Vietnamese businesses are finding that green loans are easier to talk about than to secure. A VIR seminar on October 14 highlighted the core problem: projects that lack clear environmental criteria, solid financial projections, and long-term cash flow plans often fail lender scrutiny before they even get to the funding stage. The article features Miza, a recycled paper manufacturer that shifted boilers from coal and oil to biomass, added solar power, and now needs financing with tenors that match its investment cycle. EY Vietnam's Nguyen Viet Long adds that companies which design green criteria in from the start avoid costly redesigns later, and that banks look at overall company health, not just the project. For climate finance watchers, the takeaway is that Vietnam's green finance gap is not only about capital supply. It is also about loan structures, reporting standards, and project preparation. As the carbon market takes shape, firms that can document emissions and returns will be the ones that actually get funded.
