Renewable Hydrogen and Circular Energy: VAHC’s 2026 Action Agenda and the Phu Quoc H2 Bus Initiative toward APEC 2027
On February 5, 2026, the thematic seminar titled “Renewable Hydrogen and Circular Energy Solutions for Vietnam and ASEAN’s Green Mobility Future: The Real Thing” was held at the ground-floor conference room of Serepok Phan Chu Trinh, 175 Phan Chu Trinh Street, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City. The event was organized by the Vietnam–ASEAN Hydrogen Club (VAHC) in collaboration with Wisdom Motor Group and UNP Healthcare Vietnam Co., Ltd.
The seminar, taking place from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM, brought together experts, enterprises, and organizations active in hydrogen, renewable energy, and sustainable mobility. The program offered a comprehensive perspective on hydrogen’s role in the energy transition, spanning healthcare, heavy-duty transport, advanced technologies, and circular energy ecosystems.
VAHC’s 2026 Strategic Direction
In his opening remarks, Mr. Le Ngoc Anh Minh, Chairman of VAHC, emphasized that 2026 marks a pivotal year—shifting from policy dialogue and technology showcases toward concrete project implementation. He outlined three strategic priorities for VAHC in 2026:
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Strengthening Vietnam–ASEAN hydrogen ecosystem connectivity;
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Advancing high-feasibility pilot projects;
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Expanding hydrogen applications across key sectors of society.
Mr. Minh stressed that hydrogen is not limited to energy and transportation. It holds transformative potential in healthcare, high-tech agriculture, environmental treatment, energy storage, and green logistics. VAHC is committed to working closely with domestic and international partners to develop integrated hydrogen models—from green hydrogen production and storage to distribution and end-use applications—laying the foundation for a comprehensive hydrogen ecosystem in Vietnam.
A highlight of the address was the announcement of a proposed hydrogen-powered tourism transport initiative in Phu Quoc. In partnership with businesses and local authorities, VAHC aims to launch an H2 Bus experience project ahead of APEC 2027, which will be hosted in Phu Quoc. The project is expected to reduce emissions in the tourism sector while positioning Phu Quoc as a symbol of green innovation and forward-looking energy transition. The H2 Bus model will integrate public transportation, sustainable tourism, and international communication on Vietnam’s clean energy progress.
Hydrogen Across Sectors: From Health to Heavy Transport
Opening the technical session, Ms. Ho Thi Bich Phuong, Assistant Director of UNP Healthcare Vietnam, presented hydrogen’s emerging applications in biomedicine and healthcare. Her presentation highlighted hydrogen’s antioxidant properties and its role in protecting cells from oxidative stress—drawing parallels between biological oxidation and industrial corrosion processes. The discussion demonstrated that hydrogen is not only a clean fuel but also a promising agent in health recovery and wellness enhancement.
Next, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Hien, Branch Director of Delta International, shared practical insights into deploying heavy-duty electric trucks in Vietnam and assessed the economic feasibility of hydrogen-powered trucks. While battery-electric vehicles have proven effective for short- and medium-distance routes, limitations in driving range and charging time underscore hydrogen’s value as a complementary solution—particularly for long-haul, heavy-load, and high-utilization logistics operations.
From a technology and circular energy perspective, Mr. Brett Shields, representing Nex Energy Systems (NES), introduced advanced pyrolysis solutions for converting waste into energy. His presentation illustrated how municipal waste, plastics, tires, and agricultural residues can be transformed into syngas for electricity and hydrogen production. He also discussed solid-state hydrogen storage technologies as a safer and more efficient approach for commercial-scale hydrogen transport and distribution.
Concluding the presentations, Mr. Ivan Lim, Global Senior Director of Wisdom Motor Group, provided a global outlook on hydrogen-powered heavy transport. He noted that as countries accelerate carbon neutrality roadmaps, hydrogen is emerging as a key solution for segments where battery-electric technology faces constraints. Drawing on projects in Europe, Japan, Australia, and the Middle East, he demonstrated that hydrogen fuel-cell buses and trucks are commercially ready—opening significant opportunities for Vietnam and ASEAN.
A Unified Vision for Vietnam’s Green Transition
Collectively, the seminar painted a holistic picture of hydrogen’s expanding role—from healthcare and agriculture to transport and circular energy systems. Hydrogen was framed not merely as a technical alternative, but as a strategic driver of green transformation, economic competitiveness, and sustainable development in Vietnam and across ASEAN.
With a clear 2026 action agenda and tangible initiatives such as the Phu Quoc H2 Bus project in preparation for APEC 2027, VAHC is taking concrete steps toward positioning hydrogen as a central pillar in Vietnam’s green growth strategy and regional energy cooperation.
Acknowledgment and Appreciation
The Vietnam – ASEAN Hydrogen Club (VAHC) would like to express its sincere appreciation to our valued partners, distinguished speakers, and delegates for their active participation and meaningful contributions to the workshop.
We gratefully acknowledge the presence and support of: UNP Healthcare; Sapa Chemical; PowerChina; Wisdom Motor; Delta International; NES Australia; Unico Vina; SPD Futurix; Phoenix Contact; Sharp; Kanadevia; Kawasaki; Solberg Manufacturing; Pacific Group; Anh Tam Law Office; The Gioi Hydro; Thanh Lap Environment; TPLink; Thien Bich Corp; Kohler Vietnam; as well as the lecturers and interns from Van Hien University.
Your engagement and collaboration have significantly contributed to the success of the event and to advancing the shared vision of hydrogen and sustainable energy development in Vietnam and the ASEAN region.
