The say the two main factors in this growth surge are: the low base level last year and an impressive recovery in manufacturing.

The first half growth rate was 5.64 percent, three times that of the same period last year, even though the country had to go through two major Covid-19 waves.

Experts said the growth was surprising because the two localities with the highest infections were major industrial hubs: the northern province of Bac Giang and Ho Chi Minh City. Both localities had to shut down many factories to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Also, businesses were suffering with the number of firms withdrawing from the market rising nearly 25 percent to over 70,000.

"The 5.64 percent growth rate is pretty high and unexpected," said Le Duy Binh, CEO of consultancy company Economica Vietnam.