Vietnam Posts Record 9.95% Q3 Growth, Sets 12.5% Q4 Target
Vietnam’s economy expanded by 9.95% in the third quarter of 2026, marking the fastest growth rate in four years and accelerating from the revised 8.81% figure for the second quarter. This performance pushed the first nine months of 2026 to a 9.01% cumulative growth rate, the highest level in 15 years. The surge was driven by strong industrial and construction output, with the Index of Industrial Production rising by 12.1-12.2% year-on-year. To achieve double-digit annual growth, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung has set a demanding target of over 12.5% growth for the fourth quarter, urging ministries and localities to remove bottlenecks and maximize growth potential. Key drivers include a 76.4% increase in registered foreign direct investment, a trade surplus in September, and robust private investment, while the government emphasizes price stability and infrastructure development to sustain momentum into 2027.
