Vietnam in h1: economic report card shows mixed results.

Vietnam's economy did not start 2023 in a great place. The truth is, it was struggling broadly with lower demand in key export markets weighing on its manufacturing industry, tourist visa limitations and an ongoing closed border with China stifling the tourism industry's recovery, and an intense desire to keep the Vietnamese dong stable coming at the cost of business borrowing. As a result, it was unclear how 2023 would unravel for Vietnam's economy.

Overall, the first six months of the year have been a mixed bag. On one hand, GDP growth forecasts from key institutions, along with imports, exports, and FDI have slumped. On the other...