VIỆT NAM POSTS STRONGEST FIRST-HALF GDP GROWTH IN OVER A DECADE
The Vietnamese economy achieved its strongest performance in over a decade, with gross domestic product (GDP) rising by 7.52 per cent in the first half of the year, the highest since 2011, according to the Ministry of Finance’s National Statistics Office of Việt Nam (NSO). At a press conference in Hà Nội, NSO Director Nguyễn Thị Hương highlighted that this was a positive result, reflecting the whole political system’s determination, concerted efforts, and drastic actions in managing and implementing socio-economic development tasks amidst regional and global volatility.
FOREIGN INVESTMENT INFLOWS RISE TO $21.5 BILLION IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2025
Foreign investors registered a total of US$21.5 billion in investments in Việt Nam during the first half of 2025, marking a 33 per cent increase compared to the same period last year, the Ministry of Finance's Foreign Investment Agency (FIA) revealed in its latest report. Of the total, newly registered capital accounted for nearly $9.3 billion across 1,988 new projects.
AGRICULTURAL TRADE WORTH $57 BILLION IN FIRST HALF OF 2025
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, AFFP exports were valued at $33.5 billion, up 14.3 per cent, and imports at $23.5 billion, up 12.8 per cent, for the period. Tran Gia Long, deputy director of the Planning and Finance Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, said, "The global economy in the first half of this year has experienced many fluctuations. However, our country’s agricultural production has remained stable and achieved decent growth."
TRADE SURPLUS HITS US$7.63 BLN IN FIRST HALF
Vietnam’s total export and import turnover in the first half of this year reached US$432.03 billion, a year-on-year increase of 16.1 percent, according to the National Statistics Office. Of the figure, exports hit US$219.83 billion, up 14.4 percent while imports were estimated at US$212.2 billion, up 17.9 percent. The Southeast Asian nation enjoyed a trade surplus of US$7.63 billion in six months.
FROZEN DURIAN EXPORTS TRIPLE
Việt Nam’s frozen durian exports tripled in the first half of this year, driven by expanded market access and increased investment in processing, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment. Đỗ Hồng Khanh from the Plant Production and Protection Department said at the ministry’s press conference on Thursday that 388 batches of frozen durian, or 14,282 tonnes, were shipped abroad between January and June, three times higher than the same period last year.
H1 GDP GROWTH SEEN HITTING TWO-DECADE HIGH
Vietnam’s economy is expected to expand at least 7.3% in the first half of this year, nearing the Government’s annual target and marking the highest six-month growth for the same period in nearly 20 years, according to the Ministry of Finance. Early estimates in late May put second-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) growth at around 7.7%, bringing first-half growth to 7.3%.
PROVINCIAL MERGERS STRENGTHEN APPEAL TO FOREIGN INVESTORS
On June 30, localities across Việt Nam announced resolutions on the merger of administrative units, marking a significant step in the country's efforts to streamline governance and promote regional development. Following the restructuring, Việt Nam now comprises 34 provinces and centrally-governed cities. More than a routine administrative reform, the mergers are viewed as a strategic move to create localities with greater scale, connectivity and development potential.
NUMBER OF NEWLY-ESTABLISHED FIRMS HIT RECORD HIGH IN JUNE
The number of newly registered enterprises set a record high in June, surpassing 24,000, more than double the average during the 2021– 24 period, according to the Department of Private Enterprise and Collective Economy Development under the Ministry of Finance. In the first half of 2025, more than 91,000 new businesses were established nationwide, reflecting a strong wave of entrepreneurship.
