Hanoi, April 26 -- Drastic institutional reforms are needed to create firm ground for economic growth in the context that persistent challenges, both external and internal, still cloud the growth prospect, experts have said.

Nguyen Dinh Cung, former Director of the Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM), who has witnessed ups and downs of economic reforms in Vietnam during the past three decades, said that it seems to be the hardest time ever.

Vietnam's economy has a good start with a growth rate of 5.66% in the first quarter of this year, the highest rate since 2020. However, whether the recovery is firm remains a question, Cung said.

He pointed out a number of problems behind the figures.

The index of industrial production...