History and Prospects of Nuclear Power in Vietnam

The Socialist Republic of Vietnam is currently considering the option of adding nuclear power to its energy mix. The paper is dedicated to examining the historical retrospective as well as prospects of nuclear energy use in Vietnam. Apart from scrutinizing some official documents, from Power Development Plan #8 (PDP8) to intergovernmental agreements (IGAs), the paper employs SWOT analysis methodology to assess the prospects of nuclear power in Vietnam. The author finds the urgent need to balance between the rapidly growing power demand and lowering carbon dioxide emission and accesses the nuclear option as a viable choice for Hanoi’s policy. Russia represents the most likely partner for Vietnam in this regard. Vietnam could become a pioneer in this hi-tech sphere in the Southeast Asia (SEA).