FIRST-QUARTER GROWTH HITS RECORD HIGH DESPITE GLOBAL VOLATILITY
According to Dragon Capital, Vietnam’s growth momentum strengthened in March following Lunar New Year normalisation, reinforcing confidence that the expansion remained firmly intact through the first quarter of 2026. GDP grew 7.8 per cent on-year in the first quarter, with industry and construction rising 8.9 per cent and services 8.2 per cent, highlighting that growth is not solely reliant on exports and manufacturing, but is increasingly supported by services and domestic demand.
VIETNAM’S SMALL BUSINESSES TOP ASIA‑PACIFIC GROWTH RANKINGS
Vietnamese small businesses posted the strongest performance among 11 Asia Pacific markets in 2025, with 84% reporting growth, up from 82% a year earlier, according to CPA Australia’s small business survey. This momentum is forecast to continue in 2026 with 89% of small businesses expecting to grow on the back of a strong focus on technology, e-commerce, and improved business management.
VIETNAM’S IMPORTS FROM CHINA TOP US$50 BILLION IN Q1
Vietnam’s imports from China in the first quarter of 2026 surged a staggering 31.6% year-on-year to more than US$50 billion, accounting for around 40% of the country’s total imports, customs data showed. The increase was driven largely by technology goods and industrial equipment. Imports of computers, electronics and components jumped 62.2% to US$16.77 billion, while machinery, equipment, tools and spare parts rose 25% to US$9.72 billion.
DOMESTIC CAPITAL MARKET PRIORITIZED FOR GROWTH
Nguyen Thanh Nghi, who is also Secretary of the Party Central Committee, was speaking at a national hybrid conference on April 13 as he presented the key contents of the resolution adopted at the second plenum of the 14th Party Central Committee on Vietnam’s socio-economic development plan, national financial strategy, public debt management, and medium-term public investment for 2026-2030.
ADB FORECASTS VIETNAM GROWTH ABOVE 7% THROUGH 2027
Growth is projected at 7.2% in 2026 and 7% in 2027, remaining above 7% despite global risks, the Asian Development Bank reported. The forecast, published in the April 2026 Asian Development Outlook on April 10, is lower than the estimated 8% expansion in 2025 but reflects resilience to external shocks. ADB attributed the outlook to steady exports, especially ahead of potential U.S. tariff adjustments, along with stable domestic policies and continued investment.
HCMC LOOKS TO BREAK GROUND ON THREE MAJOR PORTS IN APRIL
While investors want to break ground on these projects, the HCMC Department of Construction has warned that only one project is currently eligible for commencement, while the other two face significant regulatory bottlenecks. These projects are the Cai Mep Ha General and Container Port (Phase 1), the Gemadept-Terminal Link (Phase 2) and the Can Gio International Transshipment Hub.
CHINA SURPASSES U.S. AS VIETNAM’S TOP AGRO-FORESTRY-FISHERY PRODUCTS BUYER IN Q1
China overtook the United States as Vietnam’s largest market for agro-forestry-fishery products in the first quarter of 2026, as shipments to the northern neighbor surged, data showed. Vietnam’s agro-forestry-fishery exports in January-March reached US$16.69 billion, up 5.9% versus the year-ago period, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.
HCMC TO ESTABLISH CULTURAL INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT FUND
The HCMC People’s Committee has tasked relevant departments with establishing a cultural industry development fund and developing a 150-hectare film studio complex. The move follows an instruction by HCMC Party Committee Secretary Tran Luu Quang. The city’s cultural industry development fund will be structured under a venture capital model.
