"Energy Evolution" Seminar in Ho Chi Minh City: Positioning Power-to-X Infrastructure and Hydrogen Business Opportunities for Vietnamese Enterprises

August 21, 2026
By Annie Nguyễn, VAHC Secretariat

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam – The "Energy Evolution" seminar, co-organized by the Vietnam ASEAN Hydrogen Club and Phoenix Contact, took place on the afternoon of August 20 at the Eastin Grand Hotel, HCMC. The event gathered approximately 30 experts, managers, and businesses from the hydrogen, oil and gas, fuel, and energy storage sectors.

Diverse Presentations on Hydrogen Technology and Markets

Mr. Le Ngoc Anh Minh, Chairman of VAHC and Executive President of Pacific Group, delivered the opening speech and a keynote presentation on hydrogen business opportunities in Vietnam. He emphasized that global hydrogen demand exceeded 100 million tonnes in 2025, yet low-emission hydrogen accounts for only about 1% of total production. The main barriers are high production costs, uncertain demand, slow policy implementation, and lack of infrastructure.

The presentation identified eight business opportunity groups for Vietnamese enterprises, including: standards/certification and carbon services; hydrogen infrastructure and logistics; industrial hydrogen offtake; equipment manufacturing and system integration; hydrogen applications in agriculture; sustainable water supply in water-scarce/saline areas; applications in medical and wellness sectors; and natural hydrogen exploration and extraction.

Technology and Solutions from Phoenix Contact

Mr. Truong Dang Nghia from Phoenix Contact provided an overview and welcome remarks. Ms. Min Ong Yuen presented Phoenix Contact's role in Power-to-X integration for the All Electric Society. Mr. Simon Low shared insights on hydrogen electrification and power conversion, while Mr. Fan Shen Yin introduced smart operations with next-generation automation.

Phoenix Contact is a leading global provider of industrial automation, connectivity, and energy technology solutions. With over 100 years of expertise, the company offers a comprehensive portfolio ranging from electronic connection technology, control interfaces, and power supplies to advanced automation systems and software solutions.

In the energy sector, Phoenix Contact is a pioneer in the transition toward the "All Electric Society" through its Power-to-X solutions. The company provides electrification and power conversion systems for hydrogen (including rectifiers, inverters, and controllers for electrolysers), as well as next-generation automation solutions for intelligent operation of renewable energy plants and fuel cells.

Key products include COMBICON connection technology, industrial power supplies, PLC controllers, distributed control systems, and data management software. Services encompass technical consulting, custom solution design, training, and operational support, helping customers optimise performance, reduce operational costs, and ensure safety in industrial and energy applications.

International Partnerships and Projects in Vietnam

Mr. Tran Nguyen from Obayashi Corporation presented the company's global hydrogen strategy and projects in ASEAN, with a focus on Vietnam. Dr. Nguyen Phuc Than from Kanadevia introduced Power-to-X solutions, particularly hydrogen and methanation.

Networking and Outlook

The seminar included networking breaks and a lucky draw program for attendees who visited exhibition stations. The event concluded with a networking dinner for speakers and delegates. The seminar brought together approximately 40 delegates from sectors such as hydrogen, oil and gas, chemicals, power, energy, manufacturing, healthcare, banking, and education; notable participants included H&M Vietnam, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kanadevia Corporation, Obayashi Corporation, Gentari Renewable Vietnam (a Petronas subsidiary), KPT Chemical Group, UNP Healthcare, Indefol, HRE, ACB, John Cockerill, Pacific Group, and HUTECH University, among others.