Vietnam's economy maintained strong growth in the first half of 2018, with GDP increasing 7.1% year-on-year. Consumer spending increased after necessities such as holidays, new clothes, home improvements, and entertainment. While traditional trade began recovering, modern trade continued expanding rapidly, represented by a 45% increase in chained convenience stores and minimarts between 2017-2018. The document discusses future trends in Vietnam including continued urbanization, demand for convenience, increasing health and wellness concerns, and early-stage growth of e-commerce.