Its exports to China grew by 18 percent to $48.9 billion, and imports by 12 percent to $84.1 billion, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

But some of Vietnam's traditional export items like agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries faced difficulty with their exports falling by over 3 percent to $6.8 billion.

China is its largest trading partner and second biggest export market behind only the U.S.

Vietnam was China's eighth largest trading partner in 2019 before its rise to sixth in 2020. It is China's eighth largest supplier of goods and fifth largest export market.