Border gates are bustling, trade is breaking through, creating momentum for exports
Import and export activities are at their peak, many key industries are accelerating production, major markets continue to expand, while the Government has issued a series of drastic directives on trade promotion, market diversification and promoting Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).
According to Management Board of Dong Dang - Lang Son Border Gate Economic Zone, import-export activities at the Huu Nghi, Chi Ma, and Tan Thanh border gates continue to maintain a high pace. As of mid-November 2025, total import-export turnover through Lang Son reached 81 billion USD, an increase of 43% over the same period in 2024. Customs area VI alone reached over 6.6 billion USD in declaration turnover. It is forecasted that from now until the end of the year and into the first half of 2026, number of vehicles passing through will increase by 10 - 15%, reflecting the large demand from the domestic market in China and domestic localities.
Not only at the northern border, Vietnam's trade with strategic partners continues to record strong progress. Vietnam Trade Office in Singapore said that bilateral trade turnover in 2025 exceeded the record of 31.67 billion SGD, an increase of 26.7% compared to 2024. Singapore's exports to Vietnam reached 22.7 billion SGD (up 19.4%), while imports from Vietnam increased by 46.4%, reaching 10.4 billion SGD. This shows that supply chain between two countries is increasingly connected after establishing a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. In October 2025 alone, two-way trade reached 3.9 billion SGD, an increase of 36.8%; Singapore's imports from Vietnam increased dramatically by 109.3%. Experts say this strong trade growth is a “double push”, both supporting the export target by 2025 and expanding foundation for a new growth cycle in the 2026-2028 period. In the first 10 months of 2025, textile and garment turnover reached 33 billion USD, up 7.6%, towards the target of 47-48 billion USD for the whole year. Mr. Cao Huu Hieu, General Director of Vinatex, said: thanks to early forecasts and flexible responses, the enterprise maintained a large number of orders during the period of temporary suspension of countervailing taxes. As a result, in the first 9 months, revenue reached nearly 15,000 billion VND, equal to 80% of the yearly plan, pre-tax profit reached 1,040 billion VND, double the same period and exceeding 114% of the yearly plan. If this momentum can be maintained, Vinatex can approach the 1,400 billion VND profit mark, equal to the 2021 record.
At this time, textiles, seafood, wooden products, etc. are entering the peak production period for the Christmas and New Year consumption season. Talking to reporters of Industry and Trade Newspaper, Mr. Pham Van Duy, Deputy Director of Department of Quality, Processing and Market Development (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment) said that Vietnam has exported agricultural products to more than 190 countries and territories. This figure shows the position of Vietnamese agriculture in the global food supply chain.
Seafood exports are also expected to reach 10.5 - 11 billion USD, which is being consolidated thanks to increased demand in the US, China and the EU. Enterprises have promoted process innovation, deeply participated in the supply chain, diversified markets, and aimed at green standards, factors that are creating competitive advantages for Vietnamese goods.
In industrial sector, Mr. Pham Hai Phong, Vice President of the Vietnam Association of Supporting Industries (VASI), said that supporting industry is currently only participating in intermediate segment in the value chain and is aiming to participate in final product production stage. Vietnam is also investing in the production of basic electronic materials and components to be able to reach the international market.
Anthony Tan, Deputy Head of the Group and Chief Economist of the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO), assessed that Vietnam is recovering strongly thanks to reforms and increased exports, while Standard Chartered commented that the ability to adapt quickly, attract large FDI and position in global supply chain helps Vietnam consolidate its role as a manufacturing hub in the region.
The Government "activates" a series of strong solutions to promote exports
In the first 10 months of 2025, total import-export turnover reached 762.4 billion USD, up 17.4%; Exports reached 391 billion USD (up 16.2%); trade surplus 19.6 billion USD. However, global trade context remains complicated, requiring drastic participation of ministries and branches.
On November 19, 2025, the Prime Minister issued Official Dispatch 221/CD-TTg requesting to prioritize maintaining macroeconomic stability and strongly promoting exports during the peak period at the end of the year and the beginning of the new year. In particular, the Prime Minister assigned Ministry of Industry and Trade to focus on drastically implementing solutions: promoting trade promotion; diversifying markets, products and supply chains; accelerating negotiations and signing bilateral and multilateral trade agreements with potential partners such as GCC, Pakistan, Egypt, MERCOSUR, Algeria...; continuing to negotiate a reciprocal trade agreement with the United States.
Foreign trade system must strengthen support for businesses, expand market connections and effectively exploit FTAs. At the same time, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs are required to establish working groups to promote new markets in the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, etc. At the same time, remove obstacles to existing FTAs and urgently complete negotiations on FTAs expected to be signed in late 2025 and early 2026, including Pakistan, Kuwait, the Middle East, Brazil, South America and Algeria.
On the part of Ministry of Industry and Trade, it is currently promoting negotiations on two agreements: the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) and MERCOSUR (South American Common Market). At the same time, negotiation activities within the framework of ASEAN and with markets in Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America are also being strengthened, aiming to diversify markets and exploit niche markets.
Ministry of Industry and Trade has implemented Directive 18/CT-TTg on innovating trade promotion activities in the direction of expanding promotion for imports to ensure raw material supply; increasing support for businesses to maximize the exploitation of signed FTAs; promoting the connection of domestic enterprises with FDI to participate in the global supply chain.
Vietnamese trade office system abroad is assigned the task of "going to every alley, knocking on every market", proactively seeking partners, providing information, connecting imports and exports and promoting Vietnamese brands.
Ministry of Industry and Trade recognizes that Vietnam's import and export of goods is on the right track, with the total annual turnover expected to reach a new milestone of about 900 billion USD. Talking to reporters of Industry and Trade Newspaper, Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Thuong Lang, senior lecturer at Institute of International Trade and Economics - National Economics University, forecasts that in 2025, Vietnam's exports could reach over 450 billion USD, a record level. Vietnam's exports can earn more foreign currency if we do it systematically and professionally, developing a full value chain, from raw materials, processing to brand building.
Dr. Le Duy Binh (Economica Vietnam) commented that Vietnam's goods exports are cyclical and are entering a period of benefiting from seasonal demand, the easing of trade tensions and the trend of major economies loosening monetary policies. Cooling down inflation helps global consumer demand and imports recover, which is an important driving force for Vietnam to accelerate towards the 2025 target.
Although there are still many uncertainties in global trade, from tariff fluctuations to supply chain shifting trends, many experts believe that this is not a negative signal but a "strategic pause" for businesses to restructure, upgrade technology and prepare for a new growth cycle. If we make good use of green standards, diversify markets, stable supply sources, and deepen our participation in the global value chain, Vietnam's exports can enter 2026 on a more solid foundation.

Source: Vitic/ congthuong.vn