VAHC Vietnam ASEAN Hydrogen Club

Since 2017, Vietnam has become a country with the level of renewable energy development, clean energy in the top 3 of the Asia Pacific region. By November 2021, at the climate conference held in Glasgow UK, the Prime Minister of Vietnam has set a target of net zero emissions of Vietnam by 2050 and by December 2022, Vietnam and the Group 7 plus 2 countries (Norway and Denmark) have signed a grant of 15.5 billion USD from 9 developed countries to support Vietnam's clean energy transition.

On 7 February 2024, the Prime Minister of Vietnam issued Decision No. 165/QD-TTg approving the National Hydrogen Energy Development Strategy to 2030, with Vision to 2050, identifying hydrogen as a strategic pillar in Vietnam’s long-term energy transition roadmap.

However, despite this strategic direction, Vietnam currently lacks a dedicated and comprehensive legal and regulatory framework for hydrogen development. Hydrogen project developers and investors continue to face significant uncertainty regarding:

• Legal classification of hydrogen under Vietnamese law
• Licensing and permitting requirements for hydrogen projects
• Regulations governing hydrogen production, storage, transportation, and use
• Absence of hydrogen-specific technical standards and safety codes
• Lack of certification mechanisms for green / low-carbon hydrogen
• Limited legal guidance on hydrogen/ammonia logistics, export-import, and carbon accounting

In light of these challenges, a focused industry dialogue is needed to bring together policymakers, industry leaders, legal experts, and academia to discuss pathways for establishing a bankable hydrogen regulatory framework in Vietnam.

Within the framework of the Vietnam–U.S. Hydrogen & International Partners Workshop 2026, jointly organized by the Vietnam–ASEAN Hydrogen Club (VAHC) and Solberg Manufacturing (USA), an official handover ceremony of a hydrogen inhalation device was held in Ho Chi Minh City. The device was transferred by Hydrogen World, represented by Mr. Nguyen Thieu Son, an independent hydrogen health specialist, to Dr. Nhu Duc Thang, Department of Rehabilitation, National Psychiatric Hospital No. 2, under the auspices of VAHC.

Within the framework of the Vietnam-America Hydrogen Workshop 2026 held on April 10 at Saigon Hotel, Ho Chi Minh City, Mr. ianton Tan, Director for Asia-Pacific at United Hydrogen, delivered a presentation via video on the vision of building an industrial and agricultural hydrogen society in China.

At the Vietnam–U.S. Hydrogen Workshop 2026, held on April 10 in Ho Chi Minh City under the theme “Advanced Hydrogen Technologies and Semiconductor Supply Chain – Vietnam & ASEAN”, leadership of the Vietnam ASEAN Hydrogen Club (VAHC) delivered a strong strategic message regarding Vietnam’s ambition to become a leading hydrogen hub in ASEAN. The event opened with remarks by Mr. Le Ngoc Anh Minh, Chairman of VAHC, followed by a keynote strategic presentation from Mr. Andy Lei, Vice Chairman of VAHC, titled: “Vietnam Hydrogen Market Overview & Execution Blueprint 2026–2027.”

Immediately following the discussion on new hydrogen technologies, Ms. Tomoe Takeda, Manager in Charge of JCM Projects, International Environment Department of Nippon Koei Co., Ltd., took the stage. She opened with a clear message:

"Vietnam has huge potential in renewable energy and hard-to-abate industries. But technology alone is not enough – the right financial mechanisms are essential. Today, I will introduce the JCM fund and other support schemes from the Japanese government, specifically applicable to green hydrogen projects."

Nippon Koei is one of Japan's largest engineering consulting firms, with over 5,500 orders per year, operating in 160 countries, and holding the No. 1 sales position among civil engineering consulting firms in Japan.

Immediately following Mr. Andy Lei's (VAHC) overview of Vietnam's hydrogen market, Mr. Matthew Degyansky – CEO of Drive On, LLC, representing Utility Global (USA) – took the stage. He opened with a striking statement:

"Most of you are familiar with electrolysis or steam methane reforming (SMR). Today, I introduce a completely different technology: H2Gen® – producing hydrogen from water without electricity. And it can decarbonize up to 50% of global emissions."

He emphasized that Utility Global focuses on hard-to-abate industries – which account for up to 50% of global emissions – including steel, low-carbon fuels, refining & petrochemicals, chemicals, and upstream oil & gas.

Opening: Placing Safety at the Core of the Supply Chain

Immediately following Mr. Gary Siah's presentation (Solberg Manufacturing) on advanced cathode air filtration for fuel cells, Dr. Hee Jung Kim – representative of UNIHYS (United Institute of Hydrogen Technology, South Korea) – took the stage with a powerful opening statement:

"While we are discussing production technologies, financial investments, and market development, there is a fundamental question that few are asking: Is our hydrogen infrastructure truly safe to operate at industrial scale?"

She affirmed that safety is not a barrier to development but rather the very foundation for hydrogen to become a true pillar of clean energy – especially in sensitive sectors such as semiconductor manufacturing, where a single explosion or leak could disrupt global supply chains.

Following the workshop program, Dr. Tran Nguyen Trong Nguyen – Founder of Kenzen Consulting and Representative of Obayashi Corporation (Japan) – delivered an important presentation on Obayashi's green energy business initiatives, focusing on the global hydrogen investment portfolio and concrete steps in Vietnam.

The workshop Vietnam – U.S. & International Partners Hydrogen Workshop 2026: Advanced Hydrogen Technologies and the Semiconductor Supply Chain – Vietnam & ASEAN was organized by the Vietnam ASEAN Hydrogen Club (VAHC) in cooperation with Solberg Manufacturing (USA). The event took place successfully on the morning of April 10, 2026 at the Saigon Hotel, Ho Chi Minh City. As part of the workshop, Mr. Gary Siah – APAC Representative of Solberg Manufacturing – delivered an important presentation titled: *“Gas Filtration and Membrane Technologies for Hydrogen Systems and Fuel Cells” *. The content was based on practical research and solutions from Solberg, a company established in the field of air filtration since 1968.

On April 10, 2026, the Vietnam ASEAN Hydrogen Club (VAHC), in collaboration with Solberg Manufacturing (USA), successfully hosted the Vietnam-America Hydrogen Workshop 2026 at the Saigon Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City. The event brought together leading experts, companies from the United States, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, and international partners to share the latest developments in global and regional hydrogen markets, showcase cutting-edge hydrogen production technologies, and explore practical collaboration opportunities in Vietnam and ASEAN.