Vietnam's GDP growth moderates to 6.6% in 2025: World Bank report
Vietnam's economy is projected to grow at a steady pace in the coming years, according to the World Bank's latest report. The bank forecasts that Vietnam's GDP growth will ease to 6.6% in 2025 and 6.1% in 2026, followed by a recovery to 6.5% in 2027 as global trade improves.
The World Bank's report, titled 'Taking Stock - Economic Update, September 2025', was released in Ha Noi. The bank's country director for Vietnam, Mariam Sherman, emphasized that the outlook remains uncertain and depends heavily on global trade developments.
In the first half of 2025, Vietnam's GDP grew by 7.5% thanks to strong exports. Exports increased by 14.2% year on year, with shipments to the United States surging 28.3%. Imports also rose by 16% to meet higher orders during the export push.
However, the bank expects rapid export growth to moderate. The uncertainties underscored the need for prudence and flexibility in policymaking to find the right course in a changing economic environment. The United States and China, Vietnam's largest trading partners, are expected to decelerate in the second half of 2025, further limiting demand for Vietnamese products.
To bolster growth against external risks, supporting domestic activities and services will become increasingly important. One expert suggests that building resilience and securing a sustainable economic future for Vietnam can be achieved by expanding high-quality public investment and encouraging private consumption. Expanding high-quality public investment can help create an enabling environment for business and encourage private consumption in Vietnam.
Final consumption rose by 8% in the first half of 2025, on the back of a tourism rebound. The economy is projected to grow around 6–6.5% in 2025, driven by trade agreements such as CPTPP and RCEP, digital transformation, a young workforce, and rising investment in manufacturing, technology, renewable energy, and real estate.
Experts suggest that to sustain and enhance growth, Vietnam can continue to position itself as an attractive destination for global businesses. Investment growth at constant prices reached 8% in the first half of 2025, supported by resilient foreign investment and faster public investment disbursement.
The World Bank's report suggests that overall export growth in Vietnam is likely to return to rates seen in more stable periods for the remaining months of 2025. The bank projects that Vietnam's GDP growth will slow to 6.6% in 2025, but overall, the outlook for Vietnam's economy remains positive.
The economy is projected to grow around 6–6.5% in 2025, driven by trade agreements such as CPTPP and RCEP, digital transformation, a young workforce, and rising investment in manufacturing, technology, renewable energy, and real estate. Experts suggest that to sustain and enhance growth, Vietnam can continue to position itself as an attractive destination for global businesses.
