Socio-economic performance in February 2026 achieved many positive results, creating an optimistic momentum for the new year
In the context of many difficulties and challenges, the Government closely monitored the situation and responded with flexible, timely, and effective policies, urgently organizing the implementation of tasks right from the beginning of the year. The socio-economic (SE) situation in the first two months of 2026 continued to achieve many positive results. However, the task of growth and maintaining macroeconomic stability in 2026 still faces many challenges, especially from external factors.
Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang reported at the Government’s regular meeting for February 2026 held this morning (March 4) – Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac
The above information was reported by Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang at the Government’s regular meeting for February 2026 held this morning (March 4).
Specifically, in the first two months of the year, our country continued to maintain macroeconomic stability, control inflation, ensure major economic balances, and promote production and business activities. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by nearly 3% compared to the same period; the supply and prices of essential goods remained stable.
State budget revenue was estimated at 601.3 trillion VND, reaching 23.8% of the estimate, up 13.1% compared to the same period. Of which, revenue from the three production and business sectors was estimated to reach 31.7% of the estimate, up 29% while about 30.2 trillion VND of taxes and fees had been reduced or extended to support production and business activities. Energy security and food security were maintained. Total import-export turnover increased by 22.2% compared to the same period.
Notably, newly registered FDI capital in the first two months of 2026 reached 3.54 billion USD, up 61.5% compared to the same period, realized FDI capital was estimated at 3.21 billion USD, up 8.8%. The first Spring Fair in 2026 was successfully organized, becoming the national fair with the largest scale ever.
International visitors were estimated to reach nearly 4.7 million, up more than 18% compared to the same period. The number of enterprises entering and re-entering the market in the first two months reached nearly 64.5 thousand enterprises, up 29.4% compared to the same period; the total additional registered capital into the economy was 851.9 trillion VND, up 20.1%.
Agricultural production and services grew positively. The Industrial Production Index (IIP) in the first two months increased by about 10% compared to the same period (in which manufacturing and processing increased by about 11%); the Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) in February reached 54.3 points, 1.8 points higher than January and was the eighth consecutive month above 50 points; the number of new orders grew positively, business confidence increased strongly; industrial production increased in 34/34 localities.
At the same time, the Government focused on improving institutions and laws, implementing breakthrough resolutions of the Politburo, improving the investment and business environment, and promoting new growth drivers.
In February 2026, the Government issued Resolution No. 29/NQ-CP and No. 30/NQ-CP on the Action Program to implement the Politburo’s resolutions on the state economy and Vietnamese culture; coordinated dissemination, thorough understanding, and implementation of the resolutions. The Government and the Prime Minister continued to focus on directing the drafting and issuance of detailed regulations for laws and resolutions passed by the National Assembly, reducing administrative procedures; strengthening the enforcement of intellectual property rights; removing obstacles in land management, developing social housing; resolving pending projects…
Along with that, social security work, education, health, culture, arts, sports, information and communication, national defense, security, foreign affairs, social order and safety, review and streamlining of the organizational apparatus… continued to be promoted.
Many challenges remain
According to Minister Nguyen Van Thang, besides the achieved results, macroeconomic stability is affected by many external factors; the task of growth in the first quarter and the whole year of 2026 still faces many challenges. The monetary market and exchange rate continue to be under pressure from outside; deposit and lending interest rates tend to increase. Prices of oil, gas and goods serving production fluctuate strongly.
“Therefore, it is required to coordinate policies synchronously and effectively, not allowing disruptions or breaks in energy supply and demand, continue stabilizing the market, controlling prices and supporting growth,” Minister Nguyen Van Thang emphasized.
In addition, production and business activities, exports, industrial production, investment attraction, state budget revenue sources… are also forecast to continue being affected by external factors. The trade balance with some large markets is not yet truly sustainable.
Besides that, institutions and laws have achieved clear results, but there is still a situation of slow issuance of detailed regulations and guidelines for implementing laws and resolutions; harassment and negativity in handling dossiers of people and enterprises. The operation of the two-level local government apparatus still has some difficulties and obstacles.
The situation of smuggling, trade fraud, violations of intellectual property rights, food safety and hygiene… remains complicated. Environmental pollution has not been effectively resolved; traffic congestion, violations of traffic order and safety, railway and waterway accidents, fires and explosions… still contain complicated factors. Saltwater intrusion during the dry season in the Mekong Delta region is an issue that needs attention to respond and control salinity in time, regulate water sources to ensure daily life and production of people.
7 main groups of solutions
Regarding the upcoming world context, the Ministry of Finance forecasts that the situation will continue to be unpredictable, especially geopolitical tensions, military conflicts in the Middle East, strategic competition, and trade policies of major economies.
Domestically, the workload immediately after the Lunar New Year is very large. Therefore, Minister Nguyen Van Thang said it is necessary to urgently and intensively handle it with the spirit of “working early, starting work immediately”, being more decisive, proactive, flexible and creative in direction and administration to meet new requirements.
To strive to achieve the national first quarter growth scenario and create a premise to complete the whole year target, the Ministry of Finance proposed several main groups of solutions.
First, ministries, agencies, and localities: (1) complete the dissemination and implementation of building and supplementing action programs to implement the Resolution of the 14th National Party Congress; (2) well prepare carefully for the election of deputies to the 16th National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2026–2031 term; (3) complete projects and reports to submit to the Politburo, the 2nd Central Conference and 34 dossiers and documents serving the first meeting of the 16th National Assembly; tasks and solutions to implement the growth target of 10% or more and innovate the growth model.
Second, coordinate smoothly, flexibly, closely and effectively fiscal policy, monetary policy and macroeconomic policies to promote rapid and sustainable growth associated with maintaining macroeconomic stability, controlling inflation, and ensuring major balances.
Third, continue focusing on improving institutions, laws, and reforming administrative procedures.
Fourth, promote and renew traditional growth drivers; strongly exploit new growth drivers such as science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, green economy, digital economy, circular economy, sharing economy…
Fifth, regarding cultural and social development, the ministries of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Education and Training; Health; Agriculture and Environment; Ethnic and Religious Affairs focus on implementing: (1) breakthrough resolutions of the Politburo, the Government’s Action Program on cultural development, education and training, and health care for the people; (2) urgently preparing to start construction of 148 inter-level boarding schools in border communes; (3) focusing on disease prevention and control, especially respiratory diseases and emerging infectious diseases.
Sixth, effectively implement the conclusions and directions of the Party and the Government on reorganizing the organizational apparatus, public service units, operating the two-level local government model, arranging public assets at the central and local levels.
Seventh, promote widespread and comprehensive communication about the 14th National Party Congress and the dissemination and implementation of Party resolutions from the beginning of 2026; the preparation for the election of deputies to the 16th National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2026–2031 term; strengthen policy communication, creating social consensus.
https://nief.mof.gov.vn/kinh-te-xa-hoi/kinh-te-xa-hoi-thang-2-2026-dat-nhieu-ket-qua-tich-cuc-tao-khi-the-phan-khoi-buoc-vao-nam-moi-11844.html