Japan's steel industry accounts for approximately 15% of the nation's total CO₂ emissions, making it one of the most carbon‑intensive sectors. From fiscal year 2026, Japan will implement Phase 2 of the GX‑ETS, requiring companies emitting over 100,000 tCO₂/year (including both blast furnace and electric arc furnace steelmakers) to participate. This analysis compares conventional BF‑BOF with green H₂‑Iron‑EAF using hydrogen direct reduced iron to assess the carbon price level needed to incentivise EAF deployment.

Thermocatalysis currently stands as the most bankable solution. However, biocatalysis and plasma catalysis may gain ground as technologies mature.

Ultimately, the competition is less about reaction pathways and more about access to low-cost renewable hydrogen.

During Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s visit:

• Hydrogen was not a headline topic
• But it is embedded within broader clean energy cooperation

In Vietnam–Japan relations:

Hydrogen represents:

• A long-term energy transition component
• A key industrial decarbonization pathway
• A future cross-border energy trade system (especially via ammonia)

Strategic takeaway

Hydrogen is not just an energy topic.

It is:

a mechanism for restructuring global industrial and energy trade systems over the next 20–30 years

Within this structure:

• Japan: system design, finance, and market creation
• Vietnam: resources, land, and geographic positioning
• Global technology providers: engineering and execution

The key strategic question for Vietnam is not whether to develop hydrogen, but:

What role Vietnam wants to play in the emerging hydrogen value chain: system participant or raw resource supplier?

Vietnam is entering a major acceleration phase in large-scale infrastructure development, with a dual objective: sustaining high economic growth while becoming a high-income developed country by 2045. In this strategy, transport infrastructure—especially aviation—is considered one of the central growth drivers.

According to international assessments, major infrastructure projects such as airports, seaports, and high-speed rail will play a key role in expanding development space and enhancing national competitiveness.

The Cai Mep Ha Logistics Center is being positioned as a key expansion component of the Cai Mep – Thi Vai deep-sea port complex in Ba Ria – Vung Tau (now part of the expanded Ho Chi Minh City metropolitan region). This area is one of the most strategically important logistics hubs in Vietnam and among the leading deep-water port clusters in ASEAN.

The Lien Chieu Port project in Da Nang is being developed as a new international gateway port for Central Vietnam, and is positioned as a core infrastructure node within an integrated economic structure combining the Da Nang Free Trade Zone (FTZ) and the International Financial Center (IFC).

As part of its investment promotion mission to Japan, Hà Tĩnh Province organized an Investment Promotion Conference in Tokyo on May 12, 2026 at Vietnam Embassy in Tokyo, to present its development strategy, competitive advantages, and investment opportunities to the international business community, particularly Japanese investors.

日本における投資促進活動の一環として、ハティン省は東京にて投資促進会議を開催し、国際的なビジネスコミュニティ、特に日本の投資家に対し、同省の発展戦略、競争優位性および投資機会を紹介した。

Mr. Tran Ha Thanh Duc from Bank SinoPac (Ho Chi Minh City Branch), has announced the implementation of structured financing solutions for corporate clients, aimed at supporting business expansion, optimizing collateral structures, and improving capital efficiency for hydrogen projects.

The solutions are designed for enterprises with stable cash flows, particularly in manufacturing, industrial development, energy, and large-scale investment projects.

Viena April 12, 2026 – As the world races toward a net-zero future, hydrogen is hailed as the fuel of tomorrow. Yet one question looms large: which hydrogen is truly “green”? The answer lies not in slogans but in cold, hard numbers – and the new international benchmark that sets the rules is ISO/TS 19870. Released by ISO and UNIDO in 2024, this is no dry technical manual. It is a practical, game-changing guide that standardizes how to calculate the partial carbon footprint of hydrogen from wellhead to consumption gate. For Vietnam, now drafting its national hydrogen strategy, ignoring this document could prove costly.

Ho Chi Minh City is one of Southeast Asia’s fastest‑growing megacities, challenged by traffic congestion, air pollution, and climate change impacts. With over 1,000 km of creeks and rivers, the city has a distinct advantage to build a modern water transit system.

The Saigon Zero‑Emission Water Metro concept envisions an interconnected network of green hydrogen ferries operating on the Saigon River and key canals to link urban districts with regional transport destinations. A strategic priority is a route connecting the city center with Long Thanh International Airport, aiming to be the first airport‑linked water metro line in Southeast Asia.

Vietnam ASEAN Hydrogen Club (VAHC), Pacific Group, in collaboration with Japanese spaceport technology partners, is currently seeking Vietnamese partners with large land holdings in the Ca Mau–Kien Giang region, as well as engagement with local and central government authorities and defense stakeholders, to jointly initiate a feasibility study for a zero-emission spaceport based on Japan’s lean development model.

The issuance of Decree 112/2026/ND-CP establishes a critical legal framework for Vietnam’s participation in international carbon markets under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. A key feature of the Decree is the definition of maximum carbon credit transfer ratios, which directly shape project economics and investment strategies.

Vietnam has officially issued Decree 112/2026/ND-CP, establishing a legal framework for participating in the Paris Agreement through Article 6.2.

The decree defines eligible project categories for internationally transferred mitigation outcomes (ITMOs) with corresponding adjustments, which are critical for accessing global climate finance.

Vietnam’s Decree 112/2026 on international carbon credit exchange marks a pivotal step in the country’s carbon market development. For the hydrogen sector—long challenged by high costs and weak offtake—this policy could serve as a critical financial lever.

An international hydrogen-focused group, currently in the final stage of a NASDAQ listing process, is seeking a strategic partner in Vietnam for potential merger and co-listing on a global platform.

In the global energy transition, hydrogen is becoming one of the key pillars for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, especially in hard-to-abate sectors such as heavy industry, power generation, and transportation. However, unlike traditional energy forms, hydrogen is still an emerging market in which technical standards play a foundational role in ensuring safety, interoperability, and commercialization.

Ho Chi Minh City is one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing megacities and faces increasing challenges related to traffic congestion, air pollution, and climate resilience. A key strategic component of the project is a priority regional water corridor linking Ho Chi Minh City to Long Thanh International Airport, creating the first airport-connected water metro system in Southeast Asia.

As the global energy transition accelerates, power systems around the world are undergoing rapid transformation. Industries today require electricity infrastructure that is not only reliable but also flexible and capable of integrating a wide range of energy sources, including renewable energy.