Vietnam Sees Record FDI Growth in 2026

Vietnam's foreign direct investment (FDI) has seen a remarkable increase, reaching $34.65 billion in the first half of 2026, which marks a 61% rise compared to the same period last year, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO) and the Ministry of Finance.

Newly registered capital amounted to $17.39 billion, encompassing 2,013 projects, reflecting a 1.3% increase in the number of projects and an 87.2% increase in capital. Additionally, 541 existing projects registered for capital adjustments, totaling $11.04 billion, which is a 23.5% increase year-on-year.

“The manufacturing sector continues to be a magnet for foreign investment, demonstrating Vietnam's attractiveness as a production hub.”General Statistics Office

The manufacturing and processing sector remains the leading area for foreign investment, attracting $10.76 billion in new capital, which constitutes 61.9% of the total newly registered FDI. Including adjustments, the sector received $17.91 billion, accounting for 63% of the total FDI registered. Real estate investments followed, attracting $5.1 billion, or 17.9% of the total.

Notably, foreign investors have increasingly engaged in capital contributions and share purchases, with 1,446 transactions valued at $6.22 billion, marking an impressive 89.5% increase compared to the same timeframe last year. This includes $2.15 billion in capital contributions that increase the charter capital of enterprises and $4.07 billion in share purchases that do not alter the charter capital.

Singapore has emerged as the largest investor in Vietnam with $7.31 billion, representing 42.1% of the new registered capital, followed by South Korea with $5.45 billion. Other notable investors include Japan, China, Hong Kong, and the Netherlands.

“This significant increase in FDI reflects the confidence of foreign investors in Vietnam's economic potential.”Ministry of Finance

In terms of disbursement, FDI capital realization in the first half of the year reached approximately $13.03 billion, reflecting an 11.2% increase from the previous year. This figure represents the highest disbursement level for the first half of the year in the last five years. The manufacturing and processing sector accounted for 82.6% of this total, with $10.76 billion disbursed.

On the other hand, Vietnamese investments abroad also saw significant growth, totaling $1.21 billion in the first half of 2026, which is 2.5 times higher than the previous year. Laos remains the top destination for Vietnamese investments, followed by Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan, the UK, Singapore, Kazakhstan, and the US.