This paper looks at the development of the financial systems of ASEAN-5 countries and Vietnam. By making a comparison between factors that foster the financial development of ASEAN-5 and Vietnam, it suggests that both the two sides share common characteristics including: financial repression, bank based development, accelerating liberalization of the financial sector, capital movement, inefficiency, due to lack of competition, effective governance, and managerial freedom. The health of financial system of the ASEAN-5 has improved substantially during the period post 1997-98, with increase in foreign ownership, movement into business line,.
