Tourism, tech and farms: The three engines driving Vietnam’s economic transformation Last updated: May 06, 2026 | 00:36 This picture taken on May 24, 2025, shows tourists enjoying the beach on an island in Ha Long bay in Vietnam's Quang Ninh province. AFP Manila: Vietnam (population: 102 million) has cemented its status as Southeast Asia’s most dynamic economic powerhouse. It has shattered regional growth records and emerged as a growing global global manufacturing, trade, and tourism. How it got here, from being known as the source of "boat people" (refugees fleeing by sea) is nothing sort of a miracle. With a remarkable 8.2% GDP growth in 2025 — a performance that outpaced all Asean peers — the nation is rapidly transitioning from a developing frontier into a sophisticated, high-tech industrial giant. New manufacturing and trade hub The cornerstone of Vietnam’s rise is its strategic transformation into the world’s "China + 1" manufacturing hub.…