As of 2025, Vietnam's electricity consumption is characterized by a nearly even split between fossil fuels and low-carbon sources. With fossil fuels accounting for more than half of the electricity generated, coal is the dominant source at nearly 48%, while gas contributes a smaller share of about 6%. On the cleaner side, low-carbon sources contribute around 46% to Vietnam's electricity mix. Hydropower stands out as the country's leading low-carbon contributor, providing almost a third of the electricity, whereas solar and wind offer around 8% and 4%, respectively. This distribution reflects Vietnam's efforts to diversify its energy sources, but still highlights a significant reliance on coal, a major pollutant and contributor to climate change.
Is Electricity Growing in Vietnam?
However, in terms of overall electricity consumption per person, there has been a noticeable decline from 2024 to 2025. In 2025, the total electricity consumption is 2549 kWh per person, down from the previous year's record high of 3047 kWh per person, marking a decrease of 499 kWh per person. Similarly, low-carbon electricity generation per person also saw a decline. In 2025, it stood at 1168 kWh per person, a drop of 168 kWh per person from 2024's record. This reduction is concerning and indicates that Vietnam's electricity sector, particularly its low-carbon segment, is facing challenges that need to be addressed to support the country's development and environmental goals.
Suggestions
To bolster its low-carbon electricity generation, Vietnam can look towards several successful regions. For solar energy, California and Nevada present excellent models, generating around 31% and 34% of their electricity from solar, respectively, showcasing the potential of solar investments. The wind energy success in Denmark, with 60% of its electricity coming from wind, serves as inspiration for Vietnam to enhance its wind power capacity. Additionally, Vietnam should consider entering the nuclear space, drawing inspiration from France and Slovakia, where nuclear power contributes 67% and 65% of electricity, respectively. By integrating these lessons and focusing on a mix of wind, solar, and even nuclear, Vietnam could significantly reduce its reliance on fossil fuels while expanding its clean energy share.
History
Looking back on Vietnam's low-carbon electricity history, hydropower has seen consistent growth through the 2000s and 2010s, with notable increases in 2001, 2009, and notably between 2011 and 2017. However, recent years have been marked by fluctuations, including significant declines like those in 2018 and 2019, and again in 2023 and 2025. Solar started gaining momentum in 2019 and experienced rapid growth in the early 2020s, particularly in 2020 and 2021. Despite some setbacks, such as a decrease in 2025, Vietnam has demonstrated potential in harnessing wind energy, especially in 2022. Continuing to expand investments in diverse low-carbon technologies, especially solar and nuclear, will be key to securing a sustainable and prosperous energy future for Vietnam.
