1. US Department of State

Index

GDP per capita household consumption (converted to US$)  VND 1 = US$  16,000¹ (constant) 

1 as of 1 September 2005. We caution readers that these numbers were previously converted at 1 US$ to 14,000 VND and at 15,000 VND as constants. Thus when looking at the actual GDP per capita for 1995 at the time, please first convert to VND at the current rate and then use the  rate of conversion then current (11,500 to 1) for US$ 278.26

2 This number is derived by taking the most recently announced GDP for year 2000 of US$30.6 billion and dividing by the estimated total population of 79 million. The reports of Vietnam's per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) are all over the mark.  VBJ, an early source of our numbers (in blue), is no longer published.  While VET has been reporting that the GDP per capita was at and above US$ 301 since 1996, Vietnam Investment Review in mid-year 20000 - a publication of the MPI - reports:

 [The average income [broke] $250 a year for the first time....  Monthly income per person reached VND 295,000 ($21.07) in 1999, a 30.1 per cent increase on 1996 and equivalent to an annual $252.86. (455 VIR 4, 3-9 July 2000). 

VIR cites figures from the General Statistics Department of Vietnam.  The actual number is as elusive as are most official numbers in Vietnam and will remain so until Vietnam's reporting becomes transparent. However, as the GDP numbers are substantially under those of the "news" media, we suspect the GDP numbers are the more accurate.

3. It is claimed (VIR, Jan 2002 p10) that this reported range is determined under the Parity Purchase Power method (PPM). 

• No explanation is offered if this is the same as the United Nation's Purchase Power Parity (PPP) system, designed "to show the different levels of spending power on a country by country basis. A market basket of such items as average incomes, taxes, interest rates, insurance, utilities, gasoline, milk, newspapers and other typical expenses are compared and used to devise the PPP. The standard is based on the USA=100," or who the PPP is now made into a range and used by the State to report GDP. 
• The CIA defines GDP as the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year and computed on the basis of purchasing power parity (PPP) rather than value as measured on the basis of the rate of exchange.
• The World Bank reports that in 2001 per capita household consumption (in constant 1995 US dollars) was $256. Household consumption includes expenditures of individuals, households, and nongovernmental organizations on goods and services, excluding purchases of dwellings.

 For a more complete read on the PPP system developed by the United Nations, please write to VVG to receive a copy by E-mail.

The more widely accepted sum for year 2001 is $399.

4.  Source: Ministry of Finance, as reported in the 726VIR4 September 12-18, 2005 that also reports Per Capita Income for the same period at US$ 384

5. US Department of State

6. BKK Post 18 Oct 06, quoting PM Dung.

Index

Foreign Capital Investment ¹

Caveat: All publications in Vietnam are subject to strict State censorship and State propagandizing.  The numbers reported here change dramatically from time-to-time. The numbers of projects seem to decrease or increase without regard to the value of the projects or the steel in the ground. There is rarely an explanation offered. 

Because the changes are so frequent and unsubstantiated, we encourage readers to refer to prior reports on line  or above for such historic details as they may need.  This is the most current and best data available from public sources, even though the accuracy of all these numbers is anyone's guess.

These numbers do not include ODA disbursements that in 2004 has been variably reported but in the range of  $2.8 billion. This has been increased to $3.4 billion for 2005. Despite its fast-growing economy, averaging seven per cent a year, the country still relies on foreign aid to build schools, clinics, road and power grids. $25 billion was earlier pledged from 1999 to 2003.

Where the numbers increase or decrease month-on-month, we've added a corresponding +/- respectively. Where no change is reported, no symbol follows the number.  We have no explanations for the changes but invite readers to review the previous month's Economic Indicators for further research. Determining accuracy in these reported numbers is akin to reading tea leaves as the system lacks transparency.

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