A plurality of vertically oriented channel semiconductor structures is formed above a substrate. A bottom source/drain (S/D) region is formed proximate a lower portion of the vertically oriented channel semiconductor structure. A first dielectric layer is formed above the vertically oriented channel semiconductor structure. A thickness of the first dielectric layer is reduced to expose an upper portion of the vertically oriented channel semiconductor structure. A first semiconductor material region is formed on the exposed upper portion. The thickness of the first dielectric layer is further reduced to expose a channel portion of the vertically oriented channel semiconductor structure and to define a bottom spacer adjacent the bottom S/D region. A gate structure is formed around the channel region of the vertically oriented channel semiconductor structure. A second semiconductor material region is formed on the upper portion to define an upper S/D region after forming the gate structure.