Vietnamese consumers rank among most optimistic

Economies around the world are wrestling with a paradox of pessimism. This environment is defined by consumers displaying low confidence in their nation’s economy. Vietnam, however, is going against the norm.

- By Luan Nguyen

Unlike global consumers, Vietnamese consumers are optimistic about their country’s future, an outlook that translates into stronger spending. In comparison to Southeast Asian counterparts, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines, consumer optimism in Vietnam outpaces pessimism by 43 per cent demonstrating a broadly positive economic mood. The intent to spend in Vietnam is equally striking, with 42 per cent of consumers planning to increase their spending in the coming months. This places Vietnam among the world’s top five countries in positive attitudes to consumer spending.

This growing willingness to spend is not coming out of thin air. Over the years, Vietnam has seen immense growth, achieving 7.1 per cent growth in GDP in 2024 with a projected growth rate of 6.6 per cent in 2025.

Momentum remained strong in 2025 with foreign direct investment hitting the highest seven-month total in nearly a decade with 8.4 per cent on-year growth, totalling $13.6 billion, between January and July 2025.

This inflow of capital translates into higher job opportunities as foreign-funded projects expand manufacturing and services, offering consumers improved employability and wage stability. Having this income security bolsters consumer confidence and further encourages household spending.

This growth also frames positive weather for national development. Vietnam is on track to achieve upper-middle-income status by 2030, by which 80 per cent of the country’s population is predicted to belong to the affluent or middle-income bracket.