Of all the BP units that Asian buyers may be eager to scoop up across the globe, an asset closer to home in southern Vietnam could evoke the most immediate interest. Asia’s energy investment bankers are busy doing their homework on BP’s stake in the $1.3 billion Nam Con Son gas project offshore of Ho Chi Minh City.

China’s CNOOC and Sinopec, as well as Thailand’s PTTEP and India’s ONGC – already a partner of BP’s in Vietnam – are likely to show interest in BP’s stake in the project, bankers and analysts who are familiar with the asset told Reuters.

BP, among the biggest foreign producers of natural gas in Vietnam, discovered four gas fields in the southern part of the country roughly 20 years ago. The British giant also has a gas-fired power station and a pipeline there. Together, they are known as Nam Con Son, Vietnam’s largest gas project.

If and when Nam Con Son will be put on the auction block remains to be seen. But some bankers say Asian interest will be strong, especially from Thailand and India, who have regional ambitions but often play second-fiddle to China’s outbound M&A dealmaking prowess.

A BP spokeswoman in Vietnam declined to comment when contacted by Reuters. CNOOC spokesman Xiao Zongwei also declined to comment, and Sinopec declined to confirm any interest in Nam Con Son. Officials from ONGC were not immediately available for comment.

The British oil company announced a $10 billion asset sales program in June as part of a broader set of moves designed to ease pressure from the US government.

“If they (BP) want to make $10 billion through asset divestitures – it’s a discreet field and there will be a lot of buyers for it,” said an Asia-based investment banker who has advised Chinese energy companies on outbound deals.

The banker, who was not authorised to speak publicly about the matter and declined to be named, added that investment bankers from multiple banks are busy doing due diligence on Nam Con Son, and are trying to convince BP that the project would be an easy asset to sell.