In the fields of finance, banking, and investment, adopting Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria has become a popular trend and is gradually becoming the "norm" in the region and the world. In Vietnam, ESG factors have been reflected in multiple decisions, directives, and documents of the Government, the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV), and related authorities to promote the commitments of the finance and banking sector towards green growth and sustainable development.

To provide further information about ESG commitments in the domestic finance-banking sector, Fair Finance Vietnam (FFV) analyzed the alignment of policies widely disclosed by Vietnamese commercial banks with international ESG standards for two years (2020 and 2022).

The 2022 report, analyzing 11 Vietnamese commercial banks, including 10 from the first analysis in 2020 and one new bank, shows that Vietnamese commercial banks are progressing in the 'race to the top'. 

Of the three pillars, (E) witnessed the least change, followed by (S). The (G) pillar witnessed the most obvious change. However, similar to the first analysis, Vietnamese commercial banks' policy commitments on ESG have just entered the initial stage.