Vietnam Economic Times December 22+29, 2025

Dear readers,

The year 2025 is gradually coming to a close, with a host of achievements “accumulated” during the implementation of Vietnam’s five-year socio-economic development plan (2021-2025), outlined by the 13th National Party Congress, while opening a new development phase, starting from the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, with faith and hope for a brighter future for the nation on the path to achieving two centennial strategic goals.

Over the past five years, Vietnam has made great efforts to overcome all difficulties and challenges, both subjective and objective, to achieve targets set for national socio-economic development. If its GDP scale in 2025 reaches $510 billion, as forecast, Vietnam’s economy will have grown 39.3 per cent in the five-year period, from 2021’s $366 billion, excluding inflation factors.

Many international analysts have predicted that Vietnam will achieve the highest economic growth rate in Asia for 2025. The socio-economic achievements attained this year and over the past five years provide an important base for the Party and the State to formulate development plans for 2026 and subsequent years, with an annual double-digit growth target set for the 2026-2030 period.

The Vietnam’s Economy in 2025 & Prospects in 2026 Forum (VEPF 2025), with the theme “Vietnam’s rapid and

sustainable economic development and green transition in the digital age,” was held on December 16, co-chaired by the Government and the Central Commission for Policy and Strategy, and looked back on Vietnam’s economic development journey in 2025 and also towards its prospects in 2026 and the years to follow, with a new vision and mindset to fulfil the double-digit growth target.

Speaking at the High-Level Forum within VEPF 2025, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that Vietnam’s economy has proven its resilience to external shocks, and that the country’s goal of rapid and sustainable development based on green and digital transformation has solid foundations, ample potential, and a high level of feasibility.

Our Cover Story in this twin edition (VET436+437) further amplifies the issues discussed at VEPF 2025, with a focus on three main groups of topics: objectively analyzing and evaluating the results achieved as well as the limitations, shortcomings, and influences in macro-economic management in 2025; identifying the impact of the global and domestic contexts on Vietnam’s economy, analyzing and evaluating the opportunities and challenges for the country’s economic development in 2026 and the 2026-2030 period; and proposing strategic solutions to promote double-digit growth, green transformation associated with strong digital transformation, with priority given to renewing mindsets in directing and managing socio-economic development policies, mobilizing and effectively using financial resources to serve the double-digit growth target, the green economy, the circular economy, emission reductions, environmental protection, and the role of the business community, among others.

Dear readers,

This is our last edition for 2025, a year filled with major socio-economic events that were timely covered by Vietnam Economic Times, with in-depth evaluations and analyses. This significant achievement resulted from the collective endeavors of our officials, reporters, editors, staff, and collaborators to meet the economic information needs of readers, both domestic and international, who have always been a source of encouragement and a decisive factor in our success.

On behalf of all staff at Vietnam Economic Times, I would like to avail myself of this opportunity to express my deep gratitude to all of our readers.

A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all!

Warmest regards

Dr. CHU VAN LAM
CHAIRMAN OF THE EDITORIAL BOARD