Hanoi, September 20, 2026 – The Europe Today: Việt Nam has officially marked its entry into FTSE Russell’s global emerging-market index framework, ahead of the country’s reclassification from Frontier Market to Secondary Emerging Market status, which takes effect on September 21.
The milestone was commemorated at a conference on September 18 jointly organized by the State Securities Commission (SSC) and FTSE Russell, where a gong-ringing ceremony marked Việt Nam’s inclusion in the FTSE Global Equity Index Series (FTSE GEIS) as an emerging market.
Minister of Finance Ngô Văn Tuấn said the reclassification reflected important reforms undertaken to upgrade Việt Nam’s stock market and develop it into a modern, efficient and transparent market aligned with international standards.
FTSE Russell announced Việt Nam’s upgrade from Frontier to Secondary Emerging Market status in its September 2025 review and reaffirmed the decision in its April 2026 assessment.
Tuấn said the upgrade represented a new stage rather than the final destination, requiring continued improvements in market mechanisms, policies, management and supervision as global financial markets continue to evolve.
British Ambassador to Việt Nam Iain Grant Frew described the reclassification as an important milestone, saying it reflected years of efforts and the transformation of Việt Nam’s capital market.
He said the upgrade would send a positive signal to the international investment community regarding Việt Nam’s efforts to develop deeper, more accessible and internationally connected sources of finance, including for advanced manufacturing, technology, infrastructure, clean energy and financial services.
World Bank Director for Việt Nam, Cambodia and Laos Mariam J. Sherman also highlighted the reforms behind the reclassification and called for continued efforts to build a deeper, stronger and more resilient capital market.
FTSE Russell Chief Executive Officer Fiona Bassett described the occasion as historic, saying the upgrade recognized Việt Nam’s progress and could enhance the country’s visibility among international investors and facilitate greater participation by global capital.
The reclassification is also expected to increase Việt Nam’s presence in global investment portfolios. Vanguard’s Head of Investment Management and Global Equities for Asia-Pacific, Duncan Burns, said the asset manager expects to invest around US$2.5 billion in Việt Nam through its fund portfolios over the coming year.
