Ho Chi Minh City, the country’s biggest economic hub, attained a gross domestic product (GDP) of 404.7 trillion VND (19.4 billion USD) in the first nine months of 2012, a year-on-year growth of 8.7 percent.

According to the municipal Planning and Investment Department, the city's GDP growth rate rose from 7.4 percent in the first quarter, to 8.7 percent in the second quarter and 9.6 percent in the third quarter.

It expects to achieve a GDP growth rate of 9.2 percent for the whole year. This includes growth of 10.8 percent in the services sector; 9.2 percent in the industrial and construction sectors; and five percent in the agricultural, forestry and fisheries sector.

Per capita income for the year is estimated at 3,700 USD.

The city's tax collection is expected to reach almost 216 trillion VND (10.3 billion USD) for the year, accounting for 92.4 percent of the target, and an increase of 5.4 percent over 2011.-VNA