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According to the General Statistics Office of the Ministry of Finance , in the first two months of 2026, South Korea and Singapore became the two largest investors in Vietnam, each injecting over $1 billion in newly registered FDI capital, accounting for a significant proportion of the total foreign investment flow into the Vietnamese economy.
Notably, in the first two months of the year, realized foreign direct investment (FDI) in Vietnam is estimated at US$3.21 billion, an increase of 8.8% compared to the same period last year. This is the highest realized FDI figure for the first two months of the year in the past five years.
Of this total, the processing and manufacturing industry accounted for US$2.65 billion, representing 82.7% of the total realized foreign direct investment; real estate business activities reached US$223.5 million, accounting for 7.0%; and the production and distribution of electricity, gas, hot water, steam and air conditioning reached US$119.2 million, accounting for 3.7%.
However, the General Statistics Office reported that the total registered FDI capital in Vietnam reached only US$6.03 billion, a decrease of 12.6% compared to the same period last year. Specifically, 620 newly licensed projects received registration capital totaling US$3.54 billion, representing a 20.2% increase in the number of projects and a 61.5% increase in registered capital compared to the same period last year.
Of these, the manufacturing and processing industry received the largest amount of newly licensed foreign direct investment with registered capital reaching US$2.63 billion, accounting for 74.3% of the total newly registered capital; wholesale and retail trade, repair of automobiles, motorcycles, and motorbikes reached US$358.6 million, accounting for 10.1%; and the remaining sectors accounted for US$550.5 million, or 15.6%.
According to Mr. Van Duc Phu from the Foreign Investment Department (Ministry of Finance), the ultimate goal is not the registered capital, but rather the added value and opportunities for Vietnamese businesses to participate in global supply chains.
South Korea is the largest investor.
According to the General Statistics Office, among the 44 countries and territories with newly licensed investment projects in Vietnam, South Korea is the largest investor with $1.34 billion, accounting for 37.8% of the total newly registered capital.
Next comes Singapore with $1.1 billion, accounting for 31.1%; China with $522.8 million, accounting for 14.8%; Japan with $171 million, accounting for 4.8%; Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (China) with $143 million, accounting for 4.0%; the United States with $85.6 million, accounting for 2.4%; and Samoa with $68.7 million, accounting for 1.9%.
In addition, the adjusted registered capital includes 180 projects licensed in previous years that registered an increase in investment capital of $1.99 billion, a decrease of 52.3% compared to the same period last year.
Including both newly registered capital and adjusted registered capital of projects licensed in previous years, foreign direct investment registered in the processing and manufacturing industry reached US$4.16 billion, accounting for 75.2% of the total newly registered and increased capital; wholesale and retail trade, repair of automobiles, motorcycles, and motorbikes reached US$392.7 million, accounting for 7.1%; and other sectors reached US$979.7 million, accounting for 17.7%.
Registered capital contributions and share purchases by foreign investors totaled 492 transactions with a total value of US$499.5 million, a decrease of 5.7% compared to the same period last year; of which, 128 transactions involved capital contributions and share purchases that increased the charter capital of enterprises with a value of US$297.8 million, and 364 transactions involved foreign investors acquiring domestic shares without increasing charter capital with a value of US$201.7 million.
Regarding foreign investors' capital contributions and share purchases, investment in the processing and manufacturing industry reached US$244.7 million, accounting for 49.0% of the total capital contribution; wholesale and retail trade, repair of automobiles, motorcycles, and motorbikes reached US$103.7 million, accounting for 20.8%; and the remaining sectors accounted for US$151.1 million, or 30.2%.
Thai Nguyen leads the country in attracting FDI capital.
Among the 34 provinces and cities, Thai Nguyen unexpectedly led the country with nearly $1.7 billion in attracted FDI capital, a sharp increase of 1,354% compared to the same period last year. This result makes this northern mountainous province a bright spot in Vietnam's foreign investment attraction picture right from the beginning of the year.
Following Thai Nguyen, Ho Chi Minh City received approximately $900.2 million in FDI inflows after two months, followed by Bac Ninh with $818.5 million and Hanoi with $624.52 million.
Other localities in the top 10 include Tay Ninh (US$570.6 million), Ha Tinh (US$411.1 million), Dong Nai (US$213.7 million), Hung Yen (US$204.7 million), Hai Phong (US$133.2 million) and Hue (US$123 million).
After the first two months of the year, the total FDI capital of the top 10 localities reached US$5.65 billion, accounting for approximately 94% of the total registered foreign investment capital of the whole country during the same period.
Not only does Thai Nguyen lead in terms of capital scale, but it also records outstanding growth rates compared to many other localities. While some major industrial centers such as Ho Chi Minh City or Bac Ninh recorded a decrease compared to the same period, foreign direct investment into Thai Nguyen increased dramatically.
After July 1st, 2025, the two provinces of Thai Nguyen and Bac Kan will merge into a new province named Thai Nguyen. This is one of the major industrial centers in Northern Vietnam, where many international technology corporations such as Samsung, Trina Solar, Dongwha, Doosan, Daejin, MGL, Hong Kong Lai Holding, etc., are investing and operating in key industrial zones.
According to local data, the total newly registered and increased FDI capital in the province during the first two months of the year reached approximately US$3.27 billion, equivalent to 19% of the total registered foreign investment capital nationwide during the reporting period. Currently, the province has 234 active FDI projects with a total registered capital of approximately US$11.45 billion.
Notably, in the early days of 2026, Thai Nguyen received over $4.4 billion in investment capital from projects that received investment decisions and memoranda of cooperation. Of this, 11 projects received investment decisions totaling over $1 billion, while the memoranda of cooperation amounted to approximately $3.4 billion.
According to local assessments, FDI flows into the province are showing a positive trend towards high-tech industries, manufacturing, electronics, and supporting industries – sectors that create high added value and play a crucial role in upgrading the industrial production chain…
Source: https://vtv.vn/fdi-thuc-hien-cao-nhat-5-nam-100260306151905295.htm
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