Vanguard ETFs Australia — Full Range Guide (2026)
This article provides general information only and does not constitute financial advice. For advice tailored to your situation, consult a licensed financial adviser. Learn more.
Contents
Vanguard is one of the world’s most respected investment managers and the pioneer of index investing. In Australia, Vanguard offers a comprehensive range of ETFs covering Australian shares, international shares, diversified multi-asset, and fixed income. This article covers the full Vanguard ETF range on the ASX.
About Vanguard Australia
Vanguard was founded by John Bogle in the United States in 1975. Its unique ownership structure — it is owned by its US funds, and those funds are owned by their investors — underpins its strong focus on keeping costs low. Vanguard Australia operates as a separate entity but draws on this same philosophy.
In Australia, Vanguard manages over $100 billion in assets (including managed funds and ETFs) and operates under an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) regulated by ASIC.
Vanguard Australian Share ETFs
| ETF | Index | Holdings | MER | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VAS | S&P/ASX 300 | ~300 | 0.07% | Quarterly |
| VHY | FTSE Australia High Dividend Yield | ~70 | 0.25% | Quarterly |
| VESG | MSCI Australia ESG Leaders | ~100 | 0.16% | Quarterly |
VAS is Vanguard’s flagship Australian ETF and one of the largest ETFs by AUM in Australia ($18B+). See the VAS ETF review.
VHY focuses on high dividend-yielding ASX stocks — typically the Big Four banks, Telstra, Woodside, and similar high-yield companies. It provides a higher income yield than VAS but with less diversification and different sector weights.
VESG applies ESG screening to Australian shares, excluding companies involved in fossil fuels, weapons, and other sectors.
Vanguard International Share ETFs
| ETF | Index | Holdings | MER | Currency | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VGS | MSCI World ex-Australia | 1,500+ | 0.18% | Unhedged | Annually |
| VGAD | MSCI World ex-Australia | 1,500+ | 0.21% | Hedged | Annually |
| VGE | FTSE Emerging Markets All Cap | 5,000+ | 0.48% | Unhedged | Annually |
| VISM | FTSE Global Small Cap ex-Aus | 4,000+ | 0.35% | Unhedged | Annually |
| VETH | MSCI World ex-Aus ESG Leaders | 1,200+ | 0.20% | Unhedged | Annually |
VGS is Vanguard’s most popular international ETF in Australia — covering 1,500+ developed market companies across 22 countries. See the VGS ETF review.
VGAD is the currency-hedged version of VGS — eliminates AUD/foreign currency risk at a marginally higher MER.
VGE covers emerging markets (China, India, Taiwan, Brazil, etc.) — typically used alongside VGS to complete global diversification.
VISM covers global small-cap companies — complements VGS (which covers large and mid-cap).
Vanguard Diversified ETFs
Vanguard’s diversified range offers four all-in-one ETFs at the same MER (0.27%):
| ETF | Allocation | MER | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| VDHG | 90% shares / 10% bonds | 0.27% | High growth — see VDHG review |
| VDGR | 70% shares / 30% bonds | 0.27% | Growth — see VDGR review |
| VDBA | 50% shares / 50% bonds | 0.27% | Balanced |
| VDCO | 30% shares / 70% bonds | 0.27% | Conservative |
Each holds the same underlying Vanguard funds — they differ only in the shares/bonds weighting.
Vanguard Fixed Income ETFs
| ETF | Index | Duration | MER | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VAF | Bloomberg AusBond Composite | ~7 years | 0.20% | Monthly |
| VACF | Bloomberg AusBond Credit 0+ Yr | ~5 years | 0.20% | Monthly |
| VBND | Bloomberg Global Agg (hedged) | ~8 years | 0.20% | Monthly |
| VIF | Bloomberg Global Agg (hedged) | ~8 years | 0.20% | Monthly |
| VIF | — | — | 0.20% | Monthly |
VAF is Australia’s most widely held bond ETF. See the VAF ETF review.
VBND provides global bond diversification across government and corporate bonds from 50+ countries, hedged to AUD.
The Vanguard ETF Range Summary — All in One View
| Category | ETF | MER |
|---|---|---|
| Australian shares | VAS | 0.07% |
| Australian shares high yield | VHY | 0.25% |
| Australian shares ESG | VESG | 0.16% |
| International shares | VGS | 0.18% |
| International shares hedged | VGAD | 0.21% |
| Emerging markets | VGE | 0.48% |
| Global small cap | VISM | 0.35% |
| International ESG | VETH | 0.20% |
| Diversified high growth | VDHG | 0.27% |
| Diversified growth | VDGR | 0.27% |
| Diversified balanced | VDBA | 0.27% |
| Diversified conservative | VDCO | 0.27% |
| Australian bonds | VAF | 0.20% |
| Australian corporate bonds | VACF | 0.20% |
| Global bonds (hedged) | VBND | 0.20% |
Related Articles
- VAS ETF Review
- VGS ETF Review
- VDHG ETF Review
- VDGR ETF Review
- VAF ETF Review
- BetaShares ETFs Australia
- iShares ETFs Australia
- ETFs hub
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Vanguard Australia the same as Vanguard US? Vanguard Australia Pty Ltd is a separate legal entity to Vanguard Group in the US. It operates under Australian law and holds an AFSL from ASIC. Vanguard Australia draws on the Vanguard Group’s global investment philosophy and index methodology but is subject to Australian regulatory oversight.
Can I invest in Vanguard managed funds instead of ETFs? Yes. Vanguard offers unlisted index managed funds in Australia (the Vanguard Personal Investor platform) that invest in the same underlying assets as many of the ETFs. The primary differences: managed funds allow dollar-based investing (no need to calculate units), have no brokerage but different minimum investment amounts, and may be more or less tax-efficient depending on your circumstances.
Are Vanguard ETFs available through my super fund? Vanguard ETFs are ASX-listed and can be held in SMSF. Some retail super platforms also allow ETF investing. Most industry super funds (AustralianSuper, Hostplus, etc.) do not allow individual ETF selection — they offer pre-built investment options. If ETF selection within super is important to you, an SMSF or a retail super platform that allows ETF investing is required.
This article provides general financial information only. ETF mentions are for educational context. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. For advice tailored to your situation, speak with a licensed financial adviser. You can find one through the ASIC financial advisers register or MoneySmart.