Formerly ranked as one of the poorest countries in the world, Vietnam today is also growing at its fastest pace in eight years, with a GDP growth rate comparable to that of China, said the website. A recent study by the World Bank suggested that Vietnam’s economic growth is the result of three major changes: embracing free trade policies, reducing over-regulation and cost of  business, and investing in human capital and infrastructure. Trade liberalization opened the door to new agreements, lowering taxes for international commerce operations and increasing regional competitiveness. Vietnam reached an economic growth peak for the decade by adding 6.8 percent in 2017, outperforming its target of 6.7 percent, according to the website.