Unlike most of the world, Vietnam's economy has been growing at a fast pace and is expected to keep expanding by 6.5-7 percent through 2020. Last year, growth accelerated to 6.68 percent, compared to 5.98 percent in 2014.

Hanoi’s economy is expected to expand 8.03 percent this year, lower than its target of 8.5-9 percent. Hanoi’s economic growth is on track to reach its highest level in six years this year thanks to a rapid surge in investments.

The service sector has grown by 8.1 percent while industry and construction have witnessed increases of 8.8 percent and agriculture 2.21 percent.

Officials at the Hanoi meeting also set a socio-economic development plan for 2017, aiming for GDP growth of between 8.5 and 9 percent and an average annual income of VND86-88 million ($3,800-3,890).

The country’s second largest city, Ho Chi Minh City, also saw nearly $12.3 billion of private investments disbursed this year, up 10 percent from 2015, he said. However, HCMC is expected to hit its lowest GDP growth in six years this year at 8 percent.

Source

VnExpress: Hanoi’s economic growth set to hit six-year high

Commentary by Nga Bui, Education Services Manager

In line with the increased wealth in major cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in particular and Vietnam as a country, Vietnam had seen a steady increase in the number of students studying abroad.  Year 2015 had 130,000 students going overseas for education with approximately 90 percent being self-funded.

Find more about the Government's quick data of Vietnamese students studying abroad