French President Emmanuel Macron Joins Vietnamese Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan to Break Ground on VNVC Vaccine and Biological Manufacturing Plant

Hanoi - As part of his state visit to Vietnam from May 25-27, French President Emmanuel Macron joined Vietnamese Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan, Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan, Sanofi Vietnam Country Lead Burak Pekmezci, and VNVC Vaccine Company Chairman & CEO Ngo Chi Dung at the groundbreaking ceremony for the VNVC Vaccine and Biological Manufacturing Plant, Vietnam’s largest and most modern vaccine production facility to date.

The plant is scheduled to commence operations by late 2027, gradually receiving technology transfers from France’s Sanofi to localize production of critical vaccines and innovative vaccine technologies, serving Vietnam’s immunization needs while participating in global supply chains.

The event followed the signing of a vaccine production technology transfer agreement between VNVC and Sanofi Group (France) one day earlier, witnessed by Vietnamese President Luong Cuong and French President Emmanuel Macron.

The groundbreaking of the VNVC Vaccine and Biological Manufacturing Plant marks a significant milestone in realizing the comprehensive strategic partnership between France and Vietnam in healthcare and biotechnology, expected to contribute substantially to shared achievements in healthcare for both nations.

This event demonstrates the strong determination of Vietnamese enterprise VNVC to proactively expand international cooperation, access and gradually master modern biomedical technologies, and actively produce high-tech vaccines. This will enhance preventive healthcare capacity and ensure national health security against dangerous infectious diseases and future pandemics.

Designed to meet the world’s highest standards for vaccine and high-quality biologicals research and production, the large-scale, modern VNVC Vaccine and Biological Manufacturing Plant is poised to become Vietnam’s flagship vaccine production facility, ready to join global vaccine supply chains and contribute to regional health security.

With an initial investment of approximately 2 trillion VND, the plant is being constructed on over 26,000 m² in Phu An Thanh Industrial Park, Ben Luc District, Long An Province. It will operate under the most stringent international Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards, including EU GMP (Europe), FDA GMP (U.S.), and WHO GMP (World Health Organization). The facility also strictly complies with Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) standards and international AAALAC standards for safety, welfare, and humane treatment in animal research areas, adhering to international scientific ethics principles. Additionally, it meets advanced environmental protection, emission reduction, and "green factory"/"smart factory" construction technology standards.

Upon operation in late 2027, the plant will progressively produce Sanofi’s (France) critical, high-quality vaccines, thereby supplying large quantities of affordable, high-quality "Made in Vietnam" vaccines for the domestic market while targeting exports to regional countries. Priority will be given to technology transfers for essential, safe, and in-demand vaccines protecting children’s and adults’ health.

At the event, Mr. Burak Pekmezci, Country Lead at Sanofi Vietnam, expressed pride in witnessing the groundbreaking ceremony. Sanofi anticipates that VNVC’s globally compliant plant will soon provide advanced vaccines, medicines, and effective disease prevention solutions for Vietnamese citizens and patients, calling it a breakthrough project to further Vietnam’s healthcare mission.

According to Mr. Ngo Chi Dung, Chairman and CEO of VNVC, beyond the essential need to master modern vaccine and biomedical production technologies, the COVID-19 pandemic made nations recognize the necessity of modern, large-capacity vaccine plants for rapid technology transfer and mass production to meet domestic epidemic prevention needs and contribute to global supply chains. He emphasized that a facility producing hundreds of millions of high-quality "Made in Vietnam" vaccine doses annually will reduce costs, ensure domestic supply, and enable exports. This will give Vietnamese citizens equitable access to new-generation vaccines – as effective, safe, and timely as those in advanced nations – crucially preventing diseases, reducing expensive and challenging treatment burdens, and improving public health in line with national policies.

"Additionally, the VNVC Vaccine and Biological Manufacturing Plant invests in cutting-edge infrastructure and implements special policies to attract global talent in vaccine and high-tech biomedical research and production. This prepares us to adopt and master advanced biotechnologies like mRNA for novel vaccines, particularly promising cancer treatment vaccines." Mr. Dung stressed.

The VNVC Vaccine and Biological Manufacturing Factory, designed by the globally renowned German firm Rieckermann with over 130 years of experience in pharmaceutical, vaccine, and biologics facility design, features state-of-the-art equipment sourced from Germany, the United States, and other leading markets. With an annual production capacity of up to 100 million vaccine doses, the factory will initially operate three advanced filling and packaging lines, incorporating cutting-edge isolator technology and Southeast Asia’s first syringe-filling line, ensuring high quality and safety in line with global standards.

Beyond production, the factory includes a 1,500 m² Research and Development (R&D) Center dedicated to advancing vaccine and biologics manufacturing technologies, with a focus on mRNA vaccines. The center will collaborate with global scientists, universities, and pharmaceutical companies to conduct preclinical and clinical trials in Vietnam, enabling early access to innovative drugs and vaccines while meeting standards to expedite product registration for public use.

Committed to sustainability and environmental protection, the factory is built to LEED GOLD green standards, utilizing eco-friendly materials such as recycled concrete and low-VOC paints. Its modern insulation system saves energy, while an advanced wastewater treatment system meets stringent environmental regulations. The facility maximizes natural light, solar energy, and innovative rainwater harvesting for irrigation and cooling.

The groundbreaking of the VNVC Vaccine and Biological Manufacturing Plant aligns with Vietnam’s strategic priorities, implementing Resolution 57 (December 22, 2024) on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation; Resolution 59 (January 24, 2025) on international integration; and Resolution 68 (May 4, 2025) on private sector economic development.

For VNVC, this milestone marks a transformative shift from being Vietnam’s leading vaccine service provider and distributor to becoming the country’s first large-scale, international-standard vaccine manufacturer. VNVC aims to establish a cutting-edge hub for vaccine research, development, and production, meeting top global standards. This initiative strengthens Vietnam’s healthcare sector by fostering self-reliance, modernization, and international integration, creating a comprehensive, world-class vaccine production ecosystem to advance biomedical capabilities and elevate Vietnam’s standing in global healthcare.

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