Between September 2024 and August 2025, Vietnam's electricity mix was split almost evenly between fossil and low-carbon sources. More than half of this electricity came from fossil fuels, with coal being the predominant source. Specifically, fossil fuels accounted for just over 53%, with coal contributing almost 47%, and gas making up approximately 7%. On the other hand, more than 46% of the electricity generation came from low-carbon sources. Hydropower was the leading contributor among clean energy sources, making up about 34%, while solar added a notable share of 8%. Wind energy contributed a smaller portion, around 4%. This balanced approach highlights Vietnam's commitment to transitioning to cleaner electricity, although reliance on coal remains considerable.
Data sources used on this page include EIA, Ember and IEA. More about data sources →
Is Electricity Growing in Vietnam?
Electricity consumption in Vietnam is experiencing a rising trend, with the latest figures showing 3095 kWh per person in 2025, an increase from the previous record of 3047 kWh per person in 2024. This change reflects a growing demand and usage pattern among consumers. Encouragingly, the share of low-carbon electricity in this consumption is increasing even faster. The amount of low-carbon electricity per person grew from 1336 kWh in 2024 to 1440 kWh in 2025, highlighting a significant leap of over 100 kWh per person within a year. This momentum in low-carbon electricity aligns with the global push towards sustainable energy sources, representing Vietnam's proactive stance in tackling climate change by increasing the share of clean electricity.
Suggestions
To further enhance low-carbon electricity generation, Vietnam could take inspiration from successful regions that have excelled in clean energy production. Countries like France and Slovakia showcase significant implementation of nuclear energy, contributing over 60% of their electricity from nuclear sources. Learning from these examples could help Vietnam diversify its low-carbon portfolio beyond hydro and solar. Additionally, states like Iowa and Denmark have demonstrated high capabilities in wind energy, providing 60% and 49% of their electricity respectively from wind. These insights reveal the potential Vietnam has to expand both solar and nuclear energy contributions, ensuring a robust and sustainable electricity supply that matches the increasing demand driven by new technological advances and electrification.
History
The history of low-carbon electricity in Vietnam reflects a consistent growth pattern interspersed with periods of stagnation and decline. In the early 2000s, hydropower saw incremental growth, with notable surges in 2011 and 2012. The mid-2010s witnessed continued expansion, with hydro generation peaking in 2017. However, the following years experienced fluctuations, including significant declines in 2018 and 2019, though these were soon offset by solar power's rise, particularly in 2020 and 2021. More recently, from 2022 onwards, both hydro and wind have shown positive increments, despite occasional setbacks in hydro power. This historical context underscores the need for a diversified approach to low-carbon electricity generation, with Vietnam being poised to embrace solar and nuclear technologies to stabilize and enhance its green electricity output.