HO CHI MINH CITY, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Total loans of credit institutions in Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City grew 14.69 percent in 2018, the lowest rate over the past five years, according to the Ho Chi Minh City branch of the country's central bank on Thursday.

Last year, the credit institutions also saw growths of 3.6 percent in charter capital, 9.74 percent in capital mobilization, and 11.78 percent in total assets, said the Ho Chi Minh City branch of the State Bank of Vietnam.

Total loans of Vietnam's banking system grew 14 percent in 2018, falling short of the target of 17 percent, the central bank said in January.

The central bank has set the 2019 credit growth target at about 14 percent. In 2017, total loans of Vietnam's banking system expanded by 18.17 percent, surpassing the target of 18 percent.