20.01.202602:28:47UTC+00Vietnam’s Top Leader Pledges Growth Above 10%

Vietnam's preeminent leader, To Lam, has committed to achieving annual economic growth exceeding 10% for the remainder of this decade, despite encountering global challenges. This announcement was made during his address at the Communist Party congress on Tuesday, as covered by Reuters. The week-long congress, commencing on Monday in Hanoi, is set to appoint the party's chief, a role yielding the highest authority in the nation, and to establish its economic directives for the upcoming years. Lam also emphasized Vietnam's dedication to reducing bureaucratic obstacles, fostering technological advancements, expanding international trade, and safeguarding the nation's sovereignty and national interests. According to the General Statistics Office of Vietnam, the country's GDP saw a robust increase of 8.02% in 2025, marking the strongest growth since 2011. Notably, the GDP growth rate accelerated to 8.46% year-over-year in the fourth quarter of 2025, which was the fastest since the fourth quarter of 2007. This occurred in spite of a 20% tariff imposed by the United States, with the country's trade persistently resilient—goods exports and imports grew by 19.34% and 19.40% in Q4, respectively.