On March 13th, at FPT Tower, FPT Digital, in collaboration with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), hosted a DxHub event themed “Green Real Estate and Guidelines for Applying Green Building Certifications in Vietnam.” The event aimed to provide updates and guidance on the growth of green real estate for businesses.
With numerous initiatives from the government and relevant ministries, the green transition in the real estate sector is gaining significant momentum. Commitments to emission reduction, environmental protection, and sustainable development are becoming the “new rules of the game” for those aiming for long-term success in both domestic and global real estate markets. This shift demands that real estate businesses develop adaptive strategies to enhance their competitiveness.
According to an IFC report, by the end of 2023, Vietnam had 396 green-certified projects, covering 26,095 residential units and 9,734,572 square meters of floor space. The majority of certified projects fall under the Residential (39.36%) and Industrial (34.12%) sectors. In 2024, these sectors are expected to continue leading, with Industrial sector accounting for 29.60% and Residential for 20.68% of the projected 15,000,000 square meters of floor space to be certified as green buildings.
Green industrial transformation is one of the key priorities in Vietnam’s green transition strategy, highlighting the country’s commitment to environmental protection and sustainable economic growth. As per the plan, Vietnam will have around 563 industrial parks across 61 provinces. So far, 397 industrial parks have been established, with only about 7 classified as eco-industrial parks.
Mr. Vuong Quan Ngoc, Consulting Director at FPT Digital, stated that industrial real estate in Vietnam has favorable conditions for strong growth but will also face intense competition among investors. Many industrial real estate developers are focusing on creating green, smart industrial parks with strict environmental, infrastructure, and urban utility standards to attract green projects.
As a major contributor to emissions, Vietnam’s industrial parks are undergoing a comprehensive transformation to meet stakeholder demands. Customers are enforcing green supply chain standards based on global corporate regulations, strategic investors are focusing on the sustainability and green practices of the companies they invest in, and the government is developing policies and legal frameworks to create a strong and efficient foundation that supports industries and businesses in achieving the Net Zero goal by 2050.
The development of green industrial real estate not only helps attract and retain customers but also optimizes operations by leveraging resources, fuel, and integrated technologies within the industrial parks. Additionally, according to Mr. Vu Hong Phong, Green Building Specialist at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), this approach enables businesses to access special funding and incentives from international organizations and the government dedicated to green projects.
For example, by obtaining IFC’s green building certification, BIM Land Joint Stock Company was able to easily issue a $200 million green bond on the Singapore Stock Exchange. Recently, the company also received a $150 million investment from IFC through the purchase of Vietnam’s first local currency-linked sustainability bonds.
According to Mr. Vuong Quan Ngoc, businesses pursuing a “green” direction must clearly identify priorities to meet sustainability standards, ensuring: carbon emissions reduction, increased resilience and adaptability to climate change, optimization of resource and material use throughout the production process, water conservation and protection, biodiversity preservation, and the promotion of physical and mental well-being, as well as fairness for all individuals.
On the path toward green transformation, Mr. Ngoc emphasized that digital transformation is “a powerful tool in measuring ‘green’ criteria through data collection, data integration, smart analysis, and even providing recommendations for real estate developers.” The dual transformation of digital and green strategies will help the industrial real estate sector overcome current challenges, yielding short-term benefits like increased revenue and reduced emissions, while also creating long-term sustainable values such as the use of clean energy, generating new value for businesses, and creating more jobs. This will help build a professional, healthy, and sustainable industrial real estate market.
Additionally, experts provided updates on the green real estate market and industry development trends in Vietnam, citing examples from CapitaLand, BIM Land, Vinatex, and Amata. Attendees also learned about popular green building certifications such as EDGE, Lotus, and LEED, along with the methods and processes for applying these certifications.
DxHub™ is a series of events organized by FPT Digital, designed to build a community and connect experts and businesses across various industries. The program serves as a platform for sharing the latest updates, knowledge, experiences, expert perspectives, and fostering business connections in digital transformation, green transformation, and sustainable development. This event attracted participation from major real estate companies such as PC1, CBRE, Vilandco, Viglacera, as well as property management firms and consulting experts from reputable organizations across the country.
