HCMC – Vietnam now has over 300 projects meeting green construction standards with a total floor area of around 7.2 million square meters, said Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Tuong Van.

Van was speaking at the Vietnam Green Building Week 2023, held by the Ministry of Construction in HCMC with main activities taking place on September 27-28.

The number of green buildings in the country has increased in recent years, including hotels, shopping malls, industrial facilities, office buildings and government offices.

However, Van acknowledged that the growth of green buildings in Vietnam remains relatively slow. As Vietnam currently lacks mandatory requirements for green construction, the development of green buildings has been driven by authorities' encouragement and local enterprises' voluntary efforts, he added.

HCMC leads the nation in terms of the number of green buildings, with 67 projects, and ranks second in terms of certified green building floor space, covering 1.3 million square meters.

Maria Joao Pateguana, a private sector investment specialist at the Asian Development Bank (ADB), pointed out that investors still have reservations due to the relatively high costs of green buildings and a lack of full understanding of their benefits. Additionally, Vietnam faces a shortage of green financing providers, and enterprises struggle to secure funding.

She said ADB will offer support and capacity-building initiatives for experts, markets, and enterprises to improve access to green financing.

The event highlights the commitment of the Ministry of Construction and the People's Committee of HCMC to promote efficient use of energy and resources as well as environmental preservation.

The event is expected to provide an opportunity for experts, enterprises, consulting firms, banks, agencies, international organizations, and construction professionals to collaborate in advancing the green transformation of the construction sector.