Vietnam-US energy cooperation: A new pillar for growth and trade balance.

On the sidelines of the 6th Round of negotiations for a fair and balanced reciprocal trade agreement between Vietnam and the United States, on the afternoon of February 4, 2026, Acting Minister of Industry and Trade Le Manh Hung held a meeting with US Deputy Secretary of Energy James Danly. Also attending the meeting from the Vietnamese side was the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Vietnam to the United States, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan.

Bộ Công thương•06/02/2026

During the meeting, the Acting Minister emphasized that Vietnam's goal of maintaining double-digit economic growth in the coming period will lead to a rapid, continuous, and long-term increase in energy demand, requiring synchronized solutions regarding supply, infrastructure, technology, and large-scale investment. In this context, Vietnam highly values expanding energy cooperation with the United States.

Acting Minister Le Manh Hung held a meeting with US Deputy Secretary of Energy James Danly.

The Acting Minister clarified Vietnam's urgent need to vigorously develop new energy sources and energy infrastructure, including LNG power, renewable energy (wind power, offshore wind power, solar power), electricity storage systems, transmission grids, and advanced energy technologies, in order to both meet load growth and fulfill the commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

The Acting Minister also requested the U.S. Department of Energy to promote and facilitate faster and easier access for Vietnamese businesses to sources of machinery, equipment, technology, and fuel from the United States (for example, GE's turbine generators); and to encourage U.S. businesses to implement energy projects in Vietnam on schedule.

A view of the working session between Acting Minister Le Manh Hung and Deputy Secretary of Energy James Danly.

Deputy Secretary James Danly agreed with the proposals and stated that the United States has strengths in supplying LNG, crude oil, turbine generators, electrical equipment, and modern energy system management technologies and solutions. Increasing imports of these products from the United States is not only of purely economic significance but also a direct and practical solution to adjust the bilateral trade balance towards a more balanced and sustainable direction.

During the meeting, the US side officially extended an invitation to Acting Minister Le Manh Hung to attend the Ministerial and Business Forum on Energy Security in the Indo- Pacific region, scheduled to be held on March 14-15, 2026 in Tokyo, Japan, to promote policy alignment and investment cooperation in the energy sector in the region.

Source: https://moit.gov.vn/tin-tuc/hop-tac-nang-luong-viet-nam-hoa-ky-tru-cot-moi-cho-tang-truong-va-can-bang-thuong-mai.html