🧩 THE CHALLENGES VIETNAMESE BUSINESSES FACE WHEN SELF-ASSESSING ESG

As ESG (Environmental – Social – Governance) increasingly becomes a mandatory criterion for accessing capital markets, global supply chains and consumer trust, many Vietnamese businesses have begun their ESG self-assessment journey. However, quite a few face major challenges:

1. Lack of expertise and standard guidance

ESG is a complex, multi-sector system of standards that is continuously updated. Not knowing which framework to apply (GRI, SASB, TCFD, GRESB…), or how to measure correctly under Vietnamese law, leaves businesses struggling without making real progress.⁠​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌⁠

2. Lack of data and standardised recording systems

Most businesses do not have complete systems for measuring emissions, wastewater and social risks, or full ESG governance processes. Scattered, non-standardised data makes assessment results unreliable.

3. Assessments that are a formality and lack objectivity

Internal self-assessment, or using services that both assess and advise, increases conflicts of interest and is not recognised by the market or investors. “Rating for the sake of rating” creates no real improvement value.

4. Time-consuming and costly, yet low effectiveness

Businesses have to re-prepare reports and create new data just for the ESG assessment – putting heavy pressure on departments without necessarily producing clear internal improvements.⁠​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌⁠

🌱 VietESG – ESG Assessment & Rating: The optimal solution for Vietnamese businesses

To resolve these difficulties at their root, VietESG has developed its ESG Assessment & Rating product with outstanding advantages, delivering objectivity, relevance and cost-effectiveness at the same time:

✅ 1. Objective – Independent – Transparent

• Independent assessment: we do not take on ESG implementation consulting, so as to avoid conflicts of interest.
• Compliance with ISO 17021 and ISO 19011, cross-checked against Vietnamese legal regulations such as the Law on Environmental Protection 2020.⁠​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌⁠
• The assessment process includes periodic quality control and discloses any deviations – ensuring transparency and reliability.

🌏 2. Suited to Vietnamese practice – Standardised to international norms

• Applies the GRI Standards 2021, integrating international practices (TCFD, SASB, ESRS).
• Customised by sector, size and the Vietnamese context thanks to the VietESG Materiality Glossary.⁠​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌⁠
• Requires no data beyond public reports (Unsolicited Ratings) – reducing the pressure of supplying information.

🔎 3. Focused on improvement – Not “rating for the sake of rating”

• Assessment results come with a gap analysis (GAP) and specific action recommendations following the model:

Strategy → Programme → Action⁠​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌⁠

• Businesses are compared with the industry average (benchmarks based on GRESB, CDP) to determine their position and an appropriate roadmap.

💰 4. Cost-effective – Optimised resources

• No separate report is needed – VietESG extracts data from existing reports (sustainability, financial, governance…).
• Uses GenAI technology for fast, accurate extraction, reducing errors and saving time.⁠​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌⁠

🤖 5. Applying AI – Speed and accuracy

• AI supports:
  • Extracting data from PDF files.
  • Standardising emission measurement units according to the GHG Protocol, IFRS.
  • Detecting anomalies in environmental and social data.⁠​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌⁠

🔄 6. Flexible – Multi-dimensional classification

• Businesses can choose:
  • Assessment by individual pillar (E, S, G).
  • Assessment by sector (real estate, agriculture, finance…).
  • Assessment by size (SMEs, listed companies, multinational groups).⁠​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌⁠

🎯 Action recommendations for each group of businesses

Business	Recommended action
No ESG yet	Use the VietESG assessment to start building an ESG roadmap, prioritising strategy.
Already has an ESG report	Compare with VietESG's results to standardise in line with GRI and avoid greenwashing.

Let VietESG accompany your business on its journey to build its brand, strengthen competitiveness and develop sustainably.

Website: www.vietesg.org
Email: quynhhoa@vietesg.com
Hotline: 0977064965