Hanoi (VNA) – 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.
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./.
