Vietnam has resumed its nuclear power programme after halting it in 2016, reopening a path that officials now frame around energy security and emissions goals. The government has discussed mechanisms for nuclear power to become operational by the end of this decade, while also positioning nuclear as a clean and stable power source that can diversify the energy mix. That broader logic sits alongside Vietnam’s commitment to carbon neutrality by 2050. In this revival, the Ninh Thuan projects are repeatedly referenced as the practical test of whether Vietnam can convert policy intent into bankable agreements and an executable build timeline.
The near-term focus is on negotiations. Vietnam targets completing negotiations for the Ninh Thuan 1 nuclear power plant in former Ninh Thuan province (now Khanh Hoa) by August 2025. It also targets completing negotiations for Ninh Thuan 2 by May 2026 at the latest. Reuters separately reported that Vietnam’s plan involved negotiating with Russia and Japan to build two power plants with a planned combined capacity of 4 to 6.4 gigawatts. Those figures anchor expectations for what the revived programme is trying to deliver at system scale.
From Fixed Partners to Fast Replacements
Vietnam’s timeline has already encountered friction. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh warned that progress “has not been as expected,” citing obstacles that need immediate attention, including the slow pace of negotiations on cooperation agreements that are heavily dependent on foreign partners. In December, Japan’s ambassador to Vietnam Naoki Ito told Reuters Japan had dropped out of plans to build a major nuclear power plant in Vietnam because the government’s goal of having it online by 2035 was too ambitious. Chinh then instructed officials to complete talks with Russia in January and find a new partner to replace Japan for the second project, while aiming for the two nuclear power plants to be online “after 2031.”
Diplomacy is moving in parallel with these domestic deadlines. An AP report published by The Washington Post said Vietnam and Russia signed a deal to build a nuclear power plant in Vietnam, describing it as a revival of Hanoi’s nuclear ambitions aimed at boosting energy security while curbing greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, Vietnam has been engaged in discussions with other foreign partners on nuclear power ventures, including South Korea, Japan, France, and the United States. This widening set of counterparties suggests Vietnam is trying to reduce single-partner dependency even as it tries to close specific negotiations for Ninh Thuan.
The strategic case for the programme is unfolding during a period of intense power-system pressure and rapid buildout elsewhere. CleanTechnica reported Vietnam’s energy demand increased 10.9% in the first nine months of 2024, while the same report noted targets that aim for 46–73GW of solar capacity by 2030. Private-sector activity reflects that push: VinEnergo announced plans to install 43MW of rooftop solar and 45MWh of battery storage across three Vingroup manufacturing plants in Ha Tinh province. Against this backdrop, the Vietnam nuclear power Ninh Thuan revival is being positioned as a stabilizing complement, but one whose credibility now depends on whether Vietnam can resolve negotiation delays, finalize partners, and meet its updated “after 2031” online goal.
When does Vietnam want to finalize negotiations for the Ninh Thuan nuclear plants?
What capacity range has been cited for the two-plant nuclear plan tied to Ninh Thuan?
Why did Vietnam warn about delays in its revived nuclear programme?
What changed after Japan stepped back from Vietnam’s nuclear plans?
What is driving the Vietnam nuclear power Ninh Thuan strategic pivot alongside renewables?
