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| The Monsoon Wind Power Project is a landmark initiative, with a dedicated 500kV transmission line carrying electricity from Laos to Vietnam. —Photo Souksakhone Vaenkeo |
Vietnam turns to Laos for electricity to prevent power shortage
The Vietnam government plans to import more electricity from Laos as part of urgent measures to prevent potential power shortages, placing Laos in an increasingly strategic position as a regional energy supplier.
According to a government directive issued following a recent high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Le Minh Hung, Vietnamese authorities have been instructed to ensure uninterrupted energy supply, with particular emphasis on importing more electricity from neighbouring countries, including Laos and China.
The directive emphasises Vietnam’s growing reliance on cross-border power trade, with Laos emerging as a key partner due to its expanding portfolio of hydropower and renewable energy schemes.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade has been instructed to build more power lines so that more electricity can be transmitted to northern Vietnam, with implementation targeted as early as 2027.
Recent data underlined Laos’ rising importance in Vietnam’s energy mix. Laos transmitted a record 2.92 billion kWh of electricity to Vietnam in the first quarter of 2026, accounting for about 3.8 percent of the neighbouring country’s total power output, according to a report by Tuoi Tre News citing Vietnam Electricity.
The figure represents a surge of nearly 120 percent, compared to 1.33 billion kWh supplied in the same period of 2025, reflecting stronger cross-border transmission links and the commissioning of new renewable energy projects in Laos.
By the end of 2025, Vietnamese authorities had approved electricity imports from 47 projects in Laos with a combined capacity of 8,260MW. Of these, power plants with installed capacity of 2,379MW supplied power last year, up from 1,700MW in 2024, indicating a rapidly expanding pipeline of export-oriented generation.
In a new development, the Vietnamese government has signalled openness to revising inter-governmental agreements and adjusting its power development plan to further scale up electricity purchases from Laos. This is expected to create additional opportunities for Lao energy exports as more projects come online.
This supports the Lao government’s aim to position Laos as a significant regional energy exporter, leveraging its abundant hydropower resources alongside growing investments in wind and solar energy.
Rising demand from Vietnam is expected to boost export revenue and encourage further investment in the Lao energy sector, particularly as new generation capacity comes online.
In the near term, Vietnam is preparing contingency measures, including the potential deployment of floating power plants to address urgent supply gaps, particularly in its industrial northern region. However, imports from Laos are expected to play a more sustainable role in meeting medium- to long-term demand.
The directive also calls for enhanced energy efficiency, including electricity-saving campaigns and expanded rooftop solar systems with integrated battery storage. These steps are aimed at easing pressure on the grid while supporting a broader shift to cleaner energy.
As regional energy integration deepens, the Laos-Vietnam power partnership is set to become an increasingly important pillar of mainland Southeast Asia’s evolving energy landscape.
By Times Reporters
(Latest Update May 5, 2026)
