From October 2025 through September 2026, fossil fuels supplied more than half of Vietnam’s electricity consumption, at about 55%, while low-carbon sources provided about 41% and net imports covered roughly 4%. Coal dominated the fossil share, supplying around 47% of electricity, with gas contributing about 7%. Among clean sources, hydropower led with almost 28%, followed by solar at around 8% and wind at about 5%. Vietnam therefore has a substantial low-carbon electricity base, but coal remains its largest source, contributing to climate change and air pollution.

Is Electricity Growing in Vietnam?

Electricity consumption per person is growing strongly in Vietnam. The latest 2026 figure reached about 3,414 kWh per person, roughly 228 kWh, or 7%, above the previous record set in 2025. However, low-carbon electricity generation did not keep pace: it stood at about 1,411 kWh per person, around 39 kWh, or 3%, below its 2025 record. The rise in electricity consumption is encouraging as electrification and AI increase demand, but the decline in clean generation per person is concerning. Vietnam needs faster low-carbon expansion to meet growing electricity needs cleanly.

Suggestions

Vietnam can build on its existing solar and wind industries while developing nuclear electricity generation. South Korea offers a relevant Asian example, generating about 26% of its electricity from nuclear, while France demonstrates the potential for nuclear to supply around two-thirds. For solar, Vietnam can learn from Australia, where it supplies about 22% of electricity, and the US state of California, where it supplies 30%, particularly through coordinated deployment of solar, storage and grid infrastructure. Wind can also contribute much more: Uruguay generates almost a third of its electricity from wind, and the US state of Iowa produces well over half. Combining expanded solar and wind with nuclear development and stronger transmission would help Vietnam deliver more clean electricity and reduce its reliance on fossil fuels.

History

Vietnam’s low-carbon electricity history has been shaped largely by hydropower, with solar and wind becoming increasingly important. Hydro generation rose by 4 TWh in 2009, followed by strong gains during the 2010s, including increases of about 13 TWh in 2011, 12 TWh in 2012 and 23 TWh in 2017. These gains were interrupted by declines of about 5 TWh in 2018 and 18 TWh in 2019. Solar then expanded rapidly, adding about 5 TWh in 2019, 6 TWh in 2020 and 15 TWh in 2021. In the early 2020s, hydro recovered, including a 17 TWh increase in 2022, when wind also added nearly 6 TWh. Hydro subsequently fell by 15 TWh in 2023, rebounded by about 15 TWh in 2024 and 9 TWh in 2025, then declined by about 9 TWh in 2026. Wind’s roughly 4 TWh increase in 2026 was a welcome addition, reinforcing the importance of expanding a diversified clean electricity supply.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

* 12M = Last 12 months (Oct 2025 – Sep 2026) — a rolling 12-month period, not a calendar year.