Viet Nam
Quick Facts
| Population | 93 million (2016) |
| GDP at PPP (current international dollars) | 597 billion (2016) |
| GDP per capita at PPP (current international dollars) | 6,435 (2016) |
View GMS contacts.
Viet Nam has worked with its GMS partners to increase the productivity of its agriculture sector. The country has prioritized critical reforms that have resulted in steady growth in agricultural output, making Viet Nam the second largest exporter of rice in the world. As in other GMS countries, rural transport and market access have also improved agricultural and rural livelihoods.
Viet Nam seeks to develop its energy resources with better transparency, competition and economic efficiency in order to attract private investment, which will complement public sector investments, and ensure energy supply security for its rapidly growing domestic demand. Viet Nam has worked with its GMS neighbors to benefit from power trading arrangements being developed in the subregion, and on information sharing regarding the exploration, production, and transmission of energy resources. Viet Nam is also expanding electricity access to rural and remote areas, and boosting the share of renewable energy to total energy supply.
Similar to other fast-growing GMS economies, Viet Nam has had to respond to growing pressures on its environment and natural resources. The Government has enacted legislation and launched programs to mitigate the environmental impacts of urban expansion. Viet Nam, in coordination with its GMS partners, has invested in tree planting programs that are showing results in terms slowing the loss of forest cover.
With a large rural and young population that is in need of skills development and training, Viet Nam is seeking to train 27.5 million workers – including 10 million rural workers – by 2020. In coordination with its GMS partners, Viet Nam is focusing efforts on poverty reduction and gender mainstreaming in order to help vulnerable workers benefit from national training programs. As part of its national human resources development work, the country is also strengthening its emphasis on protecting migrant workers, both domestically and across borders.
Viet Nam is sharing knowledge with its GMS partners to develop its fixed and mobile telecommunications systems, as well as Internet service. To promote competition and universal access, the country is promoting more transparent telecommunications licensing procedures and fees (in line with its subregional neighbors), and efficient government regulations. Viet Nam takes part in GMS training programs designed to increase the expertise of officials across the subregion.
Making trade and investment easier between GMS countries is a key priority for Viet Nam. The country has worked with its subregional partners to harmonize and simplify trade and investment procedures.
Viet Nam is a vital link in the emerging subregional transport system of the GMS. It is home to key sections of major GMS corridors, such as the Ho Chi Minh City-Phnom Penh Highway, the East-West Transport Corridor, the Kunming-Haiphong Transport Corridor, and the Southern Coastal Corridor. The country has also embarked on the construction of major expressways to enhance its overall transport efficiency. Viet Nam also hosts important maritime links via its ports. Viet Nam’s fast-growing economy has been a strong contributor to the development of GMS economic corridors that have benefited its own people, and the citizens of neighboring countries.
For 25 years, six countries in the Greater Mekong Subregion have been promoting regional economic development. Upgrading cross-border transport networks is a key area of investment.
Leaders of the six countries that share the Mekong River will gather in Viet Nam's capital Ha Noi for the 6th Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Summit on 31 March 2018.
The Stock Exchange of Thailand plans to launch a pan-Mekong board and index to tap growing investor interest in developing Mekong economies. The plan, however, is still in its early stages and has not yet reached the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Viet Nam’s poorer regions have started to benefit from a boom in tourism.
HONG KONG, CHINA (2 February 2018) — The Asian Development Bank today signed a $100 million loan facility agreement with China Everbright International Limited to help a series of municipal waste-to-energy plants in primary and secondary cities in the Mekong Delta.
- Read more about ADB, China Everbright International Facilitate Clean Waste-to-Energy PPP in Viet Nam
Winners will be judged on the merit of their content or on the number of Instagram likes. For more information, go to the contest's Facebook page.
MANILA, PHILIPPINES (8 January 2018) — The Asian Development Bank today launched a photo contest on Instagram to showcase the development progress in the Greater Mekong Subregion and demonstrate how a focus on increased regional cooperation and integration can improve people’s lives.
- Read more about ADB Launches Instagram Photo Contest on Development Progress in the Mekong Subregion
This is the summary of proceedings of the 23rd Meeting of the Regional Power Trade Coordination Committee in Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic on 13-15 December 2017.
This publication summarizes the results of a pilot study to quantify water and energy use in high-effciency irrigation systems in Viet Nam.
The Greater Mekong Subregion is one of the fast-growing markets for air transport services today.
HA NOI, VIET NAM (18 December 2017) — The Asian Development Bank’s Board of Directors has approved a $150 million loan to help improve economic connectivity and raise living standards in four of Viet Nam’s northeastern provinces by enhancing basic infrastructure and services.