Study Visit of the Bankers Institute of Rural Development (BIRD) to Vietnam

Within the framework of cooperation among members of the Asia-Pacific Rural and Agricultural Credit Association (APRACA), in early March 2026, the Bankers Institute of Rural Development (BIRD), Lucknow, India, in coordination with the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies (VBSP), organized a study visit to exchange experience in microfinance and rural agricultural development in Vietnam.

The BIRD delegation took a commemorative photo at the VBSP’ Headquarters

At the working session held at the Headquarters of VBSP, Mr. Le Thanh Chung - Deputy Director of the International Cooperation and Communications Department of VBSP - delivered an overview of the VBSP’s 23 years of establishment and development, highlighting its pivotal role in poverty reduction and social security assurance in Vietnam. Through its preferential credit programs, VBSP has enabled poor households and policy beneficiaries to access financial resources, develop production and business activities, gradually stabilize their livelihoods, and achieve sustainable poverty alleviation.

As a government-owned financial institution operating on a non-profit basis, VBSP is the largest provider of inclusive finance and microcredit for poor households and policy beneficiaries in Vietnam. To date, VBSP has developed an organizational and governance model, as well as lending methodologies, that are well aligned with Vietnam’s political and institutional context and have proven to be highly effective.

As of February 21, 2026, VBSP’s total policy credit capital had reached over USD 17.7 billion, with total outstanding loans exceeding USD 17 billion, serving more than 6.7 million active borrowers. VBSP has been highly recognized by the Communist Party, the National Assembly, and the Government of Vietnam, as well as by international organizations, for its significant contribution to the country’s overall success in poverty reduction in recent years.

Overview of the meeting

Speaking at the meeting, Mr. Anish Kumar - Deputy General Manager of BIRD expressed his sincere appreciation for the warm hospitality extended by VBSP and highly valued the VBSP’s achievements in implementing preferential credit policies for poverty reduction and new rural development. The study visit to VBSP provided a valuable opportunity for BIRD officials to learn and exchange experience, thereby enhancing their professional capacity upon returning to India. As this marks the third engagement between BIRD and VBSP, Mr. Anish Kumar expressed his expectation for further strengthening the cooperative relationship between the two institutions in the coming time.

Within the program, the BIRD delegation also conducted field visits to gain practical insights into VBSP’s policy credit operations, microfinance activities, rural and agricultural development programs in Hanoi, Hung Yen, and Quang Ninh.

The BIRD delegation visited the dairy production value chain in Ba Vi, Hanoi City

A high-tech melon farm model in Thanh Tri, Hanoi City

Dried lotus processing model in Hung Yen province

Aquaculture farming model in Van Don Special Economic Zone, Quang Ninh province