Vietnam’s Year in Review and Outlook for 2022
Vietnam suffered a challenging 2021, as it was hit hard by the pandemic, resulting in stringent lockdowns and affecting economic growth. Sustained pressure from COVID-19 outbreaks and supply chain disruption are likely to continue to have an impact into 2022. Nevertheless, with Vietnam slowly reopening, foreign investors maintain an optimistic outlook, with GDP projected at 6.5 percent in 2022. Vietnam Briefing examines some significant events that occurred this year and how they are likely to shape Vietnam’s business environment in 2022. Vietnam’s 2021 was by far one of the most challenging years to date. While Vietnam was lauded globally for controlling the pandemic in 2020, the Delta variant proved overwhelming, resulting in strict lockdowns, interrupted production, and disrupted supply chains. While most western countries suffered an excruciating 2020, Vietnam’s 2021 was harsh, with the pandemic hitting Vietnam’s GDP hard. In Q3 2021, Vietnam recorded its first-ever negative GDP, since 2000 significantly affecting businesses and its people significantly. Nevertheless, Vietnam still expects a positive GDP and as the government switches to a ‘living with the pandemic’ strategy, further economic gains can