Vietnam officially enters FTSE Russell’s emerging-market ranks: What opportunities lie ahead for Vietnam’s fund management industry?

On September 21, 2026, Vietnam was officially upgraded to Secondary Emerging Market status under FTSE Russell’s classification. The milestone recognizes the progress made by the country’s stock market and its deepening integration into global capital markets.

How will billion-dollar capital flows enter the Vietnamese market?

More than US$20 trillion in assets worldwide are currently benchmarked to FTSE Russell indexes. Vietnam’s entry into the emerging-market ranks is therefore drawing renewed attention from international investors and broadening the country’s access to large pools of global capital.

While passive funds allocate capital according to Vietnam’s weighting and the phased inclusion schedule of international indexes, active funds select opportunities based on corporate quality, governance standards, valuations and long-term growth prospects.

The upgrade gives Vietnam greater visibility on the global investment map. At the same time, it creates fresh momentum for the market to improve corporate quality and investment attractiveness - key factors that determine the scale and staying power of active capital flows.

What opportunities lie ahead for Vietnam’s fund management industry?

This is also an opportunity for domestic fund managers to capitalize on the upgrade. Rather than waiting for the foreign inflows, the industry can leverage this momentum to scale up, strengthen its capabilities, and become more competitive.

In this context, a transparent, objective and comparable framework for assessing fund performance can help strengthen investor confidence and promote greater professionalism across the industry.

This is the ambition behind the Vietnam Fund Awards 2026, jointly organized by the Vietnam Securities Depository and Clearing Corporation (VSDC), Vietnam Investment Review and FiinGroup. The awards seek to recognize outstanding funds, promote higher standards of transparency and help attract more long-term capital to the industry.

Vietnam’s fund management industry is expected to expand its assets under management, product offerings, and investor base. As it develops, the sector can increasingly establish itself as a vital channel for long-term capital while contributing to the depth, resilience and sustainability of Vietnam’s capital market.

 Explore the event: https://fundaward.vn/homepage