Foreign investors expected to open 150,000 new securities accounts in the next 5 years

DNHN - The Ministry of Finance has set an ambitious target to increase the number of securities trading accounts held by foreign investors in Vietnam to 200,000 by 2030—four times higher than the current figure.

As of the end of August 2025, foreign investors held only around 49,000 securities accounts in Vietnam, accounting for less than 0.5% of total accounts in the market. To achieve the 2030 goal, the market needs to attract over 150,000 new accounts within the next five years.

However, growth in this segment has been relatively sluggish. Over the past five years, foreign investors have only opened around 14,000 accounts—an average of fewer than 3,000 new accounts per year.

In response, the Ministry of Finance has issued a new master plan on restructuring the investor base and developing the investment fund sector, aiming to create a breakthrough. Key measures include simplifying administrative procedures, shortening the time required to open accounts, implementing a central counterparty (CCP) mechanism for underlying securities, and reviewing foreign ownership limits in non-essential sectors that do not impact national security.

At the same time, the plan emphasizes diversifying the range of products available in the market by promoting IPOs, public share offerings, and the listing of major companies, particularly those with foreign direct investment (FDI).

For domestic individual investors, the Ministry aims to improve quality and encourage long-term investing through professionally managed funds. The goal is to reach 2.5 million fund certificate holders by 2030 and increase to 5 million by 2035. The number of investment funds is projected to reach 500 by 2030 and grow by an average of 25% annually thereafter. The total net asset value (NAV) of these funds is expected to reach 5% of GDP initially and rise to double digits within the next decade.

By 2030, the trading volume structure is expected to shift, with domestic individual investors accounting for 70% of total market transactions. The remaining 30% will be contributed by domestic institutions and foreign investors.

At the investment fund industry development conference held in late March, Ms. Vu Thi Chan Phuong, Chairwoman of the State Securities Commission (SSC), observed that most retail investors in Vietnam still prefer to trade independently and maintain full control over their portfolios. This is one of the driving reasons behind the push to restructure the investor landscape, aiming to ensure greater stability and depth in the capital market.

Deputy Minister of Finance Nguyen Duc Chi also emphasized the need for a mindset shift—transforming the public perception from “playing the stock market” to “investing in the stock market” in a professional manner. According to him, building investor confidence is essential so they feel comfortable entrusting their assets to professional fund management companies, based on the principle of shared interests and risk distribution.

Anh Nguyen