British international bank Standard Chartered has raised its forecast for Vietnam's economic growth in 2026 from previous estimates to 9.5%. The updated forecast brings it closer to the Vietnamese government's target, which aims to achieve GDP growth of at least 10% by the end of the year.
In a review published on July 20, the bank's analysts noted that the positive economic momentum is likely to continue into the next year. According to Standard Chartered, Vietnam's GDP growth could reach 11% in 2027.
Previously, the bank had projected that the country's economy would grow by an average of 6.7–7% annually during the 2026–2030 period. The new assessment indicates a significant revision of expectations amidst higher rates of economic development.
Concurrently, Standard Chartered has improved its inflation forecast. The bank now expects inflation to be 4.4% in 2026 and 3.3% in 2027. Analysts also believe that the key interest rate will remain unchanged, as the country's authorities continue to pursue policies aimed at simultaneously supporting economic growth and curbing inflation.
Tim Leelahaphan, Standard Chartered's Senior Economist for Vietnam and Thailand, noted that in the first half of 2026, Vietnam's economy demonstrated high resilience due to stronger-than-expected growth in industrial production, services, and investment activity, as well as ongoing government support for the economy.
According to him, despite persistent external risks and inflationary factors, the country enters the second half of the year with strong macroeconomic indicators. Growth in domestic demand, large-scale investments in infrastructure and production capacity, and the ongoing economic transformation are forming a more sustainable model for long-term development.
Earlier, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) maintained its own forecast for Vietnam's economic growth at 7.2% in 2026 and 7% in 2027. According to the organization, these are the highest expected growth rates among developing countries in Southeast Asia.
According to the General Statistics Office of Vietnam, in the second quarter of 2026, the country's economy grew by 8.39% compared to the same period last year. For the first half of the year, GDP growth was 8.18%, exceeding the 7.63% recorded a year earlier.
Following the publication of these data, the Vietnamese government set a goal to ensure economic growth of 11.9% in the second half of the year to achieve a target of at least 10% by the end of 2026. These guidelines are enshrined in Resolution No. 168, which outlines the updated scenario for the country's economic development and key government policy measures until the end of the year, while maintaining macroeconomic stability.