Vietnam's economy experienced strong growth in the first nine months of the year.

GDP growth for the first nine months of this year is estimated at 9.01%, a very high rate, marking a strong breakthrough for the economy . (Source: VNA)

The Vietnamese economy in the first nine months of 2026 recorded many positive results, with GDP growth, industrial production, and foreign investment attraction continuing to be outstanding highlights.

According to data released by the General Statistics Office of the Ministry of Finance on October 3rd, the gross domestic product (GDP) in the third quarter of 2026 is estimated to have increased by 9.95% compared to the same period last year, higher than the 8.15% increase in the first quarter and the 8.81% increase in the second quarter. For the first nine months of the year, GDP increased by 9.01%.

Growth was fairly consistent across many sectors. The industrial production index (IIP) in the third quarter is estimated to have increased by 14.8% compared to the same period last year. For the first nine months of the year, the IIP increased by 12.3%, the highest increase for the same period since 2019.

The agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sector continues to play a pivotal role, with a growth rate of 4.02% in the first nine months, the highest since 2019. According to the General Statistics Office, fisheries, livestock, and perennial crops are important drivers of this sector, contributing to food security and exports.

Attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) continues to be a bright spot. Total registered FDI capital in Vietnam from the beginning of the year reached US$50.36 billion, an increase of 76.4% compared to the same period last year. Disbursed FDI capital reached US$21.07 billion, the highest level in the first nine months of the last five years.

Business establishment activity also maintained a positive trend. In the first nine months, nearly 149,700 new businesses were registered nationwide, with a total registered capital of approximately 1.88 trillion VND. Compared to the same period last year, the number of businesses increased by 3.2%, and registered capital increased by 32.7%.

Along with growth, inflationary pressures still need to be monitored. The average consumer price index (CPI) for the first nine months increased by 4.52% compared to the same period last year, while core inflation increased by 4.26%. State budget revenue reached over 2.18 trillion VND, equivalent to 86.5% of the annual forecast and an increase of 12.1% compared to the same period.

Nevertheless, the remaining months of the year are predicted to be challenging as the global economy continues to be impacted by geopolitical conflicts, volatile energy prices, supply chain disruptions, and changes in trade and monetary policies in major economies.

According to the Director of the General Statistics Office, Nguyen Thi Huong, in order to achieve double-digit growth in 2026, the economy needs to continue to make strong progress in the fourth quarter, focusing on accelerating the disbursement of public investment, removing obstacles to production and business, and improving the effectiveness of attracting investment.