The Quality of Environmental, Social, and Governance Report Audits in Vietnam: A Synthetic Analysis of Challenges and the Readiness of Audit Firms

This research addresses the gap in understanding the challenges and readiness of audit firms in Vietnam to provide high-quality assurance services for Environmental, Social, and Governance reports. The study's purpose is to systematize the core challenges and evaluate the preparedness of Vietnamese audit firms in this emerging field. Using a qualitative desk research methodology, the study synthesizes secondary data from academic articles, legal documents, international standards, and industry publications. The findings reveal three main challenges: the lack of a unified and mandatory legal framework; the poor availability, reliability, and comparability of ESG data; and a significant gap in the multidisciplinary expertise of auditors. Furthermore, the research found that the readiness of audit firms is at a nascent stage, with a clear divide between the Big 4 firms, which have made initial efforts, and smaller firms, which are largely unprepared. These results are significant because they highlight the urgent need for regulatory action, strategic investment in auditor training, and technological adoption. The implications of the study call for coordinated efforts among regulators, audit firms, and educational institutions to build a robust ESG assurance ecosystem, thereby supporting sustainable business practices and bolstering investor confidence in Vietnam.