Unlocking Capital for Women Entrepreneurs in Vietnam

In Vietnam, women represent around 21% of formal enterprises, yet they face a disproportionately large share of the country’s SME financing gap estimated at USD 5–6 billion.

According to the latest landscape study on Investing in Women-led Businesses in Vietnam, this gap is not due to a lack of talent or ambition. Vietnam’s workforce participation among women is among the highest globally at roughly 70%, and women account for 37% of STEM graduates, reflecting a strong pipeline of skilled professionals and potential entrepreneurs.

The challenge lies in how capital flows through the investment ecosystem. Many investors prioritise large, high-growth deals, while most women-led businesses are profitable SMEs seeking smaller, more flexible financing solutions. As a result, viable businesses often struggle to access the growth capital needed to scale.

The study highlights that addressing this gap requires coordinated action across the investment ecosystem. Investors can play a role by adapting investment strategies and ticket sizes to better match SME financing needs, while development institutions and catalytic investors can help de-risk investments and strengthen the pipeline of investable businesses. Accelerators, incubators, and technical assistance providers are also critical in helping women entrepreneurs strengthen business models, governance, and investment readiness.

Australian Development Investments (ADI) is helping to unlock capital for women-led businesses across Southeast Asia. By investing in regional fund managers and embedding gender considerations into investment decisions, ADI aims to mobilise private capital while strengthening the pipeline of inclusive businesses.

 To date, ADI-supported funds have financed 50 SMEs across the portfolio. In Vietnam, this includes 27 active ADI-supported SMEs, 56% of which are women-owned or women-led. These businesses have supported 5,781 jobs and reached 27.4 million beneficiaries across sectors such as education, financial services, consumer goods and climate solutions.

The lesson is clear: closing the gender financing gap is not only about equity; it is about unlocking economic potential.  The opportunity is not simply to celebrate women entrepreneurs, but to ensure they have the capital, networks, and support systems needed to scale their businesses and impact.

Explore the visual snapshot for a closer look at the figures shaping ADI’s work with women-led businesses in Vietnam.