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| Automated robots operate on the production line at CAYI Technology Vietnam Co., Ltd. in Yen Phong II-C Industrial Park, Bac Ninh province __Photo: VNA |
Vietnam attracted USD 40.63 billion in registered foreign direct investment (FDI) in the first eight months of 2026, up 55.4 per cent year-on-year, the National Statistics Office under the Ministry of Finance reported on September 3.
The figure includes USD 21.72 billion in capital from 2,771 newly licensed projects.
Notably, the number of new projects rose only 9.4 per cent while their registered capital surged 96.8 per cent, indicating a significant increase in average project size and investors’ stronger commitment from the outset.
The processing and manufacturing sector remained the largest recipient of FDI, attracting USD 12.15 billion, or 55.9 per cent of the total newly registered capital. Electricity, gas, water and air-conditioner production and distribution ranked second with USD 3.13 billion, accounting for 14.4 per cent.
Among 73 countries and territories with newly licensed projects, Asian investors continued to dominate. Singapore led with USD 7.62 billion, making up 35.1 per cent of the new registered capital, followed by the Republic of Korea with USD 5.67 billion (26.1 per cent). Hong Kong (China), mainland China and Japan ranked next with USD 2.96 billion, USD 1.93 billion and USD 1.42 billion, respectively.
Meanwhile, 819 existing projects increased their investment capital by a combined USD 12.21 billion, up 14.7 per cent year-on-year.
Including both new and additional capital, the processing and manufacturing sector attracted USD 20.18 billion, accounting for 59.5 per cent. Meanwhile, real estate business received USD 5.32 billion, or 15.7 per cent.
During the eight months, there were 2,062 capital contribution and share purchase transactions worth USD 6.7 billion, up 50.1 per cent. Of this amount, foreign investors spent USD 4.15 billion acquiring existing shares without increasing companies’ charter capital, compared with USD 2.55 billion used to increase charter capital.
FDI through mergers and acquisitions (M&A) is also shifting away from real estate toward knowledge-intensive sectors and the domestic consumer market. Professional, scientific and technological activities attracted USD 2.74 billion, or 40.9 per cent, followed by wholesale, retail and motor vehicle repair with USD 2.01 billion (30 per cent).
Notably, FDI disbursement was estimated at USD 17.25 billion, up 12 per cent from a year earlier and also the highest eight-month figure recorded over the last five years.
The processing and manufacturing sector accounted for USD 14.24 billion, or 82.6 per cent, of the disbursed capital, far exceeding real estate that ranked second with USD 1.29 billion (7.5 per cent) and energy with USD 622.9 million (3.6 per cent).
Meanwhile, Vietnamese investment abroad, including newly registered and additional capital, reached USD 2.62 billion, 4.7 times higher than a year earlier. This consisted of USD 1.21 billion for 113 new projects and USD 1.41 billion for 29 existing projects, representing increases of 2.8 and 10.9 times, respectively.
Transport and warehousing attracted the largest share of Vietnamese capital overseas at USD 601.7 million (23 per cent), followed by energy with USD 585.8 million.
Laos was the top destination for Vietnamese investment with USD 667.5 million, followed by Cambodia with USD 486.5 million. India and Indonesia also emerged as major destinations, receiving USD 323.9 million and USD 313.6 million, respectively, reflecting Vietnamese businesses’ expanding global investment footprint, the office said.- (VNA/VLLF)
