Vietnam’s central bank has not discussed the possibility of raising interest rates. Still, the bank has been encouraging lower lending rates for priority sectors, with the average lending rate for new loans at approximately 6.5% per annum as of the end of March. The Finance Ministry anticipates an average inflation increase of up to 4.5% for 2024, with forecasts by the central bank ranging from 3.8% to 4.8%. The anticipated inflation pressures are mainly driven by rising costs for raw materials, consumer goods, and oil.