SINGAPORE, 24 September 2026: Vietjet chair Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao attended the Opening Bell ceremony at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on Monday, as the US bourse marked the start of trading with Secretary of State Marco Rubio ringing the bell at 0930.
The occasion coincided with Vietnam’s official reclassification by FTSE Russell from a Frontier to a Secondary Emerging market, marking an important milestone in the country’s integration into global capital markets.
US stocks rallied on 21 September, with the S&P 500 gaining 1.49%, the Nasdaq Composite rising 2.26% to a record closing high and the Dow Jones Industrial Average advancing 0.71%.
At the NYSE, Thao met with exchange executives to discuss cooperation between the Vietnamese and US capital markets, including ways to connect Vietnamese companies with global institutional investors. The discussions also covered trading technology, corporate governance, product development and listing standards, as well as potential opportunities for qualified Vietnamese companies to pursue dual listings in Vietnam and the US.
The event took place as Vietnam’s General Secretary and President To Lam and a high-level Vietnamese delegation were in the US for the high-level week of the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly and a series of bilateral engagements. Heads of state and government from nearly 200 countries gathered in New York for the General Assembly.
FTSE Russell confirmed that Vietnam’s market reclassification took effect from the opening of trading on 21 September 2026. The upgrade is expected to broaden Vietnam’s access to international investment funds and support further improvements in market infrastructure, settlement, transparency and corporate governance.
The development is also relevant for Singapore, which remains among Vietnam’s top foreign investors as economic ties between the two countries continue to deepen. For Singapore-based investors and businesses with exposure to Vietnam, the upgrade brings Vietnamese equities into widely followed FTSE global benchmarks, potentially broadening international investor access to the market.
Speaking at the NYSE, Rubio said he was honoured to ring the Opening Bell. He highlighted international trade agreements and secure supply chains as important pillars in supporting jobs, economic growth, and prosperity in the United States.
The NYSE, part of Intercontinental Exchange, is the world’s largest stock exchange by market capitalisation, with its listed companies representing an aggregate market value of approximately US$29 trillion.
“Vietnam’s official transition to emerging-market status opens a new chapter for the country’s capital markets and business community,” Thao said. “We will continue to promote stronger connections between the NYSE and Vietnamese enterprises, attract long-term capital and enable Vietnamese companies to engage more deeply with global standards and the international investment community, including through potential listings in New York.”
Thao’s presence at the NYSE follows a meeting with NYSE Group President Lynn Martin in September 2025, when the two discussed expanding international fundraising channels and strengthening Vietnamese companies’ presence in global financial markets. A year later, Thao returned to the NYSE representing businesses from an economy that has now officially joined FTSE Russell’s emerging-market community.
HDBank and Vietjet, in which Thao is a major investor, are listed on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange and are included in FTSE indexes. Both companies have continued to expand their scale and business performance while seeking to create value for domestic and international shareholders.
HDBank is preparing to launch initial public offerings and list two subsidiaries: HDS Securities and consumer finance company HD SAISON. Technology group Galaxy Holdings is also exploring international fundraising options, including bond issuance and potential overseas listings.
During the visit to the US and Canada, Sovico, Vietjet and HDBank are expected to sign several agreements with international corporations, financial institutions and other partners. The agreements will focus on expanding access to capital, markets, and technology, while strengthening economic, trade, and investment ties between Vietnam, the US, Canada, and global partners.
The NYSE Opening Bell provided a symbolic backdrop connecting New York, one of the world’s foremost financial and capital-market centres, with Vietnam as the country deepens its participation in global investment flows.
(Source: Vietjet)
