Bùi Hữu Toàn appointed director of Vietnam Banking Academy after

Bùi Hữu Toàn, a PhD in law and former Party secretary of the Banking Academy, was appointed its new director effective 15 April 2026, ending a six‑year vacancy in the post [2].

Key takeaways

• Bùi Hữu Toàn, born 15 May 1975 in Hải Dương (now Hải Phòng), assumes the director role of the Banking Academy [2].
• The appointment was formalised by a decision from the Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam, Phạm Đức Ấn, on 14 April 2026 [4].
• He brings extensive experience, including former positions as Deputy Head of the SBV Office, Dean of the University of Banking in Ho Chi Minh City, and Party secretary of the Academy [3].
• The new leadership will focus on digital transformation, AI integration, internationalisation of curricula, and deeper industry‑university collaboration [2][3].

Leadership transition after a prolonged gap

The Banking Academy had operated without a director for six years, relying on a deputy director to manage day‑to‑day affairs. On 14 April 2026, the Academy held a conference at its headquarters where Governor Phạm Đức Ấn presented Decision No. 688/QĐ‑NHNN, officially appointing Bùi Hữu Toàn as director effective the following day [4]. The ceremony was attended by senior SBV officials, including Deputy Party Secretary Trần Thu Huyền and other members of the Academy’s leadership team [4].

Bùi Hữu Toàn’s career within the banking sector spans more than two decades. He joined the Academy in February 1999, later serving as Deputy Head of the Department of Personnel Organization at the State Bank of Vietnam (December 2012), Deputy Chief of Staff of the SBV (June 2015), and Dean of the University of Banking in Ho Chi Minh City (March 2018). He also held the Party secretary post and chaired the Academy’s council from December 2021 [2][3]. His academic credentials include a PhD in law and promotion to associate professor in 2023 [2].

Strategic priorities under the new director

In his inaugural remarks, Bùi Hữu Toàn outlined a comprehensive action plan aimed at modernising the Academy. Key pillars include a full‑scale digital transformation with AI as a core platform for teaching and administration, expanding international partnerships, and strengthening ties with banks and enterprises to ensure curricula remain market‑relevant [2][3]. He also emphasized building a research ecosystem that produces policy‑oriented outputs and accelerating infrastructure upgrades to support these initiatives [2][3].

Why it matters

The appointment restores full leadership to the Banking Academy, a pivotal institution for training Vietnam’s banking workforce. With the sector projected to need around 750,000 technology‑savvy personnel by 2026, the Academy’s focus on digital skills and industry alignment directly addresses a critical talent gap [3]. The director’s extensive experience in both academic and regulatory settings positions him to steer reforms that could enhance the quality and relevance of banking education, influencing the broader financial ecosystem in Vietnam.