Trusted Data, Stronger Decisions: Highlights from CRIF Forum Vietnam 2026

On 27 August 2026, CRIF Vietnam brought together business leaders, policymakers, investors and industry experts at Pan Pacific Hanoi for the first CRIF Forum Vietnam, under the theme “Empowering Growth with Trusted Data.”

More than 20 leaders and experts from government, financial services, investment, professional services, technology, credit analytics and international institutions joined the Forum to explore how trusted data can help Vietnamese businesses navigate uncertainty, strengthen competitiveness and make better decisions.

Across the discussions, one message was clear: as Vietnam enters its next phase of growth, access to more data alone is not enough. The ability to verify, interpret and apply reliable information is becoming essential to building investor confidence, managing risk and supporting sustainable development.

International Cooperation and the Foundations of Trust

The Forum welcomed special remarks from H.E. Marco Della Seta, Ambassador of Italy in Vietnam, who reflected on the growing relationship between Italy and Vietnam and the importance of international cooperation in supporting economic development.

His remarks reinforced a central theme of the Forum: resilient business ecosystems are built on trust, transparency and long-term cooperation, supported by the exchange of knowledge, expertise and innovation.

Vietnam’s Next Stage of Growth

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Tho, Deputy Director General, Agency for Private Enterprise and Cooperative Development, Ministry of Finance, addressed the conditions needed to sustain Vietnam’s next stage of economic growth.

Investor confidence emerged as a recurring theme. Stronger transparency, better data infrastructure and greater market resilience will be increasingly important as Vietnam seeks to attract higher-quality investment and strengthen its position in the regional financial landscape.

The discussion also touched on Vietnam’s ambition to develop an International Financial Centre, highlighting the importance of institutional, regulatory and market foundations.

Reading Vietnam’s Economic Outlook Beyond the Headlines

Mr. Tyler Manh Dung Nguyen, Chief Market Strategist, Ho Chi Minh City Securities Corporation (HSC), shared a forward-looking assessment of Vietnam’s economic outlook.

Infrastructure led development remains a major driver, with investment in roads, airports, rail, ports and energy expected to support both demand and long-term productivity. At the same time, reforms in foreign investment, manufacturing and capital markets could broaden investor access and strengthen future growth.

Challenges remain around public investment execution, liquidity and financing costs, especially for SMEs and the property sector.

The key takeaway was the need to separate short term volatility from Vietnam’s longer-term structural growth story.

Building an International Financial Centre: Trust Before Capital

The panel “Vietnam’s Next Growth Engine: Capital Markets, Investment, and the Path to an International Financial Centre” brought together perspectives from export finance, credit ratings and asset management.

The discussion featured:

• Mr. Harry Nguyen, Country Head of UK Export Finance in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos
• Mr. Nghi Nguyen, Chief Executive Officer, Thien Minh Credit Rating Joint Stock Company
• Mr. Will Ross, CFA, Chief Client Officer, Dragon Capital Vietnam

Moderated by Thao Nguyen, Senior Sales Manager, Financial Data & Business Intelligence, CRIF Vietnam.

A consistent message was that trust is one of the most important prerequisites for deeper capital markets.

Greater transparency, stronger investor protection and more predictable frameworks can help attract long-term institutional capital. The panel also highlighted the importance of market depth, infrastructure and a broader ecosystem of talent, technology and professional services in supporting Vietnam’s International Financial Centre ambition.

The panel “AI Without Trust: Building Responsible and Transparent Decision-Making” featured:

• Mr.Sachin B. Singh, Head of Enterprise Solutions, Asia Pacific, Dow Jones
• Ms. Nguyen Thi Huong Thao, Director, Stanley Brothers Securities Incorporation
• Mr. Giandomenico Zappia, Chairman, Sustainable Finance Sector Committee, EuroCham Vietnam; CEO, Lodestone Analytics
• Mr. Do Tien Thinh, Deputy Director, National Innovation Center, Ministry of Finance

The session was moderated by Mr. Nguyen Viet Long, Partner, EY Vietnam.

The discussion focused on the importance of governance, traceability and accountability as organizations adopt AI in higher-risk decision environments.

AI can improve efficiency and support better decisions, but organizations still need reliable underlying data, clear governance frameworks and human oversight. The panel encouraged businesses to start with well-defined use cases, validate outcomes and scale only when accuracy and business value have been demonstrated.

Building transparent and resilient supply chains

The panel “Risk, Visibility and Trust: Building Transparent Supply Chains in an Uncertain Trade Environment” featured:

• Mr. Jinchang Lai, Principal Operations Officer and Lead for Financial Infrastructure, Financial Institutions Group Advisory Services, Asia and Pacific, International Finance Corporation, World Bank Group
• Mr. Mohammad Mudasser, Partner, Deals – Transformation, PwC Vietnam
• Mr. Chen Xiao, Industry Practice Lead, Moody’s Analytics
• Ms. Pham Thanh Huyen, Member of the Board of Members cum Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Vietcombank Fund Management

The session was moderated by Mr. Nguyen Hoang Nam, Anchorman, VTV1.

As Vietnamese businesses participate more deeply in global value chains, supply chain transparency is increasingly linked to market access and business credibility.

The panel discussed the shift from periodic supplier checks towards continuous visibility and multi tier monitoring, including information on ownership, financial health, geographic exposure and supplier concentration.

Moving beyond assembly towards stronger enterprise competitiveness

The panel “Beyond Assembly: Building More Competitive and Resilient Vietnamese Enterprises” brought together:

• Mr. Anh Tuan Nguyen, Founder and Chief Strategist Officer, Ecologix Systems Co., Ltd.
• Mr. Nguyen Thanh Nghiep, Partner, VTN and Partners Law Firm
• Ms. Do Thi Thu Ha, Senior Advisor for Sustainable Financing for Energy Transition Program, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
• Mr. Nguyen Hoang Lan, Head of Training and Membership, Vietnam Association of Small and Medium Enterprises

The session was moderated by Mr. Nguyen Tuan Anh, Editor, Bloomberg Businessweek Vietnam.

The discussion focused on how Vietnamese enterprises can move further up the value chain by strengthening productivity, resilience and decision-making capabilities.

For SMEs in particular, better visibility into customers, suppliers, investments and market opportunities can support a shift from reactive decision-making towards a more proactive and resilient approach.

From manufacturing hub to innovation economy

The Forum concluded with an address from Dr. Oliver Massmann, General Director, Duane Morris LLP, who reflected on Vietnam’s evolving growth model.

While trade integration and manufacturing have played a major role in Vietnam’s development, the next phase will increasingly depend on reform, productivity, innovation and stronger domestic enterprises.

The opportunity remains significant, but long-term success will depend on how effectively businesses and institutions translate opportunity into execution.

Trusted data as a foundation for sustainable growth

Across the Forum, several priorities consistently emerged:

• Greater transparency across markets and business relationships
• Better visibility into customers, suppliers and counterparties
• Reliable information and stronger market infrastructure for investors
• Governance, traceability and human accountability in AI adoption
• Verifiable data to support Vietnamese enterprises seeking deeper participation in international markets

Trusted data therefore goes beyond information availability. It provides the foundation for organizations to understand risk, strengthen confidence and make more informed decisions.

For CRIF Vietnam, this principle sits at the heart of our work. Through business information, analytics, decisioning and ESG solutions, we support organizations in transforming data into actionable insights and navigating increasingly complex business environments with greater confidence.

CRIF Vietnam extends its sincere appreciation to all speakers, moderators, partners and participants who contributed their expertise and perspectives to the first CRIF Forum Vietnam 2026.

“Empowering Growth with Trusted Data” reflects a growing business imperative for organizations seeking to compete, adapt and grow sustainably.