solstice on New Year’s Day, bringing 3,018 international tourists along with 1,222 crew members on its first visit to Ha Long.
Several key attractions across the province recorded strong visitor numbers, including Ha Long Bay with 23,879 visitors, Sun World Ha Long Park with 7,000 visitors, the Quang Ninh Museum with 2,435 visitors, and the Yen Tu World Cultural Heritage Complex with 4,585 visitors.
Local authorities actively ensured public order and safety, enabling residents and tourists to take part in cultural, sports and tourism activities during the New Year holiday, cited VOV.
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| Japanese tourist is welcomed upon arrival at Ha Long Port. |
On New Year’s Eve, the Co To Special Administrative Zone hosted a New Year countdown art programme themed “Green Island Breakthrough – Connecting to Go Further”, along with public screenings of the film "To quoc trong tim” (The Homeland in Our Hearts) on LED screens at local cultural houses.
On New Year’s Day, Co To also held a solemn flag-raising ceremony at the Special National Relic Site dedicated to President Ho Chi Minh.
Throughout the first two days of the New Year holiday, tourism services were carefully and thoroughly prepared by local authorities and businesses. A wide range of tourism products was offered, including fully booked dinner cruises, as well as cultural and tourism activities organised by enterprises and accommodation providers.
Vietnam football 2026: From Southeast Asia to Asian giants
After a dazzling 2025, Vietnam football steps into 2026 with a new stature, solid groundwork, and renewed ambition to shine on the continental stage.
The past year stands as one of the most successful in Vietnam's modern football history.
The men’s national team triumphed at the ASEAN Cup, the U23s claimed the Southeast Asian U23 Championship, and the year concluded with a euphoric victory at the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand.
These weren’t isolated wins - they reflected a systematic and sustainable rise in Vietnamese football.
Historic milestone: 7 national teams reach Asian finals
The biggest headline is that seven Vietnamese national teams have qualified for the final rounds of Asian competitions in 2026 - an unprecedented achievement.
The list spans from women’s and men’s futsal, the senior women’s team, to age-group teams like U23, U17 men and women, and the U20 women’s team.
These qualifications came not just through narrow margins, but through commanding performances against strong continental opponents - underscoring the depth of talent and the effectiveness of a synchronized youth development strategy.
The tally could rise to eight teams if coach Kim Sang Sik and the men’s national team secure their ticket to the 2027 AFC Asian Cup during the final qualification stage in March 2026.
Given that Malaysia - Vietnam’s direct rival in the group - faces possible disqualification due to a naturalization scandal, the odds for Vietnam look strong, VNN reported.
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| Vietnam U23 team kicks off 2026 with the AFC U23 Asian Cup this January. Photo: SN |
Only Vietnam and Japan achieved this in 2025
Among Southeast Asian nations, Vietnam stands alone in reaching this level of comprehensive qualification in 2025. Across Asia, only Japan matched this feat.
Even more impressive, most Vietnamese teams qualified with perfect winning records, demonstrating technical stability and mental fortitude.
From regional dominance to continental goals
With 2025’s golden achievements behind them, Vietnamese football no longer views regional victories as the final destination.
Now, the focus shifts to breaking new ground in Asia’s top-tier tournaments - where the real test of scale and ambition awaits.
From Saudi Arabia to Japan, from indoor futsal arenas to sprawling stadiums, Vietnamese players will be looking not just to participate, but to compete, challenge, and win.
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