Imports in January would rise 11.5 percent to $7 billion, the ruling Communist Party-run Nhan Dan (People) daily cited an Industry and Trade Ministry report as saying.

Last January, Vietnam recorded a trade deficit of $1.47 billion, based on the trade ministry's data.

The government's statistics office is expected to release full trade data for January in the coming days.

The government has projected exports for the whole of 2011 to rise at least 10 percent from $71.63 billion last year.

Vietnam's trade deficit is expected to hit $14 billion this year, slightly less than a previous forecast of $14.55 billion,the Ministry of Planning and Investment has said.