The Vietnamese government has urged international donors to provide more aid and speedier financial assistance to meet what an official called the country's enormous need for capital.

The international donors, who are gathering in Paris today to discuss aid for Vietnam, are expected to make smaller pledges this year.

However, it's thought likely that the donors will leave open the possibility of making more assistance available if the country's stalled economic reform process begins to move forward again.

The Asian Development Bank representative, Jean-Pierre Verbiest, said Vietnam's reforms must focus on overhauling the banking sector and inefficient state-owned enterprises, as well as liberalising trade.