The Vietnam Association of Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) was established with the expectation of creating a platform to connect and standardize M&A activities, contributing to promoting a professional, transparent, and internationally integrated market…
On May 8, 2026, at the International Conference Center, 11 Le Hong Phong Street, Hanoi, the Vietnam Mergers & Acquisitions Association (VMAA) will officially launch its Congress, marking the first time Vietnam has a specialized professional organization in the field of mergers and acquisitions.
The Congress is expected to bring together more than 200 delegates representing state management agencies, the business community, investment funds, banks, consulting firms, economic experts, and domestic and international partners. The program, held from 1:00 PM to 8:30 PM on a national scale, included the founding congress, the announcement of the decision to establish the Association, the adoption of the charter and activity program for the 2026–2031 term, the election of the first Executive Board, the Inspection Board, and the leadership team, as well as the Association’s launch ceremony, the announcement of strategic direction, the signing of strategic cooperation agreements, and a Gala Dinner & Networking event.
Prior to this, on January 21, 2026, the Ministry of Interior issued Decision No. 96/QD-BNV officially authorizing the establishment of the Vietnam Mergers and Acquisitions Association (VMAA). The licensing of VMAA is the result of over 1,000 days of campaigning, completing legal documents, and connecting the community of experts, businesses, and investors operating in the mergers and acquisitions sector.
The establishment of VMAA (Vietnam Asset Management Association) coincides with Vietnam’s economy entering a period of deep restructuring, shifting its growth model, and becoming more competitive in attracting global strategic capital flows. In this trend, M&A is no longer a purely opportunistic activity or a single transaction, but is increasingly becoming a strategic tool to help businesses expand their scale, restructure assets, innovate management, and enhance competitiveness.
According to the Steering Committee, in 2025, the Vietnamese M&A market is expected to record approximately 367 transactions with a total value of US$8.7 billion, a 26% increase compared to the previous year, showing a clear recovery trend and significant growth potential. Simultaneously, the demand for domestic business restructuring is increasing, with nearly 297,500 new businesses established or resuming operations, while 227,200 businesses are withdrawing from the market. This reflects the urgent need for restructuring, transfer, fundraising, and strategic partner search solutions.
However, despite the expanding market size, the M&A sector in Vietnam still lacks a synchronized development framework. Current transactions are largely based on individual experience and connections, while market data systems, professional competency standards, specialized training, and legal support mechanisms are not yet fully developed.
| The establishment of the Association is not only significant in terms of organization, but also reflects the increasingly clear market need for a more transparent, professional, and standardized M&A ecosystem. “We are committed to creating a modern M&A ecosystem, becoming a strategic platform to help Vietnamese businesses expand globally,” emphasized Ms. Pham Thuy Duong, Head of the Steering Committee for the establishment of the Vietnam M&A Association. |
Theo định hướng hoạt động, VMAA sẽ đóng vai trò cầu nối chiến lược giữa cộng đồng doanh nghiệp trong nước, các quỹ đầu tư và nhà đầu tư quốc tế, các định chế tài chính, tổ chức tư vấn, đơn vị pháp lý và đội ngũ chuyên gia M&A. Thông qua đó, Hiệp hội hướng tới nâng cao giá trị doanh nghiệp Việt Nam, thúc đẩy tái cấu trúc, hỗ trợ đổi mới sáng tạo và gia tăng khả năng tiếp cận dòng vốn dài hạn, chất lượng cao.
Song song với đó, Hiệp hội đặt mục tiêu từng bước chuẩn hóa nghề M&A thông qua hoạt động đào tạo, xây dựng chương trình nâng cao năng lực, phát triển hệ thống chứng chỉ nghề nghiệp và hình thành mạng lưới chuyên gia, luật sư, ngân hàng, quỹ đầu tư, tổ chức kiểm toán, tư vấn hỗ trợ toàn diện cho từng thương vụ.
Number and value of M&A transactions in Vietnam in 2025 by investor. (Source: Capital IQ, Grant Thornton Research & Analysis)
During the 2026–2031 term, the Association has identified several strategic priorities, including developing a systematic and synchronized M&A ecosystem in Vietnam; building a national database on M&A; publishing an annual report on the Vietnamese M&A market; and working towards building a Vietnamese M&A index to reflect the scale, trends, quality, and impact of mergers and acquisitions on the economy.
Notably, a specialized M&A investment fund model is also identified as a long-term strategic direction to support key transactions, accompanying Vietnamese businesses in expanding their scale, restructuring, and enhancing their competitiveness. M&A activity is expected to be strongly boosted in the fields of technology, high-tech agriculture, industrial real estate, logistics, healthcare, consumer goods, and other key economic sectors.
Dr. Nguyen Duc Kien, an economic consultant and former head of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Group, stated that the official establishment of the Association is a necessary step to standardize the market, improve the quality of transactions, and build confidence among domestic and international investors. According to him, VMAA’s long-term focus is on developing a sustainable M&A ecosystem, closely linking businesses, investment funds, and consulting organizations, thereby making a practical contribution to the competitiveness of the Vietnamese economy.
With the orientation of “Standardization – Connection – Upgrading the quality of the M&A market,” the Vietnam Association of Mergers and Acquisitions is expected to become a core force promoting the formation of a healthy and in-depth M&A market, contributing to improving the quality of investment capital flows, promoting corporate restructuring, innovation, and international economic integration.
