September's regular government press conference: Economic growth in the first nine months reached 9.01%, the highest in the past 15 years.

12 out of 34 localities achieved double-digit growth.

Speaking at the press conference, Minister and Head of the Government Office Dang Xuan Phong, the Government Spokesperson, said: on the morning of October 3rd, the Government held its regular September 2026 meeting and an online Government conference with all ministries, sectors, and 34 localities, chaired by Prime Minister Le Minh Hung, to assess the socio-economic situation in September, the third quarter, and the first nine months of 2026; the direction and management work of the Government and the Prime Minister; and the key tasks that need to be focused on in October and the remaining three months of 2026.

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GDP growth in the third quarter reached 9.95% year-on-year, approaching double digits and 1.45 percentage points higher than the six-month growth rate (8.49%). For the first nine months of the year, GDP growth is estimated at 9.01%, the highest in the past 15 years. Many localities achieved double-digit growth. By the end of the third quarter, 29 out of 34 localities had achieved GRDP growth rates higher than the six-month rate, and 17 out of 34 localities had growth exceeding 10%. Overall, for the first nine months, 12 out of 34 localities achieved double-digit growth.

The main sectors and fields of the economy all experienced good growth; the economic structure continued to shift positively. In September, total import and export turnover reached nearly 117.7 billion USD, an increase of 7.3% compared to the previous month, and was the first month we recorded a trade surplus, exceeding 1.2 billion USD. For the first nine months of the year, import and export turnover reached 888 billion USD, an increase of 30.4% compared to the same period last year, of which exports reached 434.3 billion USD, an increase of 24.5%, and imports reached 453.7 billion USD, an increase of 36.7%.

Total retail sales of goods and consumer service revenue in September reached 15.3% year-on-year, the third quarter increased by 14.8%, and the overall increase for the first nine months was over 13%, within the lower end of the annual target.

By the end of September, public investment disbursement reached approximately 640 trillion VND, equivalent to 62.6% of the plan, about 180 trillion VND higher than the same period last year. Registered FDI capital for the first nine months was estimated at 50.36 billion USD, an increase of 76.4%; implemented capital reached 21.07 billion USD, an increase of 12.1%. From April 2026 to the present, obstacles have been resolved for 2,535 projects, unlocking over 1.76 million trillion VND in capital, putting 86,600 hectares of land into use, bringing the total number of projects whose obstacles have been removed to 3,557 projects (total land area of ​​over 139,000 hectares and total investment of over 2.49 million trillion VND). Special mechanisms for wind and solar power projects have been gradually implemented, bringing 172 power projects with a capacity of nearly 9,800 MW into operation. It is expected that approximately $13 billion already invested will be unlocked, potentially generating 50 trillion VND in revenue for the state budget.

Social welfare policies, care for war veterans, and support for vulnerable groups have been implemented effectively. Resources have been allocated for free periodic health check-ups and screenings for over 52 million people; the construction of multi-level boarding schools in border communes has been accelerated. Since the beginning of the year, 108 social housing projects have been completed, putting 31,353 apartments into use.

National defense and security were maintained; foreign relations and international integration were implemented proactively and substantively, with more than 350 new international commitments and agreements signed.

Despite the achievements, fulfilling the 2026 growth target remains a major challenge; some localities, including economic powerhouses, have not yet reached their set growth rates. Businesses still face difficulties accessing capital; exchange rate and interest rate management are under external pressure. Domestic production capacity and technological mastery remain limited, resulting in a trade deficit of over US$19 billion in the first nine months. Public investment disbursement is uneven; science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation have not yet created breakthroughs in productivity and competitiveness. The arrangement of schools and classrooms, ensuring textbook supply, and improving the distribution system for medicines and medical equipment still require focused attention.

Accelerate in the last three months of the year.

Concluding the meeting, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung requested that ministries, sectors, and localities focus intensely on the last three months of the year, paying particular attention to effectively implementing and ensuring the progress and quality of resolutions, conclusions, and directives of the Politburo , the Secretariat, the National Assembly, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly, and the Government.

The focus is on meticulously preparing the content and proposals to be submitted to the 4th Central Committee Conference; promptly issuing detailed regulations for laws and resolutions, resolutely avoiding delays or backlogs in issuing documents. Coordination is needed to finalize all dossiers, draft laws, resolutions, reports, and documents, including 44 draft laws and resolutions to be submitted to the National Assembly at its Second Session.

The Prime Minister requested continued close coordination of monetary, fiscal, and other macroeconomic policies to control inflation, stabilize the macroeconomy, and ensure growth targets; maintain stability in the monetary and foreign exchange markets, ensure liquidity, strive to reduce lending interest rates, and facilitate businesses' access to capital. He also urged the prompt completion of regulations on reducing personal income tax, corporate income tax, value-added tax policies, and tax refund mechanisms; and the promotion of domestic production, consumption, and market development.

Vigorously pursue the goal of disbursing 100% of the public investment capital plan for 2026. Focus on removing obstacles, accelerating land clearance, resettlement, and the progress of key transportation and energy projects; issues beyond authority must be reported promptly, along with specific proposed solutions. Proactively develop scenarios to ensure energy supply and respond to potential disruptions; manage the prices of essential goods appropriately, and finalize the new Decree on petroleum business soon.

Simultaneously, urgently finalize regulations on medicines and medical equipment, innovate management methods, reduce intermediaries and supply costs, and ensure that medical facilities and patients have access to quality products at reasonable prices. Review and improve curricula and textbooks; address obstacles in school and class arrangements and accelerate the completion of the education sector's database. Continue to effectively implement social security policies, care for war veterans, and develop social housing and rental housing. Promote institutional and administrative procedure reforms, and substantially improve the investment and business environment. Effectively implement Resolution No. 57, prioritizing core technologies and accelerating strategic technology tasks; each ministry, sector, and locality must clearly identify the problems to be solved, linking science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation with specific products, improving productivity, and making practical contributions to growth.

Strengthen national defense and security, maintain social order and safety; proactively grasp the situation, improve forecasting capabilities, and avoid being caught off guard. Enhance monitoring and supervision of the implementation of international commitments and agreements, concretizing them into programs, projects, and cooperation activities with clear results; linking this to expanding export markets, attracting investment, technology, and development resources. Promote Vietnam's role in multilateral forums and meticulously prepare for the upcoming foreign affairs activities of Party and State leaders.

At the press conference, representatives from various ministries and agencies answered questions from the press regarding finance, banking, healthcare, and industry and trade.