CorongNews – Commenting on Vietnam’s economic performance in 2025, Suan Teck Kin, Managing Director of Economic and Market Research at UOB Singapore, described the country’s economic results as “very good,” despite ongoing external pressures.
“With an economic growth rate of 8.02% in 2025, Vietnam has demonstrated its resilience and is entering 2026 with a solid foundation,” Suan Teck Kin said in a press release issued over the weekend.
Based on these results, UOB has revised upward its forecast for Vietnam’s economic growth in 2026. “We have raised our GDP growth projection for Vietnam in 2026 to 7.5%, reflecting the economy’s resilience, strong momentum, and positive outlook,” he stated.
Assessing Vietnam’s position in regional and global trade, the UOB executive highlighted the country’s increasingly important economic role.
“Exports of goods and services account for 83% of Vietnam’s GDP, the second highest in ASEAN after Singapore,” he noted, adding that the United States is currently Vietnam’s largest export market.
Suan Teck Kin also acknowledged Vietnam’s economic resilience. “Vietnam’s trade activity so far appears to have remained robust despite U.S. tariffs,” he said, underscoring his confidence in the country’s economic fundamentals.
Sharing a similarly positive outlook, HSBC analysts believe Vietnam possesses many favorable factors to sustain its growth momentum. In a report released in January 2026, HSBC noted that exports of “fit-for-purpose” products, including electronics, along with demand driven by artificial intelligence, will continue to support Vietnam’s economy in the years ahead.
This optimistic assessment was also echoed by the World Bank (WB) in its January 2026 edition of the Global Economic Prospects report. According to the report, Vietnam’s GDP growth is projected to reach 6.3% in 2026 and 6.7% in 2027, the highest in the East Asia–Pacific region.
The World Bank said these projections are “higher than previous estimates,” reflecting confidence in Vietnam’s medium-term economic prospects amid ongoing global economic uncertainty.
Meanwhile, the European business community in Vietnam has also expressed strong confidence in the country’s growth outlook. On January 13, EuroCham announced that Vietnam’s Business Confidence Index (BCI) for the fourth quarter of 2025 reached 80 points, the highest level in the past seven years.
EuroCham Chairman Bruno Jaspaert said, “Our latest BCI confirms what many of us have intuitively felt.” He emphasized, “After years at moderate levels, reaching 80 indicates that confidence is now backed by action – factories are running, orders are being fulfilled, and investments are being made.”
According to Jaspaert, Vietnam is undergoing a significant transformation. “We are witnessing a structural shift, with Vietnam rapidly transforming into a powerful growth engine and firmly on track to become one of the top three economies in ASEAN,” he said.
Looking at the medium-term outlook, Jaspaert noted that most European businesses view Vietnam as an attractive investment destination. “Over the next five to seven years, if we know how to seize the opportunities, Vietnam will certainly become an ideal destination, rising toward a golden era of growth and transformation,” he added.
Echoing this sentiment, Xavier Depouilly, CEO of DXL Research and Consulting, emphasized, “Despite global challenges, European businesses remain highly optimistic about Vietnam,” reflecting strong international confidence in Vietnam’s business environment and development prospects.*
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