economy
The Economy category covers macroeconomic trends, fiscal policies, trade performance, and financial markets. It explores GDP growth, inflation, employment, investment flows, and regulatory changes, providing insights into economic stability, global trade relations, and policy impacts. This section serves as a resource for businesses, investors, and analysts monitoring economic developments.
The Big Gap Between Foreign and Local Firms Behind Vietnam’s Export Boom: Unpacked
Locally owned firms have seen their share of Vietnam’s exports fall this year from about 30 to just over 20 percent. This is an anomaly in that it is out of proportion with a boom in exports overall. So what happened? And what does it mean?
Food inflation in Vietnam eases in September as rice prices fall and dining costs stabilise
Food and food services inflation eased to 2.06 percent in September from 2.58 percent in August and 2.92 percent in July, continuing a downward trend from April’s 4.09 percent, according to Vietnam’s General Department of Customs.
Growth Accelerates, Debt Deepens: Vietnam’s GDP Growth Q3 2025
Vietnam pulled off another big quarter in terms of GDP growth in Q3, registering 8.23 percent, the fastest third-quarter growth rate since 2022, according to the National Statistics Office (NSO). This article breaks down Vietnam’s GDP growth in Q3 2025 per the NSO data, looks at what is driving this growth, where the demand is coming from, and how it’s being paid for.
Tourism: Vietnam welcomes 1.52 million visitors in September, down 9.6 percent from August
Vietnam recorded 1.52 million international visitors in September 2025, a 9.6 percent decrease from August but a 19.5 percent increase compared to the same month last year, according to the latest data from Vietnam Tourism. This article breaks down this data.
Vietnam’s CPI rises 0.42 percent in September, driven by higher education and housing costs
Vietnam’s consumer price index (CPI) rose 0.42 percent in September 2025 compared to August, led by higher tuition fees, food prices, and housing maintenance costs, according to the National Statistics Office. This article explores the key inflation drivers.
Vietnam’s import-export turnover rises 17.3 percent to US$680.66 billion in first nine months of 2025
Vietnam’s total import and export turnover of goods reached US$82.49 billion in September, down 0.7 percent from August but up 24.8 percent year-on-year, according to data from the National Statistics Office. This article breaks down key imports, exports, and key trade partner data.
Foreign direct investment in Vietnam climb 15.2 percent to US$28.54 billion in first nine months of 2025
Foreign investment into Vietnam reached US$28.54 billion as of September 30, 2025, up 15.2 percent year-on-year, according to the latest data from the National Statistics Office. This article looks at the key industries that investment flowed into and the countries it came from.
Industrial output in Vietnam surges 10 percent in Q3 2025 on export rush and energy gains
Vietnam’s industrial production index (IIP) surged by 10 percent year-on-year in the third quarter of 2025, marking the fastest pace since 2020, according to data from the National Statistics Office
Vietnam GDP growth accelerates to 8.23 percent in Q3 2025: National Statistics Office
This article breaks down the latest GDP growth data for Vietnam from the National Statistics Office for Q3 2025.
Banking and finance: Credit growth in Vietnam up 13.37 percent over end-December
Credit growth in Vietnam reached 13.37 percent in the first nine months of 2025, with total outstanding loans estimated at VND 17.7 quadrillion (US$680.7 billion), up 4 percent year-on-year, according to Pham Chi Quang, Director of the Monetary Policy Department at the State Bank of Vietnam and reported by VN Express.
Economy: ADB’s latest report cuts Malaysia’s 2025 growth forecast to 4.3 percent
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has lowered Malaysia’s 2025 GDP growth forecast to 4.3 percent, a 0.6 percentage point downgrade from its April projection of 4.9 percent, according to the September 2025 Asian Development Outlook (ADO).
Economy: Thailand’s 2025 growth forecast slashed to 2.0 percent in latest ADB update
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has sharply downgraded Thailand’s 2025 GDP growth forecast to 2.0 percent, a cut of 0.8 percentage points from its April projection of 2.8 percent, according to the September 2025 Asian Development Outlook (ADO).
Economy: Philippines’ 2025 growth forecast cut to 5.6 percent in latest ADB Outlook Report
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has lowered its 2025 GDP growth forecast for the Philippines to 5.6 percent, down 0.4 percentage points from its April projection of 6.0 percent, according to the September 2025 Asian Development Outlook (ADO).
Economy: Indonesia’s 2025 growth forecast cut to 4.9 percent in latest ADB update
Indonesia’s economic growth forecast for 2025 has been revised down to 4.9 percent, a 0.1 percentage point cut from April, according to the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) September 2025 Asian Development Outlook (ADO).
Economy: Vietnam’s 2025 growth forecast nudged up to 6.7 percent as ADB trims regional outlook
Vietnam’s 2025 GDP growth forecast has been revised slightly higher to 6.7 percent, even as the Asian Development Bank (ADB) cut its projections for Southeast Asia as a whole, according to the September 2025 update of its Asian Development Outlook (ADO).
Can/Should the Philippines Emulate Vietnam’s Export-led Growth Model?
Last week, an opinion piece in Business World suggested Vietnam’s export-led economic development model could be used as a blueprint for the Philippines, with a focus on Vietnam’s lower costs, recent regulatory reforms, and infrastructure and logistics. Digging a little deeper, however, Vietnam’s growth model has depended largely on a number of factors that may be difficult to replicate elsewhere in the world.
Economy: IMF Executive Board concludes 2025 Article IV consultation with Vietnam
The International Monetary Fund Executive Board has concluded its 2025 Article IV consultation with Vietnam, noting strong recent growth alongside rising external and domestic risks, according to a press release on the institution’s website.
Currency: Vietnam sells US$1.5 billion from ForEx reserves to stabilise dong
The State Bank of Vietnam sold around US$1.5 billion via 180-day cancellable forwards on 25–26 August to ease pressure on the dong, according to a report from MB Securities and reported by The Investor.
Economy: Vietnam economists warn of bubble risks amid credit expansion policy
Two senior academics cautioned lawmakers last week that Vietnam’s rapid credit growth risks destabilising the economy, according to papers seen by Reuters.
Currency: Vietnam central dong rate—black market spread narrows to 6.66 percent, Thursday
The State Bank of Vietnam kept its central exchange rate unchanged at VND 25,221 per US dollar, while the Google Finance mid-market rate edged to 26,402.50.
In today’s Vietnam news: More land for Trump golf course, Hanoi metro awarded Vingroup, Rising bank bond interest rates, GE contract stalled power plant
In today’s Vietnam news: MSCI market review, Russia’s Gazprom abandons LNG plant project, Horror movie making warning, Banking risk analysis, Denmark-VN ethanol cooperation, Work
In today’s Vietnam news: Thailand vs Vietnam tourism, India missile purchase final stages, Airport rail connections Long Thanh, BESS development Northern Vietnam, New US
This is an interview with Chris Walker, a Vietnam Sourcing Expert with Vietnam Factory Tours how rising oil prices and the Middle East crisis are
This is an interview with John Gardner, CEO and Founding Partner, at Optimum Hospitality in Ho Chi Minh City. It covers fuel price impacts on:
This is an interview with Dr Nuno F. Ribeiro, Associate Professor, International Tourism & Hospitality Management at Copenhagen Business College, formerly of RMIT Vietnam. It