FDI disbursement hits five-year high in 10 months

By VNA November 6, 2025 | 02:04 am PT

Vietnam saw about $21.3 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) disbursement during the first ten months of 2025, the highest 10-month level recorded over the past five years.

The figure represents an 8.8% increase from the same period last year, according to the National Statistics Office (NSO).

The manufacturing and processing sector continued to dominate, with $17.68 billion, or 83% of the total disbursement. It was followed by real estate with $1.5 billion (7%), and electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioner production and distribution with $671.9 million (3.2%).

Electric motorbike manufacturing in a factory of Honda Vietnam in Vinh Phuc Province, March 2025. Photo by Nguyen Linh

During January–October, total registered FDI, including newly registered capital, additional capital, and capital contributions or share purchases by foreign investors, reached $31.52 billion as of October 31, up 15.6% year-on-year.

Of the total sum, 3,321 new projects were licensed with $14.07 billion in newly registered capital, up 21.1% in project number but down 7.6% in value year-on-year. The manufacturing and processing industry made up the largest share with $7.97 billion (56.7%), followed by real estate ($2.75 billion, 19.5%) and other sectors ($3.35 billion, 23.8%).

Meanwhile, 1,206 existing projects registered additional investment worth $12.11 billion, marking a robust 45% increase over the same period last year.

Combining new and additional registered capital, investment in the manufacturing and processing sector totalled $16.37 billion (62.5%), while real estate received $5.32 billion (20.3%), and the remainders $4.49 billion (17.2%).

Capital contributions and share purchases by foreign investors reached $5.34 billion, up 45.1% year-on-year, across 2,918 transactions. Of this, $1.86 billion (34.9%) went to manufacturing and processing, $1.11 billion (20.8%) to professional, scientific and technological activities, and $2.37 billion (44.3%) to other sectors.

Among the 87 countries and territories granted new investment licences in Vietnam during the period, Singapore was the largest with $3.76 billion (26.7%), followed by China with $3.21 billion (22.8%), Hong Kong (China) with $1.38 billion (9.8%), and Japan with $1.17 billion (8.3%).

By locality, Bac Ninh province led in attracting new FDI with over $1.7 billion, followed by Ho Chi Minh City (over $1.6 billion) and Hai Phong city (nearly $1.4 billion), according to the NSO.