According to the National Statistics Office under the Ministry of Finance, GDP expanded by 8.39% in the second quarter, up from 8.14% a year earlier. Growth for the first six months reached 8.18%, exceeding the 7.63% recorded in the same period of 2025. The performance reflected broad-based contributions from both the supply and demand sides of the economy.
Only shipments that fully satisfy the EUDR's data requirements will qualify for export to the EU, and exporters will no longer be able to source products with unclear compliance records for the European market.
The National Statistics Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Finance reported that the manufacturing and processing sector remained the principal driver of economic growth, accounting for 33.07% of the economy's total value-added growth during the first six months of the year.
Addressing a seminar on restructuring capital mobilisation channels hosted by the Finance and Investment newspaper on July 15, Bui Hoang Hai, Vice Chairman of the State Securities Commission of Vietnam (SSC), said the domestic economy continues to face considerable external challenges in 2026, including the effects from the Middle East conflict.
Economists at United Overseas Bank (UOB), a Singapore-based multinational bank, said Vietnam’s gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by 8.39% in the second quarter of 2026, from 7.94% in the first quarter. As a result, economic growth for the first half of the year reached 8.18%, keeping Vietnam at the top among ASEAN economies.
Despite the positive headline figures, analysts caution that actual purchasing power has yet to recover fully.
As one of Vietnam’s key economic growth drivers, the manufacturing and processing industry now faces mounting pressure to move beyond a development model based on inexpensive labour, intensive energy consumption and high emissions.
The State Bank of Vietnam set the daily reference exchange rate at 25,243 VND/USD on July 16, up 10 VND from the previous day.
According to the Department of Taxation, 259 overseas suppliers have registered, declared and paid taxes through the portal. Tax revenue from the group reached 78.1% of the full-year target, surging 119% from a year earlier and making foreign suppliers the fastest-growing source of tax revenue in Vietnam's digital economy.
With 21,351 valid FDI projects worth a combined 146.8 billion USD, Ho Chi Minh City remains Vietnam's leading recipient of foreign investment. The southern largest economic hub recorded nearly 7.5 billion USD in registered FDI in the first half of 2026, fulfilling over 68% of the annual target.
The FTA would widen access to markets with strong demand for premium food products in line with the country’s strategy of shifting exports towards increasing added value.
Rooftop solar power is entering a new phase of development with a more solid foundation. When integrated with energy storage systems and direct power purchase mechanisms, it not only contributes to supplementing distributed energy sources and reducing pressure on the national power system, but also serves as a driving force for green growth, enhances the competitiveness of the economy, and ensures energy security.
Vietnam's competitive advantages are evolving. Rather than relying primarily on low labour costs and tax incentives, the country's future competitiveness will increasingly depend on structural and long-term factors, including transparent institutions, policy predictability and an investment environment capable of supporting long-term strategic investors.
An official expressed confidence that stronger cooperation in cross-border e-commerce will become a new growth channel, contributing to the realisation of the bilateral trade target while supporting the digital economies of both countries.
Vietnamese Ambassador to the RoK Vu Ho said bilateral relations are currently enjoying the best conditions, underpinned by what he described as the three key factors of “favourable timing, geographical advantages, and strong public support”.
In an interview recently granted to the Vietnam News Agency, Dr Nguyen Van Tu, General Director of the Vietnam Petroleum Institute (VPI), said petroleum reserves are a critical line of defence, but a genuine energy security “shield” must be built in layers.
Vietnam is among the world's leading producers and exporters of agricultural products, including rice, coffee and a wide range of fruits. However, key export markets such as the US, the European Union (EU) and Japan are tightening sustainability requirements for agricultural products, making the transition to low-emission farming increasingly important.
EuroCham's latest survey shows European business confidence rebounding to its highest level in nearly seven years, driven by stronger demand despite global uncertainty.
Deputy Minister of Finance Nguyen Duc Chi and representatives of Japan's Financial Services Agency (JFSA) and Securities and Exchange Surveillance Commission (SESC) have exchanged experience in securities market development, financial regulation and innovation.
Achieving Vietnam's target of more than 74 billion USD in agricultural, forestry and fishery exports in 2026 will require stronger traceability systems, initially focusing on key export commodities, high-value products and major markets such as the EU, the US and China.
