The 2020–2025 period constituted a critical test of Viet Nam’s economic resilience and the quality of its development in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study employs a combination of synthesis, descriptive statistics, longitudinal comparison, and analysis of empirical studies, drawing on data from the National Statistics Office of Viet Nam, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the World Bank, the International Labour Organization (ILO), and international academic sources. The findings indicate that the economy staged a strong recovery following the pandemic shock: GDP growth rose from 2.87% in 2020 and 2.55% in 2021 to 8.54% in 2022, 4.98% in 2023, 7.04% in 2024, and 8.02% in 2025, while GDP per capita reached approximately USD 5,026 in 2025. Labour productivity increased by 6.83% in 2025, household incomes improved, and multidimensional poverty continued to decline. Nevertheless, significant bottlenecks remain in the qualitative upgrading of the economy. The FDI sector accounted for 77.3% of exports in 2025, while only 29.2% of the labour force held formal qualifications or training certificates. Informal employment also remained widespread, and linkages between foreign-invested enterprises and domestic firms continued to be limited. The study argues that Viet Nam has achieved a strong recovery in terms of economic scale but has yet to complete its qualitative transformation. The next stage of development should therefore shift the focus from expanding output towards raising productivity, strengthening human capital, increasing domestic value added, formalizing employment, consolidating domestic enterprises, and attracting FDI on the basis of quality, technological advancement, and knowledge and productivity spillovers. These priorities are essential for building a growth model characterized by higher productivity, stronger endogenous capabilities, and more sustainable resilience.

Chuc Kim Vinh, PhD, Chuc Kim Toan, MA,"From Growth to Development Quality: Assessing Viet Nam’s Socio-Economic Transformation in The Post-Covid-19 Context, 2020–2025" International Journal of Advanced Multidisciplinary Research and Educational Development, V2(5): Page(432-438) September - October 2026. ISSN: 3107-6513. www.ijamred.com. Published by Scientific and Academic Research Publishing.