Viet Nam's economy maintains growth momentum, creating a foundation for breakthrough in 2026

The figures announced at the National Conference of Central Reporters in March 2026 not only demonstrate the resilience of the economy but also affirm the governance capacity, adaptability, and development prospects of the country in the new phase.

A prominent highlight is that in 2025, Viet Nam achieved and exceeded all 15/15 major socio-economic targets. This is not merely a technical result in governance, but also clear evidence of the effectiveness of unified and decisive leadership from the central to local levels; the close coordination among the Party, the National Assembly, the Government, and the entire political system; and at the same time reflects the spirit of solidarity and burden-sharing of the business community and the People in overcoming difficulties. In a context where challenges outweighed advantages, maintaining a positive recovery momentum month by month and quarter by quarter constituted the foundation for strengthening confidence in the ability to fulfill the long-term development objectives set forth by the Thirteenth National Congress and the Fourteenth National Congress of the Party.

GDP growth in 2025 reached 8%, ranking among the highest in the region and the world, further affirming Viet Nam as a bright spot on the global growth map. The size of the economy reached USD 514.4 billion, and GDP per capita exceeded USD 5,026, indicating that national capacity continues to be enhanced. Notably, such growth was not pursued at all costs but was maintained within the framework of macroeconomic stability, with average inflation rising by only 3.21%, lower than the target assigned by the National Assembly. This clearly reflects the effectiveness of flexible, proactive, and coordinated fiscal and monetary policy management, and at the same time demonstrates the Government’s determination to safeguard people’s livelihoods even when adjusting the prices of certain goods and services managed by the State.

The health of the economy is also reflected in the assurance of major macroeconomic balances. State budget revenue reached approximately VND 2.65 quadrillion, significantly exceeding the estimate; the budget deficit, public debt, Government debt, and external debt all remained below warning thresholds. Total import-export turnover reached USD 930 billion, keeping Viet Nam among the world’s top 20 trading economies. The domestic market maintained stable growth momentum; total retail sales of goods and consumer service revenue increased by more than 9%; tourism recovered strongly with approximately 21.17 million international arrivals, the highest level ever recorded. These indicators confirm that the economy is not only resilient on the basis of exports, but is gradually expanding growth drivers from domestic consumption and services.

Another bright spot is the continued consolidation of confidence among the business community and investors. Nearly 297.5 thousand enterprises were newly established or resumed operations in 2025, the highest figure ever recorded. Total social investment capital was estimated at over VND 4.15 quadrillion, while registered FDI reached over USD 38.4 billion and disbursed FDI reached USD 27.62 billion. In the context of declining global capital flows, this result demonstrates that Viet Nam continues to maintain its position as an attractive destination, particularly for high technology, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and modern industries. This constitutes an important factor in improving the quality of growth and promoting economic restructuring toward modernity and sustainability.

It is impossible not to mention the role of institutional reform and infrastructure investment in generating new development momentum. The year 2025 marked significant progress in improving the legal framework, removing bottlenecks, simplifying administrative procedures, and reducing business conditions. At the same time, the infrastructure system continued to make breakthroughs, with 3,345 kilometers of expressways completed, and numerous major projects in transport, energy, and digital infrastructure accelerated. Digital infrastructure expanded widely, with 100% of communes and wards covered by fiber-optic broadband; the E-Government Index improved markedly. These constitute fundamental conditions for enhancing national competitiveness, reducing transaction costs, improving governance efficiency, and expanding development space.

From a social perspective, economic achievements have increasingly been translated into improvements in the People’s living standards. Health insurance coverage rose to 95.16%; the multidimensional poverty rate declined sharply; the average income of workers continued to increase; and social security policies, support for vulnerable groups, persons with meritorious services, and those affected by natural disasters were implemented in a timely manner. Viet Nam’s happiness index increased significantly, indicating that development objectives are not confined to pure growth but are oriented toward quality of life and the substantive enjoyment of benefits by the people. This constitutes an important dimension underpinning the sustainability of the development model.

However, facing realities directly is also an essential requirement of modern governance thinking. The report clearly pointed out a number of persistent difficulties and challenges: macroeconomic management pressures remain substantial; growth continues to depend heavily on credit; the competitiveness and internal capacity of the economy are not yet truly robust; the real estate, gold, and foreign exchange markets still contain potential risks; administrative reform in certain sectors remains slow; and science, technology, and innovation have not yet created commensurate breakthroughs. These issues indicate that while the positive results of 2025 are highly noteworthy, they do not permit complacency.

For that reason, the double-digit growth target in 2026 can only be achieved if accompanied by stronger reform determination, more decisive action, and more effective implementation. The focus remains on improving institutions, enhancing the quality of the apparatus, maintaining macroeconomic stability, renewing traditional growth drivers, and at the same time forming new drivers based on the digital economy, green economy, science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation. This must be accompanied by the requirement to develop strategic infrastructure, train high-quality human resources, ensure social security, maintain national defense and security, and strengthen social consensus.

It can be affirmed that the results achieved in 2025 have created new position and strength for Viet Nam’s economy. This constitutes an important foundation for the country to enter 2026 with a proactive and confident posture, determined to accelerate and make breakthroughs. However, the road ahead remains full of challenges. To transform aspiration into reality, the core requirement is to continue maintaining discipline in governance, promoting the spirit of innovation, unlocking all resources, and translating growth achievements into drivers of inclusive and sustainable development. In that way, the “bright spot” of 2025 will not merely be a temporary milestone, but will become a stepping stone toward a higher stage of development for Viet Nam’s economy.