Vietnam's liquefied natural gas demand—potential to import liquefied natural gas from the USA.

This article examines Vietnam’s growing energy demand amid its commitment to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, highlighting liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports—particularly from the United States—as a key strategy in its energy transition. Vietnam’s domestic natural gas production is limited and declining, prompting the government to develop LNG infrastructure and policies to increase LNG imports, aiming for around 8 billion cubic meters (bcm) by 2030 and 15 bcm by 2045. The United States, benefiting from a shale gas revolution that has significantly expanded its natural gas reserves and production, has become a leading global LNG exporter with competitive pricing and flexible supply options. To effectively integrate LNG imports, Vietnam needs to liberalize its gas and electricity markets, ensure third-party access to LNG infrastructure, secure long-term supply contracts, and develop comprehensive regulatory frameworks supporting a sustainable and competitive LNG sector.