HCMC – Vietnam’s economy is projected to expand by 6.1% this year, driven by a recovery in exports, tourism, consumer spending, and investment, according to a World Bank (WB) report released today, August 26.
The report, titled “Reaching New Heights in Capital Markets,” highlights Vietnam’s resilience in the face of global challenges, forecasting that this momentum will continue, with growth reaching 6.5% in both 2025 and 2026.
However, the report notes that the economy has not yet returned to its pre-pandemic growth trajectory.
The WB emphasized the importance of increasing public investment to stimulate demand and address infrastructure gaps in energy, transportation and logistics. The report also calls for close monitoring of banking assets, particularly due to the rise in non-performing loans.
Andrea Coppola, the WB’s lead economist for Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, stated at a press conference today that Vietnam benefited from recovering export demand in the first half of this year.
However, he stressed the need for ongoing institutional reforms, increased public investment, and effective financial risk management to sustain growth.
Senior economist Dorsati Madani described the 6.1% growth forecast as positive but cautioned that Vietnam’s economy has not yet reached its full potential. She warned that growth could slow in the second half, reflecting a downturn in major global economies such as the U.S., Europe and China.
The WB recommended that Vietnam accelerate public investment disbursement, encourage banks to improve capital adequacy, and enhance infrastructure development to attract private investment. The report also suggests that Vietnam diversify its trade to strengthen its economic resilience.