Although global foreign direct investment (FDI) is entering a phase of adjustment – contracting and placing greater emphasis on quality, Vietnam continues to benefit from the regional wave of production re-positioning, attracting more than 31.5 billion USD in the first 10 months of 2025.

Total registered FDI in the first 10 months of 2025 hits 31.5 billion USD, up 15.6% year on year.

Vietnam – Attractive investment destination

A series of new and expanded FDI projects were licensed in October 2025, bringing total registered FDI in the first 10 months of 2025 to 31.5 billion USD, up 15.6% year on year. Notably, disbursed capital also reached a five-year high of 21.3 billion USD, marking an increase of 8.8%.

These figures show that Vietnam remains an attractive destination for foreign investors, who continue to place trust in the country’s growth prospects, investment environment and economic standing, Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang said while releasing the data at the 2025 Vietnam Business Forum (VBF).

This fact has long been recognised and was reiterated by many investors at the forum. Bruno Jaspaer, Chairman of the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham), even referred to Vietnam as a story of transformation—from an agricultural economy known for the rice on daily dining tables and the coffee in every morning cup, into a regional hub for manufacturing, technology, and innovation.

The Ministry of Finance’s Foreign Investment Agency (FIA) noted that manufacturing and processing continued to attract the most FDI.

Over the 10 months, investment in this sector reached 18.2 billion USD, accounting for more than 57.8% of the total registered capital and increasing by 6.8% year on year.

Alongside quantity, the quality of FDI has also been improving as more projects in electronics, AI, and semiconductor flow into Vietnam.

At a recent roundtable on Vietnam’s FDI attraction efforts, Le Thi Hai Van, an FIA representative in Washington D.C., highlighted investments from Intel, Amkor, NVIDIA, Meta, and Google as proof of this trend.

She said American companies are prioritising semiconductor, AI, clean energy, economic infrastructure, and health care when investing in Vietnam, reflecting a shift from quantity to quality.

Seizing production re-positioning wave

In 2025, the global investment environment has been visibly affected by uncertainties across global supply chains.

According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), global FDI continues to fall after an 11% decline in 2024.

Beyond geopolitical tensions and slowing global growth, FIA noted that the G7 “near-shoring” and “friend-shoring” policies aimed at reducing dependence on China have made international investors more cautious about expanding new projects or making long-term commitments, especially in high-tech, electronics, and energy sectors.

Nevertheless, Vietnam’s opportunities remain. FIA assessed that although global FDI flows are adjusting, Vietnam still stands to gain from the regional production shifts, particularly in key sectors such as electronic components, medical equipment and renewable energy.

However, the agency emphasised that Vietnam must not only attract large volumes of capital but also prioritise high-quality investment – high-tech industries, global value chain integration by domestic enterprises, and enhanced local value added.

Van noted that trade tensions and supply chain shifts offer Vietnam a major opportunity to become a significant destination but also present challenges regarding its ability to meet the requirements of high-tech industries.

Bac Ninh seeks to attract more investment from Chinese partners

BAC NINH – Following a memorandum of understanding between the People’s Committee of Bac Ninh province and the People’s Government of Nanning city, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (China), the province plans to further strengthen cooperation and attract more Chinese investors in the coming period.

China remains top investor in Bac Ninh by project numbers

BAC NINH - Bac Ninh province has attracted about 1,392 projects funded by Chinese partners, with total registered capital exceeding 10.8 billion USD, accounting for 42.1% of all projects and 23.7% of total investment in the province.

U.S. firm QXQ Inc explores investment opportunities in Bac Ninh

BAC NINH – Vu Thi Phuong Thao, Deputy Director of the Bac Ninh Department of Finance, on October 28 met with Quan Roger Chi, Chairman of U.S.-based QXQ Inc, to discuss potential investment opportunities in the northern province of Bac Ninh. Representatives from several local departments also attended the meeting.

Vietnam, Saudi Arabia strengthen investment ties

Economic and trade ties between Vietnam and Saudi Arabia have made notable progress in recent years. Bilateral trade reached 3.1 billion USD in 2024, up 14.5% from 2023, and both countries aim to raise the figure to 10 billion USD by 2030.

 

Eco-industrial parks with integrated infrastructure draw rising FDI interest

Since early 2025, a growing number of investors from Europe, the US and Japan have been touring southern Vietnam to seek potential investment locations. While land costs and location were once the main concerns, sustainability has now become a decisive factor, including renewable energy use, integrated services, and environmentally friendly living spaces.