AsemconnectVietnam - According to tradingeconomics.com, in the fourth quarter of 2025, Vietnam’s GDP saw a year – on – year growth rate of 8.46%.

The country’s industrial production and retail sales both saw growth, the FDI in Vietnam also increased while inflation decreased.
Vietnam’s GDP growth in the fourth quarter of 2025 was strongest since 2007
Vietnam’s GDP advanced 8.46% year-on-year in Q4 of 2025, accelerating from a marginally revised 8.25% expansion in Q3 and marking the fastest pace since Q4 of 2007. Growth was broad-based, with all sectors posting solid gains, including industry and construction (9.73%), services (8.82%), and agriculture (3.70%). On the expenditure side, trade remained resilient despite a 20% US tariff imposed in early August, with Q4 goods exports and imports surging 19.34% and 19.40%, respectively. Meanwhile, final consumption grew 7.15% year – on – year, while fixed investment climbed 8.92%. For the full year 2025, the country’s GDP grew by 8.02%, the strongest performance since 2011. Last week, a senior State Bank of Vietnam official said that tariffs and monetary policy shifts in other countries would make it harder for Vietnam’s central bank to calibrate its policy settings and achieve an economic growth target of more than 10% next year. The government has said Vietnam plans to target 10% growth next year.
Import and export turnover reached 930 billion USD in 2025
According to statistics of the Customs Department, Vietnam's import and export turnover in 2025 reached US$930.06 billion. Specifically, in December of 2025, Vietnam's import and export turnover reached $88.7 billion, one of the highest monthly turnovers ever recorded.
In December of 2025, the country’s exports reached US$44 billion, an increase of 12.6% compared to the previous month. Seven product groups achieved a turnover of US$1 billion or more.
Leading export item was computers, electronic products and components with $10.74 billion. Following were the following product groups: machinery, equipment, tools and spare parts at $5.59 billion; telephones and components at US$4 billion; textiles at $3.65 billion; footwear at $2.2 billion; wood and wood products at US$1.65 billion; Transportation equipment and parts reached $1.58 billion.
For the whole year of 2025, Vietnam's total export turnover reached $475.06 billion, an increase of 17% compared to 2024.
Conversely, the country’s imports in December of 2025 reached $44.7 billion, an increase of 17.6% compared to the previous month.
Similar to exports, imports also had 7 groups with a turnover of US$1 billion or more, including: computers, electronic products and components with US$14.26 billion; machinery, equipment, tools and parts at $6.2 billion; fabrics of all kinds at $1.4 billion; iron and steel of all kinds at $1.21 billion; base metals at $1.14 billion; raw plastics at $1.12 billion; and plastic products at $1.07 billion.
For the entire 12 months of 2025, the country's import turnover is projected to reach US$455 billion, an increase of 19.4% compared to 2024.
Thus, in 2025, the total import and export turnover of the country reached a record high of $930.06 billion, with a trade surplus of $20.06 billion.
Vietnam’s inflation rate eased in December of 2025
Vietnam's annual inflation rate eased to 3.48% in December of 2025, from an eleven-month high of 3.58% in the previous month. Prices increased at a softer pace for the majority of sub-indices, particularly housing, electricity, water, fuel, and building materials (5.23% vs 5.73% in November), household appliances (1.77% vs 1.78%), drinks and tobacco (2.05% vs 2.2%), garments, hats, and shoes (1.33% vs 1.41%), medicines and medical services (10.27% vs 12.65%), education (3.05% vs 3.2%), culture, entertainment, and tourism (1.31% vs 1.63%), and other goods and services (3.03% vs 3.07%). In addition, prices declined for transport (-0.55% vs 1.11%). On the other hand, prices jumped for food and beverage services (4.2% vs 3.29%), particularly foodstuffs (5.18% vs 3.85%) and eating out (4.21% vs 4.05%), while deflation softened for information and communication (-0.25% vs -0.3%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices slowed to 0.19% from 0.45% in November, marking the lowest reading since August.
FDI into Vietnam increased 9% in 2025
Foreign direct investment (FDI) in Vietnam grew 9.0% year-on-year to USD 27.62 billion in 2025, the highest level recorded in the past five years. By sector, the processing and manufacturing industry attracted USD 22.88 billion, accounting for 82.8% of total realized FDI; real estate business activities recorded USD 1.93 billion (7.0%); and the production and distribution of electricity, gas, hot water, steam, and air conditioning registered USD 914.9 million (3.3%). Meanwhile, FDI pledges, an indicator of future disbursements, rose 0.5% to USD 38.42 billion, reflecting investors’ confidence in Vietnam’s long-term economic prospects. Among the 90 countries and territories with newly licensed investment projects in Vietnam during the period, Singapore was the largest investor with USD 4.84 billion, accounting for 27.9% of newly registered capital, followed by China (21.0%), Hong Kong (10.0%), and Japan (9.4%). .
Vietnam’s industrial output grew for 11th month
Vietnam’s industrial production rose 10.1% year-on-year in December of 2025, quickening from a downwardly revised 9.1% increase in the previous month, which had marked the softest pace in three months. The latest result signaled the 11th consecutive month of expansion, driven by a sharp acceleration in electricity and gas output (11.2% vs 5.8% in November of 2025). Also, growth in manufacturing output accelerated (10.9% vs 10.5%), while water supply, waste management, and wastewater treatment picked up strongly (6.3% vs 2.1%). However, mining and quarrying activity remained subdued, rising just 0.2% after a 4.1% increase in November of 2025. Monthly, industrial production increased by 2.2% in December of 2025. For the full year 2025, output expanded 9.2% from the previous year.
Vietnam’s retail sales growth accelerated
Vietnam’s retail sales increased 9.8% year-on-year in December of 2025, accelerating from a 7.1% rise in the previous month. This marked the highest growth since September of 2025, driven by higher sales across all components, namely goods (8.6% vs 6.0% in November of 2025), accommodation and food services (14.2% vs 13.6%), tourism-related activities (19.9% vs 19.1%), and other services (12.7% vs 7.2%). For the full year 2025, retail sales were up 9.2% compared with 2024.
Vietnam tourist arrivals increased 15.7% year – on - year in December of 2025
International arrivals to Vietnam rose by 15.7% year on year to a nine-month high of 2.02 million in December 2025, following a 15.6% increase in November. Arrivals from Asia increased by 11%, led by strong growth from China (25.7%), Japan (8.2%), Malaysia (16.9%), Singapore (32.6%), and Philippines (61.4%). Visitors from the Americas also rose by 20.6%, particularly from the US (12.6%), Canada (26.8%), and other American countries (131%). In Europe, arrivals surged by 47.3%, with notable increases from Russia (239.7%), the UK (15.6%), France (17.6%), and Germany (17.5%). Tourists from Australia edged higher by 3.6%, while arrivals from Africa went up by 29.5%. On a monthly basis, arrivals rose by 2.2%. For the full year of 2025, total international arrivals climbed 20.4% to 21.17 million.
CK
Source: VITIC/tradingeconomics.com