Vietnam is accelerating its transition toward sustainable/ green public spending, with ambitious targets to ensure that Green Public Procurement (GPP) accounts for 35% of total public procurement by 2035 and 50% by 2050. This momentum is further reinforced by the recent operationalisation of the country’s first carbon trading market under Decree 29/2026, marking a shift from carbon pricing as a policy aspiration to a regulated market mechanism.
Against this backdrop, the European Union and Vietnam have reached a new milestone in their green transition partnership. In March 2026, the Centre for Procurement Support (CPS) under the Public Procurement Agency of the Ministry of Finance, with support from the EU funded SWITCH-Asia programme, convened a Training of Trainers (ToT) in Hanoi. The initiative aimed to accelerate the implementation of Green Public Procurement across the country.
The training comes at a decisive moment in EU-Vietnam relations. The two partners have recently upgraded their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, making Vietnam the first country in Southeast Asia to reach this level of engagement with the European Union.
Highlighting the national commitment to sustainable procurement, Ms Nguyen Thi Dieu Phuong, Director of CPS, noted:
Vietnam's public procurement law has implemented regulations to encourage the growth of S/GPP in the country. However, in order for investors to confidently execute these regulations, we understand the importance of researching international experiences, as well as conducting awareness campaigns and training for public procurement officials. We expect that with professional views and SWA support, Vietnam will rapidly transition to green goods procurement. Additionally, CPS also aims to become one of the leading organizations in S/GPP training and green product procurement in Vietnam.
Strategic Context: Global Gateway and Green Investment
The training coincided with the inaugural EU-Vietnam Global Gateway Business and Investment Forum, held in Hanoi on 24 March 2026. Opened by EU Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela, the forum emphasized the importance of high-quality investments in sustainable infrastructure, green energy, and digital connectivity.
Within this broader framework, Green Public Procurement is positioned as a key enabler of Global Gateway objectives.
- By leveraging public spending, GPP helps create market demand for high-tech, low-carbon solutions from both European and Vietnamese providers, particularly in sectors such as sustainable transport and renewable energy.
- At the same time, it ensures alignment with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards, which are increasingly central to EU-Vietnam trade and investment dialogues.
- GPP also plays a supporting role in advancing the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), by embedding sustainability criteria into public contracts for energy-efficient goods and services.
Training Focus: Turning Principles into Contracts
The March 2026 Training of Trainers moved beyond conceptual discussions to focus on the practical application of GPP, particularly in the procurement of goods. Co-delivered by CPS alongside Mr Sanjay Kumar, Senior GPP Expert, and Dr Lunchakorn Prathumratana, GPP expert from the EU SWITCH-Asia Policy Support Component, the training equipped participants with the tools needed to operationalise sustainability requirements within Vietnam’s legal framework.
A central focus of the training was the development of verifiable environmental clauses. Participants were guided on how to draft requirements that are clear, measurable, and enforceable within the context of Vietnam’s Law on Bidding. The sessions also provided a “translation map” to help bridge high-level policy objectives with concrete procurement practices. Finally, experts introduced practical verification mechanisms, enabling procurement officials to assess and monitor environmental deliverables throughout contract implementation.
About this work
The training was supported by the EU SWITCH-Asia Policy Support Component as part of the ongoing Technical Advisory on “Green Public Procurement for Transformation”, which aims to increase and share knowledge about G/SPP across Asia-Pacific region. It builds on results achieved by the SWITCH-Asia PSC, including the publication of a Detailed Assessment of S/GPP in Vietnam and of a Policy Brief about SPP in Construction and Infrastructure in Vietnam.
For more information on EU SWITCH-Asia covering Sustainable/Green Public Procurement, contact:
Ms. Elodie Maria-Sube, EU Policy Development and Stakeholder Engagement Expert, SWITCH-Asia Policy Support Component, [email protected]. Learn more here.
