Report on socio-economic situation in May and five months of 2025

1. Agriculture, forestry, and fishery

a. Agriculture

– Winter-spring rice: In the 2025 winter-spring rice crop, the whole country planted 2,970.9 thousand hectares, an increase of 17.0 thousand hectares compared to the previous winter-spring crop, of which: Northern localities planted 1,051.2 thousand hectares, a decrease of 7.7 thousand hectares; Southern localities planted 1,918.8 thousand hectares, an increase of 24.7 thousand hectares.

As of May 20, 2025, Southern localities have harvested 1,881.0 thousand hectares of spring rice, accounting for 98.0% of the cultivated area and equal to 101.1% compared to the same period last year.

– Summer-autumn rice: As of May 20, 2025, Southern localities have harvested 1,881.0 thousand hectares of spring rice, accounting for 98.0% of the cultivated area and equal to 101.1% compared to the same period last year.

– Annual crops: The area of ​​some crops such as corn, peanuts, soybeans, and sweet potatoes continued to witness a year-on-year decrease, mainly due to low economic efficiency.

  – Livestock: Cattle and buffalo farming tended to decrease in the month. Pig and poultry farming developed quite well, livestock and poultry diseases were under control. At the end of May 2025, total pig population and poultry population increased by 3.6% and 3.5% respectively compared to the same period in 2024; total cattle population and buffalo population decreased by 0.4% and 3.6%, respectively.

b) Forestry

Totally for the first five months of 2025, the area of ​​newly concentrated planted forest was estimated at 113.7 thousand ha, up 13.6% over the same period last year; the number of scattered forest trees reached 39.0 million trees, up 3.7%; timber production was estimated at 8,395.2 thous. m³, up 10.2%; the damaged forest area was 603.8 hectares, down 7.4% over the same period last year, of which the destroyed forest area was 466.2 ha, up 27.0%; the burned forest area was 137.6 hectares, down 51.7%.

c) Fishery

Fishery output in 5/2025 was estimated at 828.2 thousand tons, up 3.4% over the same period last year, including: Aquaculture output was estimated at 455.2 thousand tons, up 4.7%; the fishery capturing output was estimated at 373.0 thousand tons, up 1.8%. Totally for the first five months of 2025, fishery output was estimated at 3,616.0 thousand tons, up 2.9% over the same period last year, including: Fish reached 2,641.9 thousand tons, up 2.9%; shrimp reached 429.8 thousand tons, up 5.1%; other fishery products reached 544.3 thousand tons, up 1.8%.

2. Industrial production

– Industrial production in May continued to maintain positive growth. The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) for May 2025 was estimated to gain a month-on-month increase of 4.3% and a year-on-year rise of 9.4%. Overall, in the first five months of 2025, the IIP increased by 8.8% year-on-year.

– The IIP in the first five months of 2025 witnessed a year-on-year rise in 61 localities, excepting for Bà Rịa – Vũng Tàu and Cao Bằng provinces with a decrease of 3.4% and 3.3%, respectively.

– The number of employees working in the industrial enterprises as of May 1, 2025, increased by 1.1% compared to the previous month and by 4.5% compared to the same period last year.

3. Enterprise activities[1]

– In May, the whole country recorded more than 15.1 thousand newly established enterprises, witnessing a month-on-month reduction of 0.6% but a year-on-year growth of 6.1%. Besides, there were 8,017 thousand enterprises resumed their operation, a month-on-month decrease of 11.1% but a year-on-year increase of 18.8%; 5,924 enterprises registered for temporarily shutdown for a specific period, a month-on-month decline of 17.5% but a year-on-year rise of 11.7%; 6,535 enterprises temporarily suspended awaiting for dissolution procedures, a month-on-month decrease of 27.3% but a year-on-year increase of 43.6%; 1,909 enterprises completely dissolved, an increase of 9.1% but a reduction of 12.8%, respectively.

– Totally in the first five months of 2025, the whole country had more than 111.8 thousand newly registered and resumed enterprises, a year-on-year increase of 11.3%; on average, there were 22.4 thousand newly registered and resumed enterprises per month. The number of enterprises withdrawing from the market was 111.6 thousand ones, an increase of 14.4%; on average, over 22.3 thousand enterprises withdrew from the market per month.

4. Investment

Disbursed investment capital from the State budget in May was estimated at 55.4 trillion VND, up 15.3% over the same period last year. In the first five months of 2025, the total disbursed investment capital from the State budget was estimated at 221.8 trillion VND, equal to 24.3% of the annual plan and up 17.5% over the same period last year (the same period in 2024 was equal to 24.2% and up 3.9%).

Total foreign direct investment registered in Viet Nam as of May 31, 2025, including newly registered capital, adjusted registered capital and capital contribution and share purchase value of foreign investors reached 18.39 billion USD, an increase of 51.2% over the same period last year.

Foreign direct investment disbursed in Viet Nam in the first five months of 2025 was estimated at 8.90 billion USD, up 7.9% over the same period last year.

Viet Nam’s outward foreign investment in the first five months of 2025 had 46 projects newly granted investment certificates with a total capital of Viet Nam’s side of 275.7 million USD, 2.7 times higher than that in the same period last year; there were 13 projects being adjusted capital with an increase of 41.6 million USD, an increase of 27.8%.

Totally, Viet Nam’s total outward foreign investment (newly granted and adjusted capital) reached 317.3 million USD, 2.3 times higher than that in the same period last year.

5. State budget revenue and expenditure

Total state budget revenue in May 2025 was estimated at 172.4 trillion VND. The total state budget revenue accumulated in the first five months of 2025 was estimated at 1,139.6 trillion VND, reaching 57.9% of the annual estimate and going up by 24.5% over the same period last year.

Total state budget expenditure in May 2025 was estimated at 235.1 trillion VND; the accumulated expenditure in the first five months of 2025 was estimated at 833.8 trillion VND, equivalent to 32.7 % of the annual estimate and increasing by 27.7 % over the same period last year.

6. Service activities

a) Retail sales of consumer goods and services

Gross retail sales of consumer goods and services at current prices in May 2025 was estimated at 574.9 trillion VND, gaining a month-on-month increase of 0.4% and a year-on-year expansion of 10.2%. Overall, in five months of 2025, the gross retail sales of consumer goods and services at current prices was estimated at 2,851.4 trillion VND, up 9.7% year on year (the figure in 2024 was 8.8%), if excluding the price factor, up 7.4% (the figure in 2024 was 5.4%).

b) Export and import of goods^[2]

In May, total export and import turnover of goods^[3] reached 78.64 billion USD, going up by 5.8% month on month and rising by 15.5% year on year. Generally, the total export and import turnover of goods in the first five months of 2025 reached 355.79 billion USD, going up by 15.7% year on year, of which export increased by 14.0%; import increased by 17.5%[4]. The trade balance of goods had a surplus of 4.67 billion USD.

– Export of goods

+ Export turnover of goods in May 2025 reached 39.6 billion USD, going up by 5.7% month on month and increasing by 17.0% year on year. Generally, in the first five months of 2025, the export turnover of goods reached 180.23 billion USD, increasing by 14.0% year on year. Of which, the domestic economic sector was 49.62 billion USD, going up by 12.5%, accounting for 27.5% of the total export turnover; the foreign investment sector (including crude oil) attained 130.61 billion USD, increasing by 14.5%, making up 72.5%.

+ Regarding the structure of exported groups in the first five months of 2025, the group of manufacturing reached 158.93 billion USD, accounting for 88.2%.

Import of goods

Import turnover of goods in May 2025 reached 39.04 billion USD, increasing by 5.9% year on year and by 14.1% year on year. Generally, in the first five months of 2025, the import turnover of goods reached 175.56 billion USD, increasing by 17.5% year on year. Of which the domestic economic sector reached 62.04 billion USD, going up 12.9%; the foreign investment sector gained 113.52 billion USD, expanding 20.2%.

+ Regarding the structure of imported groups in the first five months of 2025, the group of capital goods reached 164.75 billion USD, accounted for 93.8%.

– Regarding the export and import market of goods in the first five months of 2025, the United States was the Viet Nam’s largest export market with a turnover of 57.2 billion USD. China remained the largest import market of Viet Nam with a turnover of 69.4 billion USD.

– According to preliminary data, the trade surplus in May was 0.56 billion USD. Generally in the first five months of 2025, the trade balance of goods had a trade surplus of 4.67 billion USD (the figure in the same period last year was 8.71 billion USD). Of which, the domestic economic sector had a trade deficit of 12.42 billion USD; the foreign investment sector (including crude oil) had a trade surplus of 17.09 billion USD.

c) Consumer price index, gold price index and USD price index

– The consumer price index (CPI) in May 2025 increased by 0.16% compared to the previous month. The CPI in May increased by 1.53% compared to December 2024 and increased by 3.24% year on year. On average, in the first five months of 2025, the CPI increased by 3.21% year on year; core inflation increased by 3.10%.

– The gold price index in May 2025 increased by 10.47% compared to the previous month; increased by 45.95% year on year; rose by 35.25% compared to December 2024; on average, in the first five months of 2025, the gold price index increased by 35.37%.

– The USD price index in May 2025 increased by 0.68% compared to the previous month; increased by 2.69% year on year; went up 2.59% over December 2024; on average, in the first five months of 2025, the USD price index increased by 3.35%.

d) Transport

Passenger carried in May 2025 was estimated at 429.2 million persons, a year-on-year increase of 17.9% and passenger traffic was 25.1 billion persons-kilometers, a year-on-year rise of 17.4%. Overall, in the first five months of 2025, passengers carried was estimated at 2,255.2 million passengers, a year-on-year growth of 16.1% and passengers traffic was 125.5 billion persons.km, a year-on-year expansion of 13.2%.

Freight transport in May 2025 was estimated at 247.7 million tons of freight carried, a year-on-year increase of 14.6% and freight traffic was 48.5 billion tons.km, a year-on-year upturn of 14.1%. Overall, in the first five months of 2025, freight carried was estimated at 1,196.2 million tons, a year-on-year rise of 14.6% and freight traffic was 237.6 billion tons.km, a year-on-year increase of 12.1%.

 đ) International visitors to Viet Nam

Favorable visa policies, enhanced tourism promotion programs, and prestigious tourism awards presented by international organizations have continued to attract increasing numbers of international visitors to Viet Nam. The number of international visitors to Viet Nam in May 2025 reached 1.53 million, a month-on-month decrease of 7.6%, and a year-on-year growth of 10.5%. In the first five months of 2025, international visitors to our country reached 9.2 million arrivals, a year-on-year rise of 21.3%.

7. Some social situations

– In May, people’s life continued to improve. According to preliminary results of the monthly Labor Force survey, the rate of households with income remained unchanged and increased year-on-year in May reached 97.1%; the rate of households with income decreased year-on-year was 2.9%. Social security work has always been carried out promptly and practically by all levels and sectors. Since the beginning of the year, the Government has supported people with 10.3 thousand tons of rice, including: 6 thousand tons of rice for hunger relief on the occasion of Lunar New Year for 402.6 thousand persons; 4.3 thousand tons of rice for hunger relief during the 2025 interval crops hunger relief for 284.5 thousand persons.

– In the first five months of 2025, there were 103.4 thousand cases of rash fever suspected of measles (11 deaths); nearly 26.0 thousand cases of dengue fever (05 deaths); 18.1 thousand cases of hand, foot and mouth disease; 111 cases of viral encephalitis (01 death); 33 deaths due to rabies; 21 cases of meningococcal meningitis; 01 case of influenza A in the whole country.

– In May (from April 26 to May 25, 2025), there were 1,468 traffic accidents nationwide. In the first five months of 2025, there were 7,589 traffic accidents nationwide, causing 4,212 deaths and 5,150 injuries. On average, 50 traffic accidents occurred every day in the first five months of 2025, causing 28 deaths and 34 injuries.

– Damage caused by natural disasters in May was mainly due to the impact of rain, floods and inundation. In the first five months of this year, natural disasters left 40 deaths and missing, 38 injuries; 20.6 thousand hectares of rice and crops damaged; 3.4 thousand houses collapsed, swept away and damaged; total property damage was estimated at 433.3 billion VND, a downturn of 68.6% year on year.

– In May (from April 18 to May 17, 2025), authorities detected 1,279 environmental violations. In the first five months of this year, 7,512 environmental violations were detected, of which 6,769 cases were handled with a total fine of 99.2 billion VND, a year-on-year downturn of 24.0%.

– In the first five months of this year, there were 1,508 fires and explosions nationwide, leaving 44 deaths and 53 injuries, with estimated damage of 229.1 billion VND, a year-on-year uptrend of 96.0%./.

[1] Source: National Business Registration Information Portal, Agency for Private Enterprise and Collective Economy Development, Ministry of Finance, received on May 2^nd, 2025. Pursuant to Decree No. 62/2024/ND-CP dated June 7, 2024 of the Government (effective from August 1, 2024), the period of data on business registration in the month is calculated from the 1^st day to the last day of the reporting month. Particularly for time indicators (resume operations enterprises, enterprises registered for temporary suspension of operation for a specific period, enterprises temporarily inactive and awaited dissolution procedures), the period of data for months before August 1, 2024 is calculated from the 21^st day of the preceding month of the reporting month to the 20^th day of the reporting month.

[2] Value of export turnover is calculated at F.O.B price and import turnover is calculated at C.I.F price (including transportation and insurance costs of imported goods).

[3] Preliminary data of export and import of goods in May 2025 provided by the Viet Nam Customs on June 3, 2025.

[4] Total import and export turnover of goods in the first five months of 2024 reached 307.57 billion USD, going up by 17.4% over the same period last year, of which export reached 158.14 billion USD, rising by 16.2%; import reached 149.43 billion USD, growing by 18.7%.