Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Van Sinh shared this update during a policy forum titled “Solutions to promote green buildings and green transportation for sustainable development” held on October 16.

He emphasized that green buildings and green transport are key pillars in Vietnam’s green economic growth strategy. Beyond reducing emissions and saving resources, they also foster technological innovation, improve living standards, and enhance national competitiveness.

In both 2024 and 2025, Vietnam saw strong growth in the number of certified green buildings and eco-friendly vehicles.

By the end of Q3 2025, the country had around 600 certified green buildings, totaling nearly 17 million square meters of floor space.

In transportation, Vietnam recorded 183,240 electric cars and 974 electric buses on the road.

Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City lead the nation with more than 38,400 electric cars each. The two cities also operate 317 and 507 electric buses respectively.

Other provinces such as Da Nang, Hai Phong, Thanh Hoa, and Khanh Hoa are also witnessing rapid growth, contributing to Vietnam’s green transition and sustainable development goals.

Transport sector must pivot to electric and biofuel sources

Discussing emission-reduction potential in the transport sector, Le Van Dat, Deputy Director of the Strategy and Personnel Training Academy (under the Ministry of Construction), noted that between 2014 and 2023, road transport accounted for over 85% of Vietnam’s total passenger and freight volume.

The country currently has over 7 million cars and nearly 78 million motorbikes, along with hundreds of thousands of vessels in maritime, inland waterway, and aviation sectors.

The transport industry consumes over 95% of its energy from fossil fuels and emits an estimated 45.8 million tons of CO₂ annually-second only to the industrial sector.

Under Vietnam’s third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0), the country aims to replace traditional fuels in road transport with biofuels and electricity by 2030.

For the rail sector, electric trains are being implemented in urban areas from 2019 to 2025, while hydrogen is expected to be adopted by 2040. By 2050, diesel, electric, and hydrogen-powered locomotives are projected to account for 40%, 10%, and 50% of the total fleet respectively.

In inland waterway transport, electricity and hydrogen are expected to be introduced starting in 2035.

For aviation, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) will begin to be used from 2035, expected to supply around 10% of the sector’s total energy demand.

Vietnam must build a full green investment ecosystem

In the construction materials sector, Nguyen Thi Tam, Director of the Center for Equipment, Environment and Labor Safety (under the Institute of Building Materials), said the goal by 2030 is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 15.03%, equivalent to 23.2 million tons of CO₂.

With international support, emissions could be cut by up to 20.06%, or 30.97 million tons of CO₂.

To achieve this, the sector is adopting new technologies, utilizing waste in production, optimizing processes, and researching carbon capture innovations.

In parallel, institutional and policy tools are being developed-such as low-emission standards, carbon credit mechanisms, and the establishment of a carbon market.

Ta Duc Binh, representative of the Institute of Strategy and Policy for Agriculture and Environment (under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment), warned that climate change is progressing at an alarming rate, requiring decisive action from policymakers and investors.

According to the World Bank, Vietnam will need around 368 billion USD by 2040 to achieve net-zero emissions.

This presents a major challenge in mobilizing capital, advancing technology, developing green infrastructure, and training a skilled workforce.

“Vietnam must rapidly complete a comprehensive green investment ecosystem-from legal frameworks and incentives to transparent monitoring systems-to lay the foundation for a prosperous and sustainable future,” Binh emphasized.

Hong Khanh