Hanoi, Aug. 20 -- Vietnam is increasingly asserting its position as an emerging economy in Asia, with signs it may overtake Thailand on fronts, according to Thailand's newspaper The Nation.

The newspaper on August 19 reported that Vietnam has unveiled an ambitious national development plan to invest around 1.5 trillion THB (1.28 quadrillion VND or 48.7 billion USD) - in 250 infrastructure and housing development projects nationwide, aiming to achieve 8% GDP growth in 2025 and sustain double-digit growth in subsequent years. The ultimate target is to transform Vietnam into Asia's next "tiger economy" and reach high-income status by 2045.

Growth drivers and challenges

Vietnam's economy has long relied on exports and foreign direct invest...