SWITCHING TO HYDROGEN FUEL IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: A CASE

STUDY IN THE CONTEXT OF VIETNAM

Abstract
Extensive research has been conducted on the transition to environmentally friendly
fuels in developed countries worldwide. However, there has been a significant lack of
attention given to this crucial topic in developing countries. The study aims to bridge this
gap by conducting a comprehensive analysis of the existing obstacles and prospects
associated with transitioning to hydrogen fuel, with a specific focus on Vietnam. To
achieve this objective, a rigorous SWOT analysis approach is employed, drawing upon an
extensive literature review and the insights of selective experts in the field. Additionally,
the AHP is utilized to effectively prioritize the identified factors from the SWOT analysis
through eigenvalue calculation. From the research results, the authors proposes some
policy implications for utilization of strengths and overcoming of weaknesses to seize
opportunities and mitigate challenges. The outcomes of this research serve as a valuable
resource for Vietnam and other developing countries, providing guidance for policy-
making and practical applications in the pursuit of transitioning to hydrogen fuel.
Furthermore, this paper establishes a robust framework that can guide future studies in this
specific area of research.
Keywords – Developing countries, hydrogen fuel, renewable energy, SWOT-AHP,
Vietnam.
1. Introduction
Energy transition and carbon emission reduction have emerged as inevitable trends
under the pressure of the depletion of traditional energy sources, climate change and
environmental pollution along with ensuring energy security of several countries [1], [2].
Recently, the trend of investing in the development of renewable energy sources is
attracting attention from many countries around the world, in which hydrogen energy
promises to be one of the important fuels in the future for both developed and developing
countries [3]. Hydrogen is considered a powerful and almost clean energy source that
contributes to reducing carbon emissions and environmental pollution, thereby enhancing
the safety of energy supply globally [4]-[6]. As a result, hydrogen has been currently
emphasized as an indispensable strategic component in important energy planning of
countries around the world, including Vietnam.
Many scholars have shown interest in how to develop a hydrogen economy on a
national scale [2] or within a group of countries [7]. The research samples from these
studies range from developed countries in Europe, such as Poland [2], to the world's
second-largest economy, China [8], and to another developed country in Asia, South Korea
[9]. Some researchers, on the other hand, conduct their research in countries with vast fossil
energy resources, like Iran [10], and countries within the Gulf Cooperation Council [7].
These studies commonly use SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats)
analysis extensively to devise energy conversion strategies for their nations, aiming to
facilitate an effective transition. However, studies on the conversion to hydrogen energy
remain limited in developing countries.
This research seeks to address the imperative of how Vietnam can effectively
transition to hydrogen fuel, thereby contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas
emissions and expediting the shift toward clean energy. The study employs a
comprehensive approach, utilizing SWOT analysis to discern the strengths, weaknesses,
opportunities, and challenges which are inherent in Vietnam's transition to hydrogen fuel.
The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is also employed to gauge the significance of each
factor based on SWOT analysis results. This dual-method approach facilitates the
formulation of key policy recommendations aimed at accelerating Vietnam's transition to
hydrogen fuel. Beside the introduction and conclusion, the paper encompasses a literature
review, research methodology, research findings, and policy implications.

2. Literature review

The transition to using renewable, environmentally friendly energy sources has

recently drawn significant attention from many countries around the world. Renewable
energy is understood as energy derived from continuous sources that, by human standards,
are virtually inexhaustible, such as solar energy, wind, rain, tides, waves, and geothermal
energy [11]. Meanwhile, energy transition can be understood as the shift from using fossil
fuels to using renewable energy sources in various socio-economic sectors [12]. This
process plays a pivotal and decisive role in the global fight against climate change and the
fulfillment of commitments to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
 To facilitate an effective transition to renewable energy, researchers and
policymakers widely employ SWOT analysis to plan energy transitions for their respective
countries. More specifically, Shi [13] conducted a study using SWOT analysis to explore
the potentials and challenges related to transitioning towards a greener energy structure in
the ASEAN region. The results indicated that the ASEAN region possesses advantages in
clean energy production and utilization. However, reducing CO2 emissions is not clearly
defined in the policy agendas of the member countries. The ASEAN nations need to make
more efforts in eliminating fossil fuel subsidies, promoting renewable energy and energy
efficiency, regional market integration, and connection. Furthermore, a successful energy
transition strategy will demand sustainable leadership, political determination, and specific
actions from all stakeholders, especially the governments of the countries in the region.

Additionally, Kamran et al. [14] carried out a study to identify strengths,

weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) in the development of the renewable
energy sector in Pakistan. The results revealed that the strengths of renewable energy
sources in Pakistan include abundant resources, environmental friendliness, and increasing
private investor interest. However, weaknesses in technology, limited capital investment,
incomplete regulatory frameworks, and environmental risks need to be addressed.
Opportunities for the energy transition include the untapped potential of renewable energy
and inefficient energy systems, while threats involve issues like grid connectivity and
competition from other energy sources.

In another study by Karatop et al. [15] focusing on Turkey, the authors utilized the
SWOT model and the Fuzzy AHP method to analyze the transition to six types of
renewable energy sources, including hydro, solar, wind, biomass, and geothermal. After
identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, the research indicated that for
a successful energy transition, the Turkish government needs to enhance societal awareness
of renewable energy, offer strong support and incentives for renewable energy projects,
select appropriate regions for renewable energy plants, and strive to produce the
components of renewable energy plants domestically.

Certainly, hydrogen energy emerges as a promising source of renewable energy

among various alternatives, with the potential to play a pivotal role in the future energy
landscape for both developed and developing nations [3]. However, the exploitation,
production, and utilization of hydrogen energy face numerous challenges, especially in
terms of technology, capital investment, and the habit of using fossil energy sources [10],
[16]. Once the transition to a hydro-based economy and the adoption of hydrogen energy
usage are implemented, these countries can meet their energy needs for economic
development or export while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, combating climate
change, and protecting the environment [17]-[19]. The common feature in studies on
transitioning to a hydro-based economy is the use of the SWOT model to identify strengths,
weaknesses, opportunities, and threats that countries need to address. Subsequently,
specific strategies are developed and prioritized through various methods to maximize
strengths, minimize weaknesses, take advantage of opportunities, and mitigate the
challenges in developing a hydro-based economy [8].

The research samples of studies span from developed countries in Europe, such as
Poland [2], to the world's second-largest economy, China [8], and then to another
developed nation in Asia, South Korea [9]. Some scholars have conducted their research
in countries with vast fossil fuel resources, such as Iran [10], and in countries within the
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) [7]. The results of these studies offer a multi-dimensional
perspective, where the strengths of one country may be the weaknesses of another, and the
opportunities of one may be the challenges of another. However, these studies share some
common characteristics as follows:

(1) Strengths: Many countries recognize the advantages of hydrogen energy and
have incorporated these benefits into their economic development strategies. This
recognition often stems from international agreements and regional cooperation.

(2) Weaknesses: Difficulties identified across various countries include

technological limitations in production and storage, insufficient financial resources for
research and development, higher production costs compared to alternative energy sources,
and limited private sector involvement in hydrogen energy research and production.

(3) Opportunities: Researchers commonly highlight strong government support for

hydro-based economy development. Some also anticipate the emergence of an
international hydrogen energy market. Additionally, there is a general societal acceptance
of hydrogen energy, particularly in industries like transportation and metallurgy.

(4) Challenges: Certain countries, particularly those in regions rich in fossil fuel
resources like the Gulf, experience delays in transforming their outlined strategies into
concrete implementation plans. Intense competition from other clean energy sources and
among developed nations poses significant challenges in securing a share of the hydrogen
energy market for each nation.

Numerous academics have so far shown a keen interest in cultivating a hydro-based

economy within the confines of a single country [2] or in the framework of an alliance of
countries [7]. Nonetheless, there has been restricted research on the adoption of hydrogen
energy in developing countries with constrained energy resources. This research, carried
out in the context of Vietnam, a signatory of the United Nations Framework Convention
on Climate Change (COP26), will provide with a deeper insight into the strengths,
weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges that not only a developing country but also any
country aiming to shift to hydrogen energy will confront in the future.

3. Methodology
With the aim of obtaining the main factors that may hamper or contribute to switching
to hydrogen fuel in Vietnam, a SWOT analysis is conducted in this study. The SWOT
analysis is an effective framework for identifying and analyzing an organization's
strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. By this way, it is able to provide valuable
external and internal perspectives that help decision-makers to obtain a systematic
approach and make effective strategies in transition to hydrogen fuel in Vietnam. Though
commonly deployed in various areas, the method reveals its fundamental drawback in that
it provides only qualitative analysis to support decision making, which may lead to the lack
of objectiveness and comprehensiveness.
In order to handle the drawback, the study combined the SWOT model with the AHP
- Analytical Hierarchy Method proposed by Saaty in the 1970s [20]. AHP is one of well-
regarded Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) methods designed to evaluate complex
problems, taking into account both the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the decision.
The approach could be applied to determine the factors’ weights in multilevel hierarchic
structures based on pair-wise comparisons and eigenvalue calculation. The steps conducted
are as follows:
- Step 1: Extensive literature review and questionnaire design. This step aims to
understand the current research scenario through published studies on shift from fossil fuels
to renewable energy sources in general and the transition toward a hydrogen economy in
particular all over the world.
- Step 2: Survey of expert opinions. The initial survey was sent to three experts for
assessment of content appropriateness and comprehensibility. After receiving their
feedback, the authors discussed in depth and edited the survey appropriately. The official
survey form can be seen in the Appendix.
- Step 3: Analysis of the survey data and build a SWOT model. The data collected in
Step 2 were then analyzed and organized into the four SWOT categories: strengths,
weaknesses, opportunities and threats.
- Step 4: Determination of the priority of factors by using the AHP method with the
following steps:
+ The first step is to convert the content of SWOT matrix analysis into a tree structure
model. The tree structure model allows for arbitrary in-depth analysis of strengths,
weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in the SWOT matrix. This is the outstanding
advantage of the tree structure model compared to the table-style model of SWOT.
+The second step is to calculate the weight of specific factors. Based on the built
hierarchical structure, a second survey was conducted in order to determine the priority of
main factors (S, W, O, T) and sub-factors (S1…Sn, W1... Wn, O1…On , T1…Tn) from
the pair-wise comparison matrix. To perform an AHP, Saaty [21] recommended the use of
a nine-point scale for assessing the relative importance of each pairwise of criteria, as
shown in Table 2.1.
Table 2.1: Saaty nine-point scale of the relative importance
Relative Importance Definition
1 Equally important
3 Moderately important
5 Essentially important
7 Very strongly important
9 Extremely important
2,4,6,8 Intermediate importance between two adjacent judgments

+ The third step is to check the consistency of the results of the pairwise comparisons.
As various factors can cause the introduction of inconsistencies in pairwise comparisons,
Saaty [21] introduced the Consistency Ratio (CR) for inconsistency measurement whereas
in case CR is smaller or equal to 10%, the experts’ evaluation is considered acceptable and
satisfactory.
Consistency Ratio is a comparison between Consistency Index (CI) and Random
Consistency Index (RI), or in the formula: CR = CI/RI in which the consistency index can
be calculated through the following equation: CI = (λmax - n)/n-1
Where: Lambda Max (λmax) is the average of the values obtained by dividing the
elements of the all priorities matrix by the priorities vector. The value should equal the
number of criterion in the comparison n for total consistency as given in below equation:
 𝑛 𝑛

𝜆𝑚𝑎𝑥 = ∑ 𝑤𝑖 𝑥 ∑ 𝑎𝑖𝑗
𝑖=1 𝑗=1

And, the value of RI is related to the dimension of the matrix and can be extracted as
seen in Table 2.2.
Table 2.2. Saaty’s Random Index (RI)
n 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
RI 0,00 0,00 0,58 0,90 1,12 1,24 1,32 1,41 1,45 1,49

- Step 5: Proposal for strategies for switching to hydrogen fuel in Vietnam. Based on
the results from the SWOT-AHP model combined with consulting experts from the surveys
in the above steps, feasible strategies were developed: (1) leverage strengths to take
advantage of opportunities (S-O), (2) use strengths to minimize or overcome threats (S-T),
(3) overcome weaknesses to take advantage of opportunities (W-O), and (4) minimize
weaknesses to avoid threats (W-T).
The proposed framework of this study is shown in Figure 2.1.
 Literature review Expert survey

Build a SWOT model

Determine the priority of factors

Build a tree structure model

Compare factors

Calculate the weight of specific factors

AHP

Check the consistency of the results

CR > 0,1 Redo the survey CR < 0,1

Summary of results

Propose strategies

Figure 2.1. The SWOT-AHP model used in the study

4. Results
4.1. The first stage – Establishment of the SWOT model
As suggested by Dillman [22], the study used a mixed methods approach of paper
and online collection to ensure that all target groups could participate in the survey. On
July 2023, 31 experts participated in the survey including 12 lecturers from universities in
Vietnam, 14 experts from energy production companies, 5 experts the Ministry of Science
and Technology and the Ministry of Industry and Trade. According to Lin et al. [23], the
recommended number of experts to perform the AHP method ranges from 5 to 15.
Therefore, the sample size used in the study, including 31 experts in the first survey is
acceptable. The analysis of survey data has identified group of strengths, weaknesses,
opportunities and threatens as bellows:
4.1.1. Strengths
S1. Raw material/energy input sources for switching to hydrogen fuel
The majority of interviewed experts asserted that Vietnam has been considered as a
country with abundant renewable resources including water, solar, wind (onshore and
offshore), biomass, and hydropower to produce hydrogen. In particular, with its
geographical location located in the sub-equatorial region and the advantage of a long sea
route along the length of the country, Vietnam has the advantage of solar and wind energy,
leading to its leader in solar and wind electricity adoption in the ASEAN area Do et al.
[24]. In addition, coal and biomass are also considered highly feasible fuel sources.
Hydrogen in nature in Vietnam were found in the deep-water part of the Phu Khanh basin,
where occurs many volcanic activities with mantle blocks. The Cuu Long Basin, which
contains granite basement formations, may also be involved in deep hydrogen-releasing
reactions. In addition, natural hydrogen fuel is expected to be exploited in some areas such
as Ninh Thuan province, Vinh Hy, Co Dinh - Thanh Hoa province and several central
regions of Vietnam. Abundant fuel resources for hydrogen production are also considered
a strength of Poland in the study of Bednarczyk et al [2]; China's strengths in research by
Ren et al. [8].
S2. Customer’s willingness to switch to hydrogen fuel
Most surveyed experts agreed that customers will be willing to transfer to hydrogen
fuel because of its superior properties. This result closely aligns with the research carried
out by Lee et al. [9] in Korea. One of those advantages is that hydrogen directly contributes
to Vietnam’s reduction of greenhouse gas emissions as a step towards a carbon neutral
economy in the long run. Furthermore, the experts asserted that the level of customer'
willingness to switch to hydrogen fuel could be higher in such cases: (1) the convenience
of hydrogen fuel is similar to existing forms of energy, which will not have negative effects
on their normal activities or consumption habits; (2) hydrogen is cost-competitive
compared to other traditional fuels (3) the hydrogen fuel’s stability and cost are prioritized
for energy conversion, particularly in the industrial sector.
4.1.2. Weaknesses
W1. Dedicated infrastructure for switching to hydrogen fuel
In this paper, the lack of a specific hydrogen infrastructure, which becomes one of
the most challenging tasks due to the complexity and large spectrum of energy sources and
technology, is a major hurdle to the transition of hydrogen fuel in Vietnam. According to
the surveyed experts, in order to use hydrogen fuel, it is necessary to build hydrogen
distribution and storage infrastructure, invest in hydrogen supply and refilling stations,
pipeline systems and storage tanks. This is also the weakness that Poland, China and Korea
are facing, respectively indicated in the studies of Bednarczyk et al. [2]; Ren et al. [8]; Lee
et al. [9].
W2. Capital source for switching to hydrogen fuel
Financial resources frequently become a main barrier for energy transition requiring
big up-front capital investment. In this study, similarly, Vietnam faces difficulties in capital
when transition to hydrogen fuel. Most feasible capital sources currently come from the
Government and environmental funds around the world. Obviously, in the near future,
Vietnam needs to mobilize financial resources from both the private and public sectors,
especially socialized capital in addition to funding sources from governments. Certainly,
this comes as no surprise, considering that even a European country as developed as
Poland, as indicated in the study by Bednarczyk et al. [2], which experiences similar
conditions.
W3. Technological capacity for switching to hydrogen fuel
According to most surveyed experts, Vietnam’s limited technological capacity for
hydrogen production, storage and distribution hinders the commercialized introduction and
promotion of hydrogen fuel. In other related-topic studies, technological capability is also
the major weakness of China [8] and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) [7]. However,
compared to these countries, Vietnam has the advantage of the existing technological
infrastructure in the oil and gas industry to produce and distribute hydrogen. Consequently,
there is an urgent need for the government to develop mechanisms and policies suitable to
the conditions in Vietnam and the oil and gas industry to promote R&D and the application
of "clean" hydrogen, developed from existing technological infrastructure.
W4. Human resources for switching to hydrogen fuel
 Human resources participating into the hydrogen supply chain include many
different actors such as scientists, technology experts, manufacturers, distributors,
consumers. To enhance the process of switching to hydrogen fuel, these actors need be
equipped with appropriate awareness, knowledge and skills. However, Vienam is facing
the lack of many highly qualified human resources leading to the low labor productivity
and difficulty in mastering technology. In addition, Vietnam's human resources are still
limited for core technologies and equipment that require high-quality workforce and partly
dependent on foreign suppliers. This vulnerability mirrors the current challenges faced by
Iran, as highlighted in the findings of Rahimirad and Sadabadi [10].
W5. Legal framework, mechanisms and national policies related to the conversion
to hydrogen fuel
The experts strongly agreed that legal framework mechanisms and policies for
switching to hydrogen fuel have not been yet fully and specifically developed. Legal
documents related to the energy conversion currently include: Resolution No. 55- NQ/TW
on orientation of the National Energy Development Strategy of Vietnam to 2030, with a
vision to 2045; Decision 882/QD-TTg 2022 the National Action Plan on Green Growth for
the 2021-2030 period; the Power Development Plan VIII, in which the transferring to
hydrogen fuel is considered one of two crucial steps approved by the Prime Minister. This
is a weakness that Iran is currently grappling with, as highlighted in the research conducted
by Rahimirad and Sadabadi [10].
W6. Cost of switching to hydrogen fuel
Currently, according to experts in the field of production and industry, the cost of
switching to hydrogen fuel is extremely high. Besides, conversion of
boilers/burners/engines to hydrogen fuel is also very pricey. However, in assessing
conversion costs, precision and comprehensiveness are paramount. It is imperative to
accurately consider not only direct expenses but also potential deductions for
environmental discharge fees. Additionally, the positive environmental impacts resulting
from hydrogen fuel use should be considered and monetized. The forthcoming trajectory
involves a shift toward producing “green” hydrogen through water electrolysis powered by
environmentally sustainable renewable energy sources. This method is anticipated to be
more cost-effective than conventional industrial production, primarily owing to electricity
being the primary input cost. Forecasts indicate a potential 40% reduction in investment
costs for electrolysis systems by 2030, with a substantial 70% decrease anticipated by 2050,
as suggested by numerous experts in the field. This assessment is similar to similar to the
research results by Bednarczyk et al. [2] in Poland; Ren et al. [8] in China.
W7. Linkage in the hydrogen fuel supply chain
Most experts admitted that there has not been a full connection in the hydrogen fuel
supply chain of Vietnam. This weakness was also recognized in Rahimirad and Sadabadi's
[10] research conducted in Iran. Currently, hydrogen is used as a raw material serving various
industries such as chemicals, fertilizers and metallurgy. Nevertheless, Vietnam presently has
only formed several linkages in the hydrogen fuel supply chain such as renewable electricity
production - hydrogen production water electrolysis - hydrogen storage (liquefaction,
solidification of hydrogen; conversion to NH3) - hydrogen/NH3 transportation–
consumption.
4.1.3. Opportunities
O1. Open-door policy implementation and international integration
Open-door policy and international integration could attract numerous resources of
capital investment for the transition to hydrogen fuel. Obviously, these findings align with
the observations made by Bednarczyk et al. [2] during their research in Poland and by Ren
et al. [8] during their research in China. Vietnam has been actively participated in
international agreements and treaties related to environmental protection and sustainable
development. Obviously, the conversion to hydrogen fuel will create opportunities to
promote the openness and international integration through cooperation with international
partners and participation in the global supply chain in general.
O2. Regulations, conventions and international commitments on transition to
hydrogen fuel
According to surveyed experts, countries' commitments at COP26 create favorable
conditions for the transition to renewable energy to protect the environment, which
coincides with the comments of Bednarczyk et al. [2]. Currently, many countries around
the world have launched action programs and projects related to hydrogen production and
usage. This will be an advantage for Vietnam if it can generate many products using
hydrogen fuel and store and transport hydrogen to places of consumption. In addition,
participation in international commitments to promote the transition to using hydrogen fuel
will help Vietnam take advantage of these opportunities to participate in international
cooperation, thereby promoting the use of hydrogen fuel.
O3. Global awareness of environmental protection and sustainable development
Previously, awareness of environmental protection and sustainable development
was thought to be only important in developed countries. However, the awareness of
environmental protection has been increasingly improved, although still limited by the
need to reduce costs in developing and countries. Obviously, increased global awareness
of the impact of fossil energy on the environment and climate change has created interest
in renewable energy sources, including hydrogen fuel. This is similar to the finding of Lee
et al. [9] conducted in Korea. Vietnam can take advantage of this opportunity to
demonstrate its commitment to environmental protection and sustainable development.
O4. New technology supporting the conversion to hydrogen fuel
Technology related to hydrogen fuel is increasingly developing, including
technology for producing, storing, distributing and using hydrogen fuel; This was also
confirmed in studies by Bednarczyk at el. [2] in Poland; Khan & Al-Ghamdi [7] in the Gulf
Arab Cooperation Council States. Vietnam has the opportunity to access and apply these
new technologies to improve performance, reduce costs and increase the sustainability of
converting to hydrogen fuel use.
O5. Decrease in global hydrogen production, storage and distribution costs
Developing technology and perfecting the process of producing, storing and
distributing hydrogen fuel globally can help reduce costs and create opportunities for
Vietnam to import and use hydrogen fuel at affordable prices. This was also found to
happen similarly in Iran in the study of Rahimirad and Sadabadi [10]. In addition, Vietnam
has an advantage in producing "green" hydrogen from renewable energy sources such as
offshore wind power.
O6. Positive impact of market and social changes on the transition to hydrogen fuel
Experts assessed that Vietnamese market and society are making positive changes
in thinking and action about using clean energy to protect the environment, combat climate
change, thereby maintaining the living environment. Vietnam can take advantage of this
opportunity to meet the increasing demand of consumers and international customers in
using hydrogen fuel. In the future, hydrogen is considered an important fuel source to
replace fossil fuels and raw materials to serve areas of economic activity such as industrial
production, transportation, civil use, manufacturing and store energy. However, it is still
necessary to change the habit of using fossil fuel sources while finding solutions to reduce
production and distribution costs and develop new technology to use hydrogen fuel.
4.1.4. Threats
T1. Detrimental impacts of technological changes on the transition to hydrogen fuel
According to experts, manufacturers in the industrial sector increasingly focus on
researching new technologies to reduce emissions and protect the environment. In the auto
industry, for example, major auto manufacturers such as Toyota, Honda, and Nissan have
boldly developed hybrid engines combining gasoline and electricity to maximize capacity
and reduce gasoline and oil consumption. In addition, China's automobile manufacturing
industry has created a revolution in the transition from internal combustion engines to
electric engines, completely emission-free while optimizing usage costs. Consequently, in
the industrial and consumer sectors, the advent of new technologies could bring great
challenges in converting to hydrogen fuel, which is a high-cost and requires specific types
of machinery or engines.
T2. Competition with other fuels
One of the biggest weaknesses that reduces hydrogen fuel's competitiveness with
other renewable energy sources is that hydrogen has not been commercially manufactured,
which makes it difficult to reduce its production costs. Additionally, the hydrogen
distribution and storage is much more expensive than other forms of fuels. These findings
align with research conducted in other countries like China and South Korea, as evidenced
in the studies led by Ren et al. [8] and Lee et al. [9], respectively.
4.2. Second stage - SWOT-AHP analysis
The main goal of this study is to evaluate and rank the factors in the SWOT matrix
for the conversion to hydrogen fuel in Vietnam. In this step, the research team built a survey
by decomposing complex decisions into pairwise comparisons. The survey was sent to 8
experienced and knowledgeable experts on energy transition and hydrogen fuel via email,
combined with in-depth interviews to comprehend the expert group's decisions.
At the factor group level, Table 4.1 shows the importance of SWOT factors for the
conversion to hydrogen fuel in Vietnam. The group of factors that most influence to the
overall goal is “Weaknesses” with CW= 0.384. It can be found that the rank of the main
 factors is as follows Weaknesses > Opportunities > Strengths > Threats.
Table 4.1. Comparison Matrix of SWOT factors

Factors Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threatens CW Ranking

Strengths 0,239 0,269 0,205 0,215 0,232 3
Weaknesses 0,358 0,388 0,493 0,296 0,384 1
Opportunities 0,259 0,174 0,223 0,360 0,254 2
Threatens 0,143 0,170 0,079 0,129 0,130 4
The result CR = 0.037 < 0.1 proves that the results of these responses ensure
consistency and they are completely suitable for hierarchical analysis.
Table 4.2. Overall priority scores of sub-factors

Main-factors Sub-factors CW Ranking CR

S1 0,593 1
Strengths 0
S1 0,407 2
W2 0,190 1
W3 0,189 2
W4 0,171 3
Weaknesses W1 0,150 4 0,042
W5 0,108 5
W7 0,106 6
W6 0,086 7
O2 0,230 1
O5 0,205 2
O4 0,181 3
Opportunities 0,091
O1 0,136 4
O3 0,130 5
O6 0,119 6
T1 0,65 1
Threatens 0
T2 0,35 2
Similarly, at the component factor level, the values in Table 4.2 clearly shows the
role of sub-factors within each group. Data processing results show that, in the
"Weaknesses" group, the factor "Capital source for converting to hydrogen fuel use" is
considered to have the greatest influence with weight CW = 0.19.
According to the results, in the "Weaknesses" group, the factor " Capital source for
switching to hydrogen fuel" was recognized as the most influence with weight CW = 0.19.
This result accurately reflects the internal situation of Vietnam's capital resources in
hydrogen fuel conversion. Although renewable energy is currently an area that can attract
the participation of international investors, Vietnamese businesses mainly depend on
domestic capital sources. Access to this capital source is also limited as financial
institutions often pay attention to conventional and commercial loan products rather than
energy project.
With CW = 0.189 and 0.171 respectively, the two weaknesses are “Technological
capacity for switching to hydrogen fuel" and "Human resources for switching to hydrogen
fuel” ranked 2nd and 3rd in the list of weakness group. These weights show that the
difference between these two factors is not much compared to the weakness ranked first.
In the "Opportunity" group, with CW = 0.23, "Regulations, conventions, and international
commitments on converting to hydrogen fuel" ranked first. Compared to many countries,
Vietnam is a new country in the green hydrogen fuel supply chain while still implementing
the initial steps of converting from using traditional fuel to this fuel source. Therefore,
inheriting new technologies becomes a great opportunity for Vietnam, especially in the
production of green hydrogen. This is the compelling reason why the factor " New
technology supporting the conversion to hydrogen fuel " in this study is ranked the second,
corresponding to the positive impacts of new technologies on hydrogen production. In
addition, “reducing the cost of producing, storing and distributing hydrogen globally” also
becomes a great opportunity for converting to hydrogen fuel with CW = 0.181. This
observation is consistent with the trend of hydrogen costs expected to decrease in many
countries, stemming from falling costs of key technologies and infrastructure such as
battery storage, electrolyzes, materials for wind turbines and power systems.
Similar to the group of 4 factors S, W, T, O, the sub-factor groups are determined
in consistent ratios to ensure consistency in the assessment of the experts. The consistency
ratios for the “Weaknesses” group of 0.042 and the “Opportunities” group of 0.091 are
both less than 10%. This result indicates the sufficient consistency of the evaluation. Two
groups of "Strengths" and "Challenges" have only two factors, then CR = 0 or there is no
need to calculate CR.

5. Policy implications
5.1. Utilization of strengths to seize opportunities
SO1: Acceleration of the transition to hydrogen fuel-based engines or vehicles
Once public readiness for transitioning to hydrogen fuel is high, it will lay a crucial
foundation for adopting environmentally friendly machinery, engines, and transportation
vehicles in Vietnam, with a specific focus on hydrogen fuel consumption. The Vietnamese
government can rely on international agreements related to emission reduction to establish
a legal framework. This can begin with short-term encouragement and progress toward
long-term mandatory requirements for the transition process. Furthermore, the government
should proactively and decisively implement supportive policies, including subsidies for
manufacturers and early adopters of hydrogen fuel-based engines or transportation, as well
as other clean energy sources in the future.
SO2: Attractiveness enhancement in foreign investment in green hydrogen production in
Vietnam
Given Vietnam's abundant and environmentally friendly resources such as water,
wind energy, solar energy, hydropower, and the potential of biomass, the country is well-
positioned to attract foreign investors to participate in the green hydrogen production
market. This can be achieved through increased international integration, the signing of
international agreements related to emission reduction and transitioning to clean energy
sources. Furthermore, ongoing innovations in advanced technologies for hydrogen
production, storage, and distribution by engineers and scientists make Vietnam an
appealing partner for foreign investors. These partnerships are expected to facilitate the
transfer of technologies and advanced storage methods, ensuring the efficient utilization of
Vietnam's abundant natural resources.
5.2. Utilization of Strengths to Mitigate Challenges
ST1: Promotion of research and widespread application of hydrogen fuel cells
As technology for generating and storing electricity from wind, solar, and
hydropower energy advances, competition in terms of cost-effectiveness in the hydrogen
fuel sector is increasing. However, with the abundance of raw materials and fuels in green
hydrogen production, coupled with the development of hydrogen fuel cell technology, a
new opportunity emerges to integrate hydrogen fuel into daily life. Hydrogen fuel cells
only emit water, causing no environmental pollution. They also offer high efficiency
compared to traditional batteries since they can continuously generate electricity without
the need for charging and discharging cycles, as is common with conventional batteries.
In contrast to electric motors, hydrogen fuel cells require only 3 to 5 minutes to refuel
(much faster than pure electric motors) and have a significantly larger operational range,
potentially up to 500 kilometers. Additionally, hydrogen fuel cells exclusively use electric
motors, thus eliminating the need for complex drivetrains found in other hybrid
technologies. These fuel cells also operate quietly, without the noise associated with
internal combustion engines. Therefore, the future of hydrogen fuel cells has the potential
to make hydrogen fuel competitive on an even playing field with other environmentally
friendly fuel sources.
5.3. Overcoming of Weaknesses to Seize Opportunities
WO1: Development of green financial instruments to mobilize non-government budget
green capital
Projects involving the transition to renewable energy sources often require substantial
upfront investment, have long payback periods, and entail significant risks, making them
more challenging to attract investments compared to other sectors. This challenge is
particularly pronounced in countries with limited state budget resources such as Vietnam.
In this study, Vietnam's primary weakness in transitioning to hydrogen fuel usage lies in
the availability of capital. Therefore, it is crucial to secure funding from external sources
beyond the state budget, especially as Vietnam increasingly aligns with international
regulations, agreements, and commitments related to hydrogen fuel usage transition.
One of the critical solutions that requires research and implementation is the
establishment of green financing sources through instruments like green loans, green
bonds, and green stocks. These are unique financial instruments with significant
importance in promoting environmental protection behavior by enterprises and preventing
unregulated development by companies that harm the environment. Despite being designed
to support renewable energy projects, these instruments have yet to be fully developed in
Vietnam. To channel both domestic and foreign investments into the hydrogen fuel usage
transition, Vietnam must create mechanisms and policies that enable businesses to access
green financial instruments. This involves developing the domestic bond market as a
foundation for establishing a green bond market for renewable energy, building and
advancing investment funds and venture capital markets for companies in the renewable
energy sector, and establishing highly capable credit rating organizations to assess the
creditworthiness of energy projects.
Currently, commercial banks still play a significant role in providing green financing
to the market. To encourage these banks to participate in the transition to hydrogen energy
usage, the State Bank of Vietnam should prioritize banks with a high ratio of green credit
lending to access concessional funding from international organizations and development
partners. Simultaneously, cooperation with domestic and international organizations
should be initiated to provide training and enhance the capabilities of commercial banks in
implementing green credit. Vietnam also needs to swiftly refine the legal framework and
standards for green credit, which will serve as the basis for commercial banks to uniformly
apply green credit standards when granting loans.
WO2: Attraction of international green financing
In addition to securing green funding from credit institutions and private sector
enterprises, Vietnam should actively seek financial support for its renewable energy
transition from investment funds. Collaboration with international financial organizations
such as the World Bank (WB), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and various
international green finance funds is crucial to leverage resources offered by these entities.
While international credits, guarantees, and private finance can boost infrastructure
investment, non-repayable (or highly concessional) funding from these organizations plays
a vital role in mitigating the negative impact on communities affected by the transition to
hydrogen fuel usage. Hence, strengthening international cooperation and adhering to
international regulations, agreements, and commitments regarding hydrogen fuel transition
allow the domestic financial system to access international funding sources and formulate
credit programs aligned with the country's development context, with input from
international investment funds and governmental and non-governmental organizations
worldwide.
However, to attract international financing, Vietnam faces the challenge of shifting
its hydrogen production methods from coal or fossil fuels to alternative renewable energy
sources and integrating into the green hydrogen supply chain. An illustrative example of
this necessity is the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP). In this agreement, donor
countries have unanimously resolved not to allocate JETP funding for projects involving
fossil fuels to ensure a sustainable and equitable transition. JETP marks an initial step, and
it will require the attraction of numerous other support programs to mobilize green capital
worldwide. Therefore, developing a roadmap and policies for transitioning to green
hydrogen is a critical requirement for Vietnam, rather than solely focusing on the transition
to brown and grey hydrogen.
5.4. Overcoming of Weaknesses to Mitigate Challenges
WT1: Establishment of a supportive policy framework for businesses involved in the
transition to hydrogen fuel usage, especially green hydrogen
The transition to green hydrogen is essential for Vietnam's sustainable energy future.
However, limited funding often leads stakeholders in the hydrogen supply chain to
prioritize production, distribution, and utilization costs for green hydrogen. Currently, the
production costs of green hydrogen (3-7 USD/kg) are higher than traditional sources
derived from natural gas and coal (2-3 USD/kg) [25]. This presents challenges, particularly
when it affects energy prices, especially electricity rates. Additionally, substantial
transition costs and certain social implications have fostered resistance to conversion
among various entities involved in hydrogen production and usage. Hence, to enhance the
competitiveness of green hydrogen compared to other energy sources, Vietnam must
implement supportive policies related to finance, taxation, and technology for businesses
engaged in the hydrogen transition, especially green hydrogen.
The government can also leverage policies related to CO2 taxes or carbon credits,
which provide incentives and funding sources to support green hydrogen projects.
Promoting and adopting new technologies like Power-to-X (PtX), biomass, Carbon
Capture and Storage (CCS), known for their cost-efficiency and environmental friendliness
in green hydrogen production and storage, are imperative for Vietnam. These strategic
directions are essential solutions to enhance hydrogen's competitive position against other
energy sources and integrate new technologies into the hydrogen supply chain.
WT2: Enhancement in specialized infrastructure for the transition to hydrogen fuel usage,
leveraging existing liquefied natural gas infrastructure

Specialized infrastructure is a pivotal element in Vietnam's transition to hydrogen

fuel. Well-designed infrastructure can facilitate a successful transition while minimizing
associated costs and impacts. An important limitation of the current infrastructure in
Vietnam is the lack of consideration for hydrogen development needs and shared usage
mechanisms in the planning of natural gas infrastructure. Hence, in addition to securing
green funding for the establishment of specialized infrastructure for a hydrogen-based
economy, Vietnam must conduct research on asset stranding risks and formulate
conversion plans for the existing liquefied natural gas infrastructure within its long-term
planning. The government should also create a roadmap for transitioning the infrastructure
needed for hydrogen production, storage, distribution, and utilization, while effectively
capitalizing on the existing natural gas infrastructure. This strategic approach will
encourage stakeholders to embrace the shift to hydrogen fuel over other energy sources
and maximize the utilization of the current infrastructure.

CONCLUSION
Vietnam cannot stand out in the global energy transition trend to meet the economy's
rapidly growing energy demand while ensuring its commitment to reducing carbon
emissions. Along with renewable energy development solutions, hydrogen, especially
green hydrogen, is highly appreciated by energy researchers thanks to its advantages in
helping to replace fossil energy sources. However, the transition to hydrogen fuel use takes
time and will have to go through many stages. The stages are determined by technological
advances and market acceptance. Vietnam is in the first stage of hydrogen technology
development and has not yet established a complete policy framework. As a result, in order
to develop green hydrogen in Vietnam, it must soon catch up with the hydrogen economy
in the world. It is necessary to develop and implement specific tasks and solutions both in
the short and long term.
This study provides initial insights into strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and
threats so as to design and propose future strategies for hydrogen fuel conversion in
Vietnam through SWOT-AHP qualitative - quantitative method. Although certain results
have been achieved, some limitations also need to be noted. First, SWOT analysis and
focus group interviews are qualitative in nature, and the intersubjective issue is not
explicitly addressed in our results. Second, due to the fact that many experts contributing
to the research were not approached, only eight experts participated in the AHP survey.
Although this number is acceptable in AHP analysis, it may be considered
underrepresented. Therefore, it would be better to increase the number of experts in future
studies.

Funding
The authors sincerely thank the Ministry of Industry and Trade for supporting funding to
conduct the project entitled “Research and proposal of a roadmap to develop a hydrogen
economy (H2) in Vietnam”, code I305.

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Appendix 1
ID:………………...
Survey Questionnaire
Dear Sir/Madam,

We are a research group working on the project "Research and Proposal for a
Roadmap for Developing the Hydrogen Economy in Vietnam." Currently, we are
conducting a survey on the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges associated
with transitioning to hydrogen fuel in Vietnam. As part of our empirical work, we are
distributing questionnaires related to the ongoing research. We would sincerely appreciate
it if you could spare some time to respond to our questionnaire. Please note that the
information provided in this study will be used solely for research purposes. We would
appreciate if you could return the questionnaire to us at your earliest convenience.

Should you have any concerns about this survey, please contact Dr. Dang Thi Thanh
Loan at Phone/Zalo: 0394751359 or Email: dangthithanhloan@qnu.edu.vn.

We greatly value your cooperation. Thank you for your time and consideration.

I. IDENTIFICATION OF CURRENT SITUATION AND PROSPECTS

Please identify the current situation and prospects of the hydrogen fuel conversion in
Vietnam. This analysis aims to provide an overview of the country's progress and future
potential in adopting hydrogen as an alternative fuel source.

1. Strengths in the transition to hydrogen fuel in Vietnam

1.1. Which of the following conditions, premises, or resources can contribute to the
successful transition to hydrogen fuel in Vietnam? There may be multiple options.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………

1.2. What advantages will the transition to hydrogen fuel in Vietnam offer?
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
 1.3. In which sectors and stages has Vietnam excelled in the production, storage,
distribution, and utilization of hydrogen fuel? There can be multiple options.
If “Other”, please specify: …………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
1.4. What is Vietnam's most significant achievement in transitioning to hydrogen fuel
in recent years?
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………

1.5. What are the superior characteristics of hydrogen fuel compared to other fuels like
electricity and fossil fuels in Vietnam?
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………

2. Weaknesses in the transition to hydrogen fuel in Vietnam

2.1. What are the disadvantages and obstacles that hinder the adoption of hydrogen fuel
in Vietnam? There can be multiple options.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………

2.2. In which areas and stages has Vietnam not implemented correctly/appropriately in
the process of producing, storing, distributing and using hydrogen fuel? There can be more
than one option.
Stages
No. Sectors
Production Storage Distribution Utilization None of them
Nitrogenous
1
fertilizer
2 Oil refinery
3 Iron and steel
4 Cement
5 Transportation
6 Energy

If “Other”, please specify: …………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………
 2.3. Which fuels should be considered for the transition to hydrogen fuel in Vietnam?
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………

3. Opportunities for converting to hydrogen fuel in Vietnam

3.1. What opportunities can be embraced in the transition to hydrogen fuel in Vietnam?
There may be multiple options.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………

3.2. In addition to industrial production (fertilizer, oil refining, steel, cement),

transportation (long-distance trucks, passenger cars, maritime transport, and aviation), and
energy (flexible generation sources), what other fields can hydrogen be used for in Vietnam
in the future?
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………

4. Challenges in the transition to hydrogen fuel in Vietnam

4.1. What challenges does Vietnam face in the transition to hydrogen fuel? There may
be multiple options.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………

4.2. What advantages of other fuels will hydrogen find difficult to achieve in the future
in Vietnam?
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………

II. PROPOSED SOLUTIONS

According to you, what solutions need to be implemented to successfully convert the

use of hydrogen fuel in Vietnam?

1. Leverage strengths to take advantage of opportunities (S-O)

………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………

2. Use strengths to minimize or overcome threats (S-T)

………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………

3. Overcome weaknesses to take advantage of opportunities (W-O)

………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………

4. Minimize weaknesses to avoid threats (W-T)

………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
III. EXPERTS’ BASIC INFORMATION

1. Name: ……………………………………………………………………………………

2. Address: …………………………………………………………………………………

3. Phone number: ………………………………………………………………………….

4. Work unit: ………………………………………………………………………………

Thank you for your cooperation and enthusiasm!

Appendix 2
ID:………………...
Survey Questionnaire
Dear Sir/Madam,

We are a research group working on the project "Research and Proposal of a Roadmap
for Developing the Hydrogen Economy in Vietnam." After conducting an expert survey on
the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges of the transition to hydrogen fuel
in Vietnam, in combination with a comprehensive review of literature, we have identified
the SWOT model with the following factors:
S. Strengths
- S1: Customer’s willingness for the transition to using hydrogen fuel
- S2: Raw material and energy input sources for the transition to hydrogen fuel
W. Weaknesses
- W1: Legal framework, mechanisms and national policies related to the transition to
hydrogen fuel
- W2: Dedicated infrastructure for the transition to hydrogen fuel
- W3: Technological capacity for converting to hydrogen fuel
- W4: Capital sources for the transition to hydrogen fuel
- W5: Human resources for the transition to hydrogen fuel
- W6: Linkage in the hydrogen fuel supply chain
- W7: Cost of the transition to hydrogen fuel.
O. Opportunity
- O1: Openness and international integration
- O2: International regulations, conventions, and commitments on the transition to
hydrogen fuel
- O3: Global awareness of environmental protection and sustainable development.
- O4: New technology supporting the transition to hydrogen fuel.
- O5: Reduced costs globally in hydrogen production, storage, and distribution
- O6: Market and social changes that have positive impacts on the transition to hydrogen
fuel
T. Threat
- T1: Detrimental impacts of technological changes on the transition to hydrogen fuel
 - T2: Competition with other renewable energy sources

We utilize the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to analyze and select options by
comparing pairs of factors in the SWOT model. This involves surveying expert opinions
to rank the options. These factors serve as the basis for proposing solution orientations. We
kindly request your attention to complete the pairwise comparisons below.

Please note that the information provided in this study will be used solely for research
purposes. We would appreciate if you could return the questionnaire to us at your earliest
convenience. Should you have any concerns regarding this survey, please feel free to
contact Dr. Dang Thi Thanh Loan (Phone/Zalo: 0394751359; Email:
dangthithanhloan@qnu.edu.vn).

We greatly value your co-operation. Thank you for your time and consideration.

PART I – SURVEY ITEMS

Please compare the importance of factors in pairs. The pairwise comparisons among
factors are based on the Saaty scale, which includes the following levels:

Less important Equally important More important

-2 (Intermediate values between -3 and 1)
-3 (Less important)
-4 (Intermediate values between -5 and -3)
-5 (Much less important)
-6 (Intermediate values between -7 and -5)
-7 (Very much less important)
-8 (Intermediate values between -9 and -7)
-9 (Infinitely less important)
1 (Equally important) 2 (Intermediate values between 1 and 3)
3 (Moderately important)
4 (Intermediate values between 3 and 5)
5 (much more important)
6 (Intermediate values between 5 and 7)
7 (very much more important)
8 (Intermediate values between 7 and 9)
9 (Infinitely more important)

1. Pairwise comparisons of the SWOT groups: strength (S), weakness (W),

opportunity (O) and threat (T)

Less important More important

Factors Factors
-9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Strength ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Weakness
Strength
☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Opportunity
 Strength
☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Threat

Weakness ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Opportunity
Threat
Weakness ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Threat
Opportunity ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
2. Pairwise comparisons of the sub-factors
2.1. Pairwise comparisons of the sub-factors in the strength group of the
transition to hydrogen fuel in Vietnam

Less important More important

Sub-factors Sub-factors
-9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Raw material and
Customer’s willingness
energy input sources
for the transition to ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
for the transition to
using hydrogen fuel
hydrogen fuel
2.2. Pairwise comparisons of the sub-factors in the weakness group of the
transition to hydrogen fuel in Vietnam

Less important More important

Sub-factors Sub-factors
-9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Legal framework,
Dedicated
mechanisms and
infrastructure for
national policies related ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
the transition to
to the transition to
hydrogen fuel
hydrogen fuel
Legal framework, Technological
mechanisms and capacity for the
national policies related ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ transition to
to the transition to hydrogen fuel
hydrogen fuel
Legal framework,
mechanisms and Capital sources for
national policies related ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ the transition to
to the transition to hydrogen fuel
hydrogen fuel
Legal framework,
mechanisms and Human resources for
national policies related ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ the transition to
to the transition to hydrogen fuel
hydrogen fuel
 Legal framework,
mechanisms and Linkage in the
national policies related ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ hydrogen fuel
to the transition to supply chain
hydrogen fuel
Legal framework,
mechanisms and Cost of the
national policies related ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ transition to
to the transition to hydrogen fuel
hydrogen fuel
Dedicated Technological
infrastructure for the capacity for the
☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
transition to hydrogen transition to
fuel hydrogen fuel
Dedicated
Capital sources for
infrastructure for the
☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ the transition to
transition to hydrogen
hydrogen fuel
fuel
Dedicated
Human resources
infrastructure for the
☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ for the transition to
transition to hydrogen
hydrogen fuel
fuel
Dedicated
Linkage in the
infrastructure for the
☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ hydrogen fuel
transition to hydrogen
supply chain
fuel
Dedicated
Cost of the
infrastructure for the
☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ transition to
transition to hydrogen
hydrogen fuel
fuel
Technological
Capital sources for
capacity for the
☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ the transition to
transition to hydrogen
hydrogen fuel
fuel
Technological
Human resources
capacity for the
☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ for the transition to
transition to hydrogen
hydrogen fuel
fuel
Technological
Linkage in the
capacity for the
☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ hydrogen fuel
transition to hydrogen
supply chain
fuel
Technological
Cost of the
capacity for the
☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ transition to
transition to hydrogen
hydrogen fuel
fuel
Capital sources for the Human resources
transition to hydrogen ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ for the transition to
fuel hydrogen fuel
Capital sources for the Linkage in the
transition to hydrogen ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ hydrogen fuel
fuel supply chain
Capital sources for the Cost of the
transition to hydrogen ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ transition to
fuel hydrogen fuel
Human resources for Linkage in the
the transition to ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ hydrogen fuel
hydrogen fuel supply chain
Human resources for Cost of the
the transition to ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ transition to
hydrogen fuel hydrogen fuel
Linkage in the Cost of the
hydrogen fuel supply ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ transition to
chain hydrogen fuel
2.3. Pairwise comparisons of the sub-factors in the opportunity group of the
transition to hydrogen fuel in Vietnam

Less important More important

Sub-factors Sub-factors
-9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Openness and International
international integration regulations,
conventions, and
☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
commitments on the
transition to
hydrogen fuel
Openness and Global awareness of
international environmental
integration ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ protection and
sustainable
development
Openness and New technologies
international supporting the
☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
integration transition to
hydrogen fuel
Openness and Reduced costs
international globally in hydrogen
☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
integration production, storage,
and distribution
Openness and Positive impacts of
international market and social
integration ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ changes on the
transition to
hydrogen fuel
International
Global awareness of
regulations,
☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ environmental
conventions, and
protection and
commitments on the
 transition to hydrogen sustainable
fuel development
International
regulations, New technologies
conventions, and supporting the
☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
commitments on the transition to
transition to hydrogen fuel
hydrogen fuel
International
regulations, Reduced costs
conventions, and globally in hydrogen
☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
commitments on the production, storage,
transition to and distribution
hydrogen fuel
International
Positive impacts of
regulations,
market and social
conventions, and
☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ changes on the
commitments on the
transition to
transition to
hydrogen fuel
hydrogen fuel
Global awareness of
New technologies
environmental
supporting the
protection and ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
transition to
sustainable
hydrogen fuel
development
Global awareness of
Reduced costs
environmental
globally in hydrogen
protection and ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
production, storage,
sustainable
and distribution
development
Global awareness of Positive impacts of
environmental market and social
protection and ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ changes on the
sustainable transition to
development hydrogen fuel
New technologies Reduced costs
supporting the globally in hydrogen
☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
transition to production, storage,
hydrogen fuel and distribution
New technologies Positive impacts of
supporting the market and social
transition to ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ changes on the
hydrogen fuel transition to
hydrogen fuel
Reduced costs globally Positive impacts of
in hydrogen production, market and social
storage, and distribution ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ changes on the
transition to
hydrogen fuel
 2.4. Pairwise comparisons of the sub-factors in the threat group of the transition
to hydrogen fuel in Vietnam

Less important More important

Sub-factors Sub-factors
-9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Detrimental impacts of
technological changes Competition with
☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
on the transition to other fuels
hydrogen fuel

II. EXPERTS’ BASIC INFORMATION

1. Name: ............................................................................................................................

2. Address: ........................................................................................................................

3. Phone number: ..............................................................................................................

4. Work unit: .....................................................................................................................

Thank you for your cooperation and enthusiasm!

Loan Thanh Thi Dang is currently Deputy Dean, Department of Finance-Banking and
Business Administration, Quy Nhon University, Vietnam. Her research focuses on areas
such as business efficiency, energy economics, Logistics & SCM, and tourism. She has
authored or co-authored 5 books and over 20 papers published in prestigious journals and
conference proceedings such as Journal of Economics & Forecast Review, Journal of Asia-
Pacific Economic Review, Journal of Economics and Development, Journal of Asian
Business and Economic Studies, etc...

Hoang Thi Bich Ngoc (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ngoc-Hoang-31) is currently

a lecturer at Quy Nhon University, Vietnam, with over 8 years of experience in business
administration. Her research primarily focuses on logistics and supply chain management,
with a particular emphasis on agricultural products and circular economy concepts,
including circular supply chain and green logistics. Her research papers have been
published and accepted for publication in esteemed international peer-reviewed journals
and conferences, such as the Global Trade and Customs Journal (ISI), CARISCA’s Supply
Chain Research Summit, and YSI Asia Convening. In addition to her academic
contributions, she actively engages in various projects, such as the IUC project (Belgium)
and DCCI (provincial level)…

Dung Tien Nguyen is currently a PhD candidate at the National Economics University. His
research focuses on areas such as finance and banking, Logistics & SCM, development
economics, and macroeconomics. He has successfully published in reputable journals such
as the Malaysian Journal of Economic Studies, Journal of Asian Business and Economic
Studies, and Journal of Economics and Development. Currently, Dung Tien Nguyen is a
lecturer at Quy Nhon University.