Vietnam's economy in the first half grew an estimated 7.87 percent from a year earlier, led by industrial and construction sectors, the country's statistics office said on Friday.
The figures suggested, however, growth was running at a slower pace than the government's full-year target of between 8.2 percent and 8.5 percent.
"There remains a lot to be done in the second half of the year to meet the annual growth rate. The obstacles to be faced include low growth in agricultural production, a soaring trade deficit due to slower growth in exports," the General Statistics Office said in a statement.
It said industrial and construction sectors in the first half were estimated to have expanded 9.88 percent from a year earlier, followed by the service sector's growth of 8.41 percent.
The agriculture sector, which include key exports such as rice and coffee, only expanded 1.7 percent in the first half.
The office estimated earlier this week that the trade deficit in the January-June period more than doubled to $4.78 billion from a year earlier, due largely to a surge in imports for the construction of state projects and falling output of crude oil, the country's largest export item.
Foreign direct investment (FDI), including new pledges and increased funds for existing projects, was expected to reach $5.2 billion in the first six months of the year, an increase of 8 percent over the same period last year.
In May, the World Bank estimated Vietnam's economic growth this year would reach between 8 percent and 8.5 percent, compared with 8.17 percent in 2006.
World Bank officials have said Vietnam was now entering "the second generation of reform", which involves not only competition and opening up to the world but also dealing with complex issues in implementing WTO commitments.
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