Vietjet Chairwoman Dr Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao has opened trading at the London Stock Exchange, putting Vietnam’s global business aims firmly in the City spotlight.
The event took place on Wednesday, 22 July 2026. Dr Thao was joined by Dame Sue Langley, Lady Mayor of the City of London, and Dame Julia Hoggett, Chief Executive Officer of the London Stock Exchange plc.
It was a grand affair, complete with handshakes, cameras and the famous market-opening ritual. Yet the message was plain. Vietnamese companies want better access to global capital. London wants strong firms from fast-growing markets. On this occasion, the bell did rather more than make a noise.
Vietnam looks beyond its home market
Dr Thao is Chairwoman of Vietjet and Permanent Vice Chairwoman of HDBank. Her work spans aviation, banking, tech and investment. Vietjet confirmed her appointment as board chair in April 2023. The airline has since continued to expand its overseas network and global links.
Dame Julia Hoggett praised Dr Thao’s broad role in Vietnam’s growth.
“At the London Stock Exchange, we have the privilege of meeting many outstanding business leaders. Few, however, have played such an important role across multiple sectors of the economy and in connecting nations as Dr. Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao,” Hoggett said.
Dame Sue Langley also pointed to the value of closer UK–Vietnam ties.
“London offers global capital, strong governance standards and a trusted regulatory environment for Vietnamese businesses seeking international financing,” Langley said.
That point goes to the heart of the visit. Capital is vital, but trust comes first. Global investors want clear accounts, firm rules and sound boards. They also want plans that can last well beyond the opening event.
London and Vietnam already have momentum
This was Dr Thao’s second visit to the London Stock Exchange within a year. It also followed a wider push by HDBank and London to link Vietnamese firms with overseas investors.
In April 2026, HDBank and the London Stock Exchange formed a pact to support overseas fundraising. The work covers shares, bonds, listing advice and links with major investors. It also seeks clearer reporting and stronger board standards.
The London Stock Exchange is one of the world’s oldest exchanges. Its roots stretch back more than 300 years. LSEG says it has built trusted markets since 1801. That history still carries weight. In finance, old institutions can be useful — especially when they have learned to use new tools.
Dr Thao told guests that Vietnamese business was entering a fresh phase on the world stage.
“We bring with us not only the ambitions of our businesses but also those of a country embracing a new era of innovation, integration and sustainable development,” she said.
She also stressed the value of sound rules, clear reporting and trust. Her message was clear. Future capital will favour firms with good oversight, patient plans and sound goals for greener growth.
New capital pact signed
During the visit, Vietjet, HDBank and Dragon Capital signed a three-way agreement. It aims to help raise overseas capital for major projects in Vietnam.
Dame Sue Langley and Dame Julia Hoggett witnessed the signing. No funding sum or timetable was announced. Nor was a London listing confirmed.
That detail matters. The agreement is a framework, not a completed deal. There is no giant cheque waiting beside the bell. Still, the partners now have a clear base for more work.
For Vietnam, the need is clear. Aviation, transport, energy and digital systems require large sums of long-term money. Global markets can help. But projects must pass strict tests on risk, rules and returns.
Dragon Capital brings useful London experience. Its Vietnam Enterprise Investments Limited fund joined the London Stock Exchange’s main market in July 2016.
“Vietnam Enterprise Investments Limited has been listed on the London Stock Exchange since 2016, and it has been an excellent journey,” Dragon Capital Chairman Dominic Scriven said.
London Stock Exchange and fund records confirm the July 2016 listing.
FTSE rises, but the bell gets no credit
The FTSE 100 closed 1.24 per cent higher at 10,716.97 on 22 July. It was the index’s best level in more than four months.
The timing gave the event a bright backdrop. Still, no sensible observer should credit the rise to one market opening. Reuters reported that mining, oil and other commodity-linked shares helped lead the wider rally. Even in London, a market bell cannot move an index on charm alone.
The real test comes next. Vietjet, HDBank and Dragon Capital must turn access into action. That means sound projects, careful checks, open reports and deals that work for investors as well as Vietnam.
The bell has rung. Now comes the paperwork and, as every banker knows, that is where the serious journey begins.
By: Christine Nguyen – © 2026.
Read Time: 4 minutes.
Author Bio:
Christine’s story is one of quiet courage, told without fuss and lived with remarkable grace. She arrived in Australia as a young refugee from Vietnam, carrying little more than hope, family, and a curiosity that refused to be extinguished. Sydney became home, built patiently, brick by careful brick.
She studied Tourism at TAFE and soon found her place in inbound travel, working with one of the city’s leading destination companies. Christine loved showing visitors the Australia that lives beyond postcards, warmer, truer, and far more interesting.
When the sea began to whisper, and life asked for a gentler rhythm, she listened. Designing brochures, writing blogs, she discovered storytelling waiting quietly inside her.
Today, at Global Travel Media, Christine writes with warmth and wisdom, reminding us, softly and persuasively, why travel still matters.
