Amid global economic uncertainty caused by slowing trade, policy volatility, and geopolitical risks, Vietnam continues to stand out. In contrast to many regional peers, the country is emerging as one of Southeast Asia’s strongest growth performers. As a result, international organizations increasingly regard Vietnam as the region’s brightest growth spot in 2025.

This positive outlook is driven by a balanced economic structure, expanding logistics capacity, and strong investment inflows. Together, these factors are helping Vietnam maintain momentum despite global headwinds.

Vung Ang Port. Source: Department of Information and Communications of Ha Tinh Province

Vietnam Leads ASEAN-6 in Economic Growth

In the third quarter of 2025, Vietnam’s GDP grew by 8.23%, the highest among the ASEAN-6 economies. This was the country’s second-strongest quarterly performance since 2011. Overall, GDP expanded by 7.85% in the first nine months of the year, keeping Vietnam well ahead of regional peers such as Thailand, Singapore, and the Philippines, where growth has slowed sharply.

Despite natural disasters and weather disruptions in the third quarter, Vietnam’s manufacturing sector remained resilient. The Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) reached 53.8 points in November 2025, staying above the 50-point threshold for the fifth consecutive month. This indicates continued improvement in production, new orders, and business confidence within the processing and manufacturing industries.

Trade Expansion and Logistics as a Growth Catalyst

Trade remains a cornerstone of Vietnam’s economic momentum. By mid-November 2025, total import-export turnover exceeded US$801 billion, the highest level ever recorded. Exports are increasingly concentrated in high-tech and deeply processed goods, signaling Vietnam’s deeper integration into global value chains. At the same time, ongoing investments in ports, transport corridors, and logistics infrastructure have strengthened supply chain efficiency and reduced trade costs.

FDI, Consumption, and Tourism Support Domestic Demand

Foreign direct investment continues to surge, with disbursed FDI reaching US$21.3 billion in the first ten months of 2025, the highest five-year level for the period. Domestic consumption has recovered strongly, as retail sales increased by 9.3% year-on-year. Tourism also rebounded sharply, welcoming 15.4 million international visitors in the first nine months, reinforcing growth in services and related logistics sectors.

Reflecting these positive fundamentals, major financial institutions such as HSBC, Standard Chartered, UOB, and S&P Global have raised their growth forecasts for Vietnam in 2025 to between 7.5% and 7.9%. This outlook stands in contrast to other ASEAN economies facing weaker consumption, manufacturing slowdowns, and structural constraints.

Source: Tin Tuc va Dan Toc Newspaper

26/12/2025