Vietnam’s Solar Energy Potential Fueling a Greener Future

Country or Region Overview

Country or Region: Vietnam

Capital: Hanoi

Total Population: Approximately 100 million (as of 2025)

Geographical Location: Vietnam is a Southeast Asian nation bordered by China to the north, Laos and Cambodia to the west, and the South China Sea to the east. Its long, narrow geography stretches over 1,600 km, covering diverse climates from subtropical north to tropical south, offering varied solar potential.

Solar resource map copyright at 2021 Solargis. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution license (CC BY-SA 4.0). This is a solar resource map from Solargis. For a higher resolution map, please visit and download.

Solar Irradiation Data in Vietnam

Vietnam enjoys strong solar irradiation, especially in southern and central regions. Annual average solar irradiation ranges from 4.0 kWh/m²/day in the north to 5.5 kWh/m²/day in the south, supporting the rapid growth of the solar sector in recent years.

Key Solar Irradiation Data:

Annual Solar Irradiation: Around 4.5 to 5.0 kWh/m²/day on average
High Irradiation Regions: Central Highlands, Binh Thuan, Ninh Thuan, Ho Chi Minh City region
Peak Irradiation: Up to 5.5–6.0 kWh/m²/day during the dry season

Thanks to consistent sunshine, declining solar prices, and growing energy demand, Vietnam is emerging as a solar energy hub in Southeast Asia.

If you need to learn more solar power potential in Vietnam, please feel free to contact Solarvance for more details.

Temperature Factors in Vietnam

Average Annual Temperature: Ranges from 21°C (70°F) in the north to 27°C (81°F) in the south
Impact on Solar Panels: High temperatures, particularly in the southern lowlands, can slightly reduce panel efficiency, but high irradiation levels offset the performance loss

Recommendation: Heat-tolerant PV modules (e.g., PERC or N-type) and proper ventilation in mounting design will help maintain strong energy yields in hot areas.

Energy Demand and Grid Situation in Vietnam

National Energy Demand: Vietnam’s energy consumption has seen double-digit growth, driven by industrialization and urbanization
Grid Infrastructure: The national grid is expanding but faces congestion, especially in solar-rich central provinces due to rapid project rollout
Opportunities from Global Events: Government energy planning (e.g. PDP8) aims to increase renewables, while international investors are boosting solar deployment across the country

Preferred System Type in Vietnam

Grid-Connected Systems: Common in cities and industrial zones, especially in southern provinces where net metering and feed-in incentives have previously been offered
Off-Grid Systems: Used in remote mountainous or island communities, where extending the grid is costly
Hybrid Systems: Ideal for commercial buildings and factories, combining solar, batteries, and grid for cost-saving and backup power

Dust and Sand Factor in Vietnam

Dust and Sandstorms: Dust is not a major issue, but dry season months can cause some accumulation, particularly in rural or roadside areas
Recommendation: Routine cleaning and tilted installations help maintain high efficiency, especially in industrial zones with airborne particles

Humidity and Rainfall (Humidity Factor) in Vietnam

Humidity Levels: Generally high, ranging from 75–90%, especially during the monsoon season
Impact on Solar Panels: High humidity can cause corrosion and electrical degradation over time if systems lack protection
Recommendation: Use weather-sealed junction boxes, IP65+ rated inverters, and corrosion-resistant mounts to ensure system longevity

Ocean (Salt Corrosion Factor) in Vietnam

Saltwater Corrosion: Coastal provinces like Da Nang, Nha Trang, and Vung Tau face salt spray exposure
Recommendation: Use marine-grade aluminum for racking and salt-resistant coatings to minimize corrosion risks

Government Policies and Solar Incentives in Vietnam

Vietnam has become a regional leader in solar policy, encouraging both domestic and foreign investments:

Feed-in Tariffs (FiTs): Introduced in 2017 and revised in 2020, FiTs catalyzed the country’s solar boom, especially for rooftop installations
Self-consumption models: New policies are promoting self-use rooftop solar without grid export
PDP8 (Power Development Plan 8): Targets at least 30% renewables by 2030, with solar and wind leading the mix
International funding: Major institutions like ADB and World Bank are supporting off-grid and distributed solar deployment

ROI on Solar Systems in Vietnam

ROI Period: Most rooftop systems in Vietnam recover investment within 4–6 years, faster in areas with high irradiation and commercial electricity rates
Long-Term Savings: Businesses and households can cut electricity costs by 60–80% over the life of the system, especially with self-consumption focus

Conclusion on Solar Power in Vietnam

Vietnam’s rapid development, strong solar resources, and evolving energy policies have created a fertile landscape for solar power adoption. The country has already demonstrated what can happen when policy, climate, and market forces align — in just a few years, it went from limited deployment to one of the leading solar nations in Asia.

But the story isn’t finished. As Vietnam phases out subsidies and pivots to market-driven self-consumption models, the next wave of growth will be shaped by technological quality, energy independence, and smart deployment strategies — especially in underserved regions and industrial sectors.

At Solarvance , we’re excited to help Vietnamese homes, factories, and communities move toward energy resilience and smarter sustainability. Our tailored solar solutions are designed to meet the challenges of Vietnam’s dynamic climate and regulatory environment.

Choose Solarvance for Your Solar System

Contact us today to explore customized solar solutions for your needs, whether you’re interested in grid-connected, off-grid, or hybrid solar systems. Our team at Solarvance is here to guide you through every step of the process, from system design to installation and maintenance.