Financial sector reform: In recent years, the Vietnamese
banking sector has undergone structural
changes, with a decline in the market share of stateowned
commercial banks. However, the influence of the
state in the financial sector remains substantial. Years of
rapid growth have increased the level of risk within the
Vietnamese financial system, originating in
underreported non-performing loans, low
capital cushions, lack of independence from
policy, rising liquidity stress, and weak regulatory
compliance. The capital market is
underdeveloped, and access to long-term
finance for the private sector, in particular
for small and medium-sized enterprises
(SMEs), is a constraint. Supervision and regulation
of the financial sector is fragmented
and not compliant with international standards.
In addition, Vietnam has difficulties
coping with its obligation to comply with Financial
Action Task Force guidelines, and its framework on antimoney
laundering and the combating of the financing of terrorism is inadequate.