Although the world economy in 2010 was recovering and having positive changes after the world financial crisis, generally, it has been still not yet stable and there have been many implicit adverse factors influencing on the country’s economy. Natural calamity consecutively occurred in the country causing great impacts on the production and people’s life. 2010 is the year of great significance; this is the last year for implementing the social-economic development five-year plan, 2006-2010 and social-economic development ten- year strategy, 2001-2010. The outputs of production and business in 2010 are the foundation for setting up and implementing the social-economic development plan for 2011, the first year of the social-economic development five-year plan, 2011-2015 social-economic development ten- year strategy, 2011-2020.
Gross domestic products (GDP) growth
Vietnam’s GDP growth this year is estimated at 6.78% against 2009, of which the first quarter GDP grew by 5.84%; the second quarter by 6.44%; the third quarter by 7.18% and the fourth quarter by 7.34%. This growth is rather higher than that of 6.31% in 2008 and much higher than that of 5.32% in 2009, exceeding the set goal of 6.5%. Of 6.78% general economic growth, the agriculture, forestry and fishery increased by 2.78%, contributed 0.47 point percent; the industry and construction by 7.7%, contributed by 3.20 points percent and the service by 7.52%, and contributed 3.11 points percent.
Agriculture, forestry and fishery
The production value of this sector at 1994 constant prices in 2010 is estimated reaching 232.7 trillion dongs, up by 4.7% against 2009, of which the agriculture gained 168.4 trillion dongs, up by 4.2%; the forestry 7.4 trillion dongs, up by 4.6%; and the fishing 56.9 trillion dongs, up by 6.1%.
The whole year’s rice yield is estimated reaching nearly 40 million tons, up by 1.04 million tons against 2009, which is mainly due to increase in cultivated area with estimated 7,513,700 ha, up by 76,500 ha against last year and rice yield reaching 5,320 kilograms per ha, up by 80 kilograms per ha.
This year’s winter-spring rice yield is estimated reaching 19,2 million tons, up by 522,300 tons against that of same crop last year (cultivated area up by 25,200 ha, yield up by 120 kg/ha). Summer-autumn rice crop gained 11.6 million tons, up by 383,500 tons (cultivated area up by 77,600 ha, with light increase in yield of 10 kg/ha). Winter rice crop gained 9.2 million tons, up by 132,900 tons. If the yield of 4.6 million tons of maize is included, the total production of grain food in 2010 is estimated reaching 44.6 million tons, up by1.27 million tons against that of 2009. The yield of other annual crops also increases well due to increase in both cultivated area and the yield: sweet potato up by 105,900 tons, soybean by 81,700 tons and sugarcane by 338,500 tons against 2009.
The production of perennial industrial plants shows a tendency of growing fast since the cultivated area is under harvest with high productivity. The year’s cultivated area for industrial plants is estimated increasing against last year, tea by 2,300 ha; coffee by 9,700 ha; rubber by 22,300 ha; pepper by 700 ha. The yield of bud tea in 2010 is estimated going up by 6.8% against 2009; coffee up by 4.6%; rubber up by 6.1%; pepper up by 3%, coconut by 3.1%.
According to animal husbandry survey results, as of 01/10/2010 there have been 27.37 million pigs, down by 0.9%; 300.5 million fowls, up by 7.3%; 2,913,400 buffalos, up by 0.9%; 5,916,300 oxen, down by 3.1% against the same period in 2009. The buffalo live weight meat output in 2010 is estimated increasing by 6.5%; beefs up by 5.9%; pork up by 0.2%; poultry meat up by 17.5%; poultry eggs up by 16.5%.
The centralised forestation area for 2010 is estimated reaching 252,500 ha, up by 3.9% against 2009. Wood production is estimated reaching 4,042,600 m3, up by 7.3% against last year. Total deforestation area in 2010 is 7,781 ha, of which burnt area are 6,723 ha; destroyed area is 1,058 ha.
The total estimated fishing production in 2010 is at 5,127,600 tons, rose by 5.3% against 2009, of which raising products output reaches 2,706,800 tons, up 4.5% (raised fish up by 4.9%); catching production gains 2,420,800 tons, up by 6.2% (sea catching reaches 2,226,600 tons, up by 6.4%).
The industrial production value (at 1994 constant prices) in 2010 is estimated increasing by14% against 2009, of which the state sector grows by 7.4%; the non-state sector by 14.7%; and the FDI sector by 17.2% (petroleum and gas down by 0.7%, others up by 19.5%). Among the three I level industries, production value of the manufacturing increases by14.9%; the electricity, gas and water supply by 14.8%; the mining down by 0.5% due to decrease in the production of extracted coal and crude oil.
According to labour survey results for 4,215 industrial enterprises, the workforce in December 2010 of those above enterprises increase by 0.6% against the previous month, of which manpower in the state sector decrease by 0.1%, in the non-state sector increase by 0.5%; and in the FDI sector by 1.1%. Among the three level I industries, the labor in the manufacturing increase by 0.7%; in the mining industry by 0.3%; and in the electricity, gas and water supply by 0.2%.
Construction & investment for development
The construction production value in 2010 at current prices increases by 23.1% against the previous year, of which the state sector increases by 23.4%; the non-state sector and others by 23%; and the FDI sector by 22.7%.
The total realised social investment capital in 2010 at current prices is estimated reaching 830.3 trillion dongs, up by17.1% against 2009 and equal 41.9% of GDP, of which 1,980 billion dongs come from the central budget source and 4,487.5 billion dongs from the Government bond course which was permitted by the Prime Minister to pay in advance to complement and speed up the implementation of some important projects to be completed in 2010. Of this year’s total realized social investment capital, capital from the state sector is 316.3 trillion dongs, up by 10%; from the non-state sector is 299.5 trillion dongs, up by 24.7%; and from the FDI sector is 214.5 trillion dongs, up by 18.4%.
Among the state sector’s investment capital, capital from the state budget is 141.6 trillion dongs, equal 110.4% of the yearly plan. The investment capital from the state budget under central management reaches 42.7 trillion dongs, equal 104.7% of the yearly plan. The investment capital from the state budget under local management reaches 98.9 trillion dongs, equal 113% of the yearly plan.
The attracted FDI from the beginning of the year to 21/12/2010 was USD 18.6 billion, equal 82.2% of the same period in 2009. Of which, the registered capital of 969 newly licensed projects was USD 17.2 billion; the additional registered capital of 269 times of projects licensed from previous years was 1.4 billion USD. Realized FDI in 2010 is estimated reaching 11 billion USD, up by10% against 2009, of which FDI disbursement reaches USD 8 billion.
Government revenues and expenditures
As estimated, total Government revenues from beginning of the year to 15/12/2010 was equal 109.3% of the yearly estimate, of which domestic revenues accounted for 107%; revenues from crude oil was equal 99.7%; revenues from import-export: 123.1%. Among domestic revenues, collecting from state enterprises was equal 103.1%; from FDI enterprises (excluding crude oil)) equal 100.6%; from non-state industrial, commercial and service taxes 101%; taxes imposed on high-income persons121.2%; petroleum fees101%; and other fees100.7%.
As estimated, total Government expenditures from beginning of the year to 15/12/2010 was equal 98.4% of the yearly estimate, of which spending for investment and development accounted for 98.4% (only spending for capital construction was 97.9%); for economic and social development, national defense and security, state management, Party and unions 99.6%; for paying debts and aids 114.1%.
Total retailed sales of consumer goods and services
The total retailed sales of consumer goods and services at current prices in 2010 is estimated increasing by 24.5% against last year, if the factor of high price is excluded the growth is 14%. Of the total, the trade increases by 25% against 2009; the hotel and restaurant by 21.8%; the service by 23.8%; and the tourism by 28.5%.
This year’s export turnover is estimated reaching USD 71.6 billion, increasing by 25.5% against 2009, of which the domestic economic sector gains USD 32.8 billion, up by 22.7%; the FDI sector (including crud oil): USD 38.8 billion up by 27.8%. If crude oil is excluded, the FDI sector’s export turnover is USD 33.9 billion up by 40.1% against 2009.
Generally, the exportation of goods this year has had many advantages since unit prices of many items in the world market increased, of which prices for cassava and cassava products increased by 90.7%; for rubber by 81%; for pepper by 39.7%; for cashew nut by 22.4%; for coal by 52.9%; for crude oil by 33.7%. If the factor of price rise is excluded, 2010’ export turnover is estimated reaching USD 64.5 billion, up by13.4% against 2009.
There is a change in the export turnover structure this year for some groups of commodities as compared with last year, of which the group of light industrial and handicraft goods increases by 46% from 42.8%; other groups decrease: heavy industrial and mineral goods from 29.4% to 27.2%; sea food from 7.4% to 6.9%; gold and gold products from 4.6% to 4%.
For market for exportation, as of end of November 2010, the United States is still Vietnam’s largest market with estimated export turnover of USD 12.8 billion, accounting for 17.9% of the total export turnover and up by 25.4% against the same period last year. Main exported items to this market are textile (USD 5.5 billion), wood and wood products (USD 1.3 billion), shoes and sandals (USD 1.3 billion), seafood (USD million). Followed by EU with USD 10 billion, accounting for 13.9% and up by 15.9% with exported footwear turnover of USD 2 billion; textile USD 1.64 billion; sea food USD 1 billion; wood and wood products USD 594 million. Exported goods to ASEAN gain USD 9.3 billion, accounting for 13% up by 19.6%, of which exported rice reached USD 1.5 billion; crude oil USD 1.4 billion; gasoline USD 653 million. Exported goods to Japan reaches USD 6.9 billion, accounting for 9.6% and up by 23.6% against the same period last year; exported goods to China gain USD 6.3 billion, accounting for 8.8% and up by 48.6%.
This year’s import turnover is estimated reaching USD 84 billion, up by 20.1% against last year, of which the domestic economic sector gains USD 47.5 billion, up by 8.3%; and the FDI sector with USD 36.5 billion, up by 39.9%. Similar to exportation, price rise in the world market for some items is the main reason for increasing this year import turnover, of which price of synthetic rubber increased by 64.2%; cotton by 45.2%; metal by 32.2%; steel by 27.6%; liquidized gas by 32.3%.
The import turnover structure this year has not much change against last year, of which capital goods still take largest proportion of 90.2 %; consumer goods decrease from 9.3% to 8.6%; gold and gold products increase from 0.5% to 1.2%.
During eleven months of this year, China is still the largest market for Vietnam’s importation with total turnover of USD 17.9 billion, up by 23.4% against the same period in 2009; ASEAN with USD 14.5 billion, up by 18%; Republic of Korea with USD 8.7 billion, up by 42.4%; Japan with USD 8.1 billion, up by 21.7%; EU with USD 5.5 billion, up by 9%.
The FDI sector has taken a rather large part in the high growth of export-import turnover with some exported items having export turnover accounted for large proportion as compared to general exported goods, like: textile accounted for 60.8%; footwear for 72.7%; electronics and computer for 98.2%; machinery, equipment and spare parts for 87.7%, and some imported items having import turnover accounted for large proportion as compared to general imported goods, like: electronics, computer and components accounted for 73.1%; fabric for 61.6%; and steel for 40.2%.
2010’s trade deficit is estimated reaching USD 12.4 billion, down by 5.2% against 2009 and equal 17.3% of total export turnover. If gold, precious metals and products are excluded, this year’s import surplus is USD 14.2 billion, equivalent to 20.7% of the total export turnover.
Export-import of services
This year’s exported service turnover is estimated reaching USD 7.460 billion, up by 29.4% against 2009, of which tourist service gains USD 4.450 billion, up by 45.9%; transport service USD 2.306 billion, up by 11.8%. 2010’s imported service turnover is estimated reaching USD 8.320 billion, up by 20.6% against 2009, of which transport service gains 5.009 billion, up by 17.2%; tourist service USD 1.470 billion, up by 33.6%. Service import surplus for the whole year is estimated reaching USD 860 million, down by 24.2% against 2009 and equal 11.5% of service export turnover this year.
Consumer price indexes (CPI)
CPI in December 2010 increases by 1.98% against last month, of which the group of catering and related service has continuously increased CPI and highest growth of 3.31% (grain food by 4.67%; foodstuff by 3.28%); followed by housing and construction material with 2.53% up; textile, footwear and hats with 1.81% up; drinks and tobacco with 1.3% up. Those groups of goods and services having CPI below 1% include: family equipment and appliances with 0.86% up; culture, entertainment, tourist with 0.51% up; transport with 0.45% up; medicines and health service with 0.41%; education with 0.07% up. Only the group of postal and communication service has CPI decreased by 0.02%. CPI in December 2010 increases by 11.75% against December 2009. 2010’s average CPI increases by 9.19% against that of 2009.
Carriage of passengers and cargos
Passenger carriage in 2010 is estimated increasing 13.5% by volume carried and 15.6% by volume traffic carried against 2009, of which land transport increases by 14.2% and 12.5%; river transport by 4.1% and 4%; rail transport by 4.4% and 8.1%; air transport by 31.5% and 30.8% respectively.
The volume of cargos carried this year is estimated increasing 12.4% by tons and 10.5% by tons-kilometers against last year, of which the domestic transport increases by 12.5% and 10.7%; the overseas transport by 11.1% and 8.5% respectively. Land transport is estimated increasing 13.9% by tons and 14.9% by tons-kilometers; river transport 4.8% and 0.9%; sea transport 16% and 11%; rail transport decreases 3.2% and increases 2.3% respectively.
The number of new telephone subscribers this year is estimated reaching 44.5 million, up by 0.6% against 2009, including 793,000 desk telephone subscribers, down by 49.1% and 43.7 million mobile phone subscribers, up by 2.4%. The number of telephone subscribers over the country to end of 12/2010 is 170.1 million, increased by 35.4% against the same period last year, including 16.4 million desk telephone subscribers, up by 5.1% and 153.7 million mobile phone subscribers, up by 39.8%. The number of internet users as of end of 12/2010 reaches 3.77 million, up by 27.4% against the same period last year. The number of internet users as of the end of 2010 is estimated reaching 27.4 million, up by 20.2% against the same period last year.
The total postal and communicational service net income this year is estimated reaching 138.8 trillion dongs, up by 26.5% against 2009, of which the VNPT Corporation gains 90 trillion dongs, up by 26%.
International visitors to Viet Nam
International visitors to Vietnam this year reach 5 million participants, up by 34.8% against last year. Of which,visitors coming for tourist purposes increase by 38.8%; for business purposes by 37.9%; for visiting relatives by 10.9%. Some countries and territories having more visitors to Vietnam than last year are visitors from China increase by 74.5%; from Republic of Korea by 37.7%; from Japan by 24%; from the United States by 6.9%; from Taiwan by 23.7%; from Australia by 28.1%; from Cambodia by 87.4%.
Social and environmental issues
Population, labour force, employment
The country’s average populations in 2010 are estimated at 86.93 million, up by 1.05% against 2009, including 42.97 million men, accounting for 49.4% of the total population, up by 1.09%, 43.96 million women, accounting for 50.6% of the total population, up by 1%. Of the total population, urban population are 26.01 million, accounting for 29.9% of total population, up by 2.04% against last year; rural population are 60.92 million, accounting for 70.1% of the total population, up by 0.63%. 2010’sex ratio is at 97.7 men per 100 women (this was 97.6/100 in 2009).
The labour force aged 15 and above in 2010 are 50.51 million, up by 2.68% against 2009, of which the manpower within the working age are 46.21 million, up by 2.12%. The country’s population rate aged 15 and above involved in the working force increases from 76.5% in 2009 to 77.3% in 2010. The labour rate in the agriculture, forestry and fishery decreases from 51.9% in 2009 to 48.2% in 2010; while in the industry and construction sector and the service sector it increases from 21.6% to 22.4%, and from 26.5% to 29.4% respectively.
The unemployed rate within the labour age group in 2010 is 2.88%, of which it is 4.43% in urban areas, and 2.27% in rural areas (in 2009 it was 2.9%; 4.6%; and 2.25% respectively). The underemployed rate within the labour age group is 4.50%, of which it is 2.04% in rural areas and 5.47% in rural areas (in 2009 it was 5.61%; 3.33%; and 6.51% respectively).
In 2010, the country has 796,200 households with 3,067,800 members suffered from food shortage. To help them to overcome the problem, all administrative levels and sectors and unions from central to localhave supported hunger families 42,000 tons of food and nearly 64 billion dongs.
The 135 Program period 2006–2010 (Phase II) has been carried out in 50 provinces with 369 districts, 1,958 difficult, frontier, and safe zone communes and 3,274 special villages of 1,291 communes in Region II with capital provided by the central budget of 14 trillion dongs. Now the Program has been finalised, according to preliminary report, total disbursement of 135 Program, Phase II reaches 97.1% of the total investment capital.
Also in 2010, there have been 43,600 houses newly built and repaired for people and family under social policy; 1.9 million times of students from 1.7 million times of households loaned to support their study. The preferable credit policy for students increased from 800,000 dongs/student/month to 860000 dongs/student/month; the minimum salary level, which was raised from 650,000 dongs/month to 730, 000 dongs/month has contributed to improving the people’s living condition. 2010’s poor household rate is estimated at 10.6%, down from 12.3% in 2009.
According to local reports, as of opening of 2010-2011 school year, kindergarten children increase by 3.1%; primary pupils by 1.8%; junior secondary pupils by 1.3% and senior secondary pupils by 1% against the same period in last school year. The universalised education program has been continuously and rapidly carried out in localities. To present 52/63 provinces/cities over the country have fulfilled the universalised education for primary pupils within right learning age group and 63/63 provinces/cities have accomplished the junior secondary universalised education.
In 2009- 2010 school year, the country has 149 universities, up by 3 schools; 227 colleges, up by 4 schools against last school year; 282 professional secondary schools, including 207 public schools and 75 public-private schools. Also in 2009- 2010 school year, total number of university/college students increases by 12% against last school year, the number of professional secondary students raises by 9.4%. 2010’ number of university/college graduates increases by 15%, the number of professional secondary graduated students raises by5% against last school year.
In2010, the country has 118 vocational high schools; 280 vocational secondary schools; 810 vocational training centers and 1,000 other vocational training establishments. New enrollments for vocational training schools in 2010 increase by 17% against last year; times of new enrollments for primary and regular vocational education increase by 3.9%.
In 2010, the country has 119,100 cases of hemorrhagic fever (89 died); nearly 45,000 cases of malaria (13 died); 7,970 cases of viral hepatitis; 907 cases of viral encephalitis (24 died); 1,100 cases of typhoid; 314 cases of cholera; 7 cases of A (H5N1) flu; 54 cases of Streptococcus suis (5 died); 132 cases of food poisoning with 4,700 poisoned persons, of which 41 died.
The number of HIV/AIDS infected persons in localities over the country still increases. From the first case to 16/12/2010, there were 231,200 HIV/AIDS infected cases found in the country, of which 91,900 persons turned to AIDS and 48,900 died of AIDS.
In 2010, 12,700 establishments involved in cultural business, service activities have been checked by functional authorities, and 2,700violated establishments have been discovered, treated, and fined. More than 200 establishment have been suspended, thousands of cultural products with unsuitable contents have been seized and destroyed.Total fine for violated units is 8.2 billion dongs.
The sixth national sport congress was held in end of December with the participation of 66 teams with 8,687 sportspersons, of which there were 4,990 men and 3,697 women competing in 12 sports and sub-sports. Especially the Gymnastics and Sports Branch has successfully held 16 national sport prizes for the mass, 3 big international sport games in Vietnam. The Vietnamese team has also participated in 10 international sport games at global, Asian and ASEAN level, especially in the Asian Paralympics games in Guangzhou, China.
For high performance sport activities, the Sport Branch has conducted successfully 174 national sport prizes, 39 international sport prizes and 21 sports in Vietnam. At the sixteenth Asiad held in China, the Vietnamese team was ranked 13th among 45 participated teams with 33 medals of all kinds. At the Olympic Games in Singapore, the Vietnamese team was ranked 42th over 181 participated countries and territories. As of end of 2010, Vietnam had 16 sport persons won the rank of international veteran; 1,237 sport persons won the rank of national veteran; 179 sport persons won the rank of prepared national veteran; 1,872 sport persons won the first national level; set one Asian record and surpassed national records.
According to preliminary report, in 11 months of 2010, the country had 12,600 cases of traffic accident, killing 10,400 persons and injuring 9,200 others. As compared to the same period in 2009, traffic accidents increased by 13.4%, the death by 0.13%, and the injured by31.8%. On average, each day in 11 months of 2010, the country has 38 cases of traffic accident, killing persons and injuring 28 others.
Damage caused by natural calamity
According to local reports, natural calamity occurred in 2010 made 355 persons died and gone missing; nearly 600 persons injured; over 2,600 houses collapsed and swept away; over 579,000 houses blown off, roofs blown up, flooded; 30,000 ha of rice and vegetables suffered empty loss; over 100 km of dykes and embankments and nearly 1,900 km highway broken down and swept away; over 11,000 electric poles broken. Total losses by natural calamity in 2010 is estimated reaching 11.7 trillion dongs, of which three provinces that suffered heavy damage are Ha Tinh with 34 persons died and gone missing, and 5.3 trillion dongs of total loss; Nghe An with 41 persons died and gone missing and over 2 trillion dongs of loss; Quang Binh with 75 persons died and gone missing, and nearly 2 trillion dongs of loss;
According to report from annual business surveys, average expenditure for the protection of environment per enterprise was about 564 million dongs in 2007; and 822 million dongs in 2008. Among total 8,322 businesses in 2008 having reports on their wastes emitted to environment, 3.8% of businesses did not apply any environmental treatment measures. Also according to survey results, liquid wastes generated from businesses in2008 were 412 million m3, of which 82.4% of the wastes were treated; generated solid wastes were 303 million tons, of which 75% of the wastes were treated./.
General Statistics Office, Ministry of Planning and Investment