HANOI -- Vietnam's economy grew 6.8% in the third quarter, up from 6.1% and 6.5% in the first and second quarters, respectively, the government said Tuesday.
The economy expanded 6.5% in the first nine months, according to the government's General Statistics Office.
The quickening growth has been driven by 9.6% growth in both the industrial and construction sectors, fuelled by a rise in exports and foreign investment. The service sector expanded 6.2%.
Vietnam's economy in 2015 has outperformed Hanoi's earlier projection of 6.2% growth. Last week, the Asian Development Bank forecast Vietnam's GDP to grow 6.5% for 2015 and reach 6.6% in 2016.
Vietnam is forecast to post the strongest economic growth this year of six major Southeast Asian countries tracked by the ADB in a recent report.
The country's growth is expected to accelerate through the second half, underpinned by rising private consumption, export-oriented manufacturing, and foreign direct investment, the ADB said.
Cheaper energy and low inflation have helped boost domestic consumption. Over the first three quarters of 2015, Vietnam's inflation rate rose 0.4%, the lowest level in the past 10 years, the General Statistics Office reported.