Vietnam at 8.4%: Southeast Asia's fastest growth in the IMF's new outlook

The IMF's October World Economic Outlook projects Vietnam's economy to grow 8.4% in 2026 — the fastest in Southeast Asia — with Malaysia at 5.2% and Indonesia at 5.1% also holding firm, even as global growth slows to 3.1%. The Fund credits the region's role in the technology cycle, with manufacturing and tech-linked exports cushioning global headwinds. Vietnam's growth is expected to ease to 7.5% in 2027, still near the top of the region.