Attracting FDI: Vietnam becomes a 'star' in the eyes of investors

44,801 projects and 525.86 billion USD

At the Vietnam Business Forum 2025 held in early November 2025, experts and international organizations repeatedly affirmed the attractiveness of Vietnam's investment environment. This attractiveness, in addition to the Government's open investment attraction policy, is also the stable political environment and the prospect of high, sustainable economic growth over a long period of time.

*Vietnam is highly appreciated by the international investment community. Illustrative photo*

In particular, according to the representative of the American Business Association in Vietnam, Mr. Mark Gillin, the restructuring of the administrative apparatus and the application of the two-tier local government model marks a "historic step forward", increasing the attractiveness of Vietnam's investment environment to foreign investors, including US businesses.

Mr. Bruno Jaspaer - Chairman of the European Business Association in Vietnam also shares the same view when he said that Vietnam is not only a developing country but is also "transforming strongly".

“From restructuring the state apparatus and merging localities, to promoting administrative reform, digital transformation and promoting green growth, Vietnam is demonstrating the will, capacity and vision needed to reshape its position as a competitive and sustainable investment destination in the 21st century,” Mr. Bruno Jaspaer emphasized.

The attractiveness of the investment environment has made Vietnam continuously impress in attracting investment and "breaking records" in disbursement of FDI capital in recent years. In the first 10 months of 2025, the total registered foreign investment capital in Vietnam reached nearly 31.5 billion USD, an increase of over 15.6% over the same period in 2024. Of which, the disbursed FDI capital of foreign investment projects is estimated at about 21.3 billion USD, an increase of 8.8% over the same period last year, becoming the highest disbursed FDI capital in 10 months ever.

Up to now, there have been 153 countries and territories investing in Vietnam with a total of 44,801 valid projects, with a total registered investment capital of about 525.86 billion USD. Experts assess that the impressive figures in attracting FDI have demonstrated the strong confidence of the international investor community in the investment environment and prospects for sustainable economic development of Vietnam in the medium and long term.

*FDI capital flows into Vietnam are shifting positively. Illustrative photo*

New context and policy movements in FDI attraction

Affirming the attractiveness of Vietnam's investment environment, Dr. Phan Huu Thang - Chairman of the Vietnam Industrial Park Finance Association (VIPFA), former Chairman of the Foreign Investment Agency, said: The world and domestic context has changed and this is the time for Vietnam to have "policy changes" in attracting foreign investment.

More specifically, Dr. Phan Huu Thang said that traditional FDI in Vietnam has long been invested mainly in production, processing and manufacturing because it is consistent with the global industrial situation because the socio-economic situation of developed countries with foreign investment capital still relies mainly on industrial sectors, and investors use the advantage of low labor costs abroad.

However, at present, the global context has changed due to increasing labor costs, shifting global supply chains, and requirements for technology, sustainable development, and high added value, requiring Vietnam to change its strategy to prioritize attracting quality FDI with high technology, added value, and guaranteed links with domestic enterprises.

Sharing the same view, Mr. Pham Thanh Binh - Director of the Northern Investment Information Promotion and Support Center (Foreign Investment Agency, Ministry of Finance), Foreign Investment Agency also said that Vietnam has become a destination for many large corporations and companies in the fields of manufacturing, electronics, energy, and services.

However, with the world context changing dramatically, from supply chain shifts, digital transformation to green growth commitments, Vietnam is required to reposition its strategy, aiming to attract higher quality and more valuable FDI capital.

Faced with the new context, the Politburo also issued Resolution No. 50-NQ/TW on orientations for perfecting institutions and policies, and improving the quality and effectiveness of foreign investment cooperation by 2030.

The Resolution clearly states that foreign investment must be actively attracted and selectively cooperated, with quality, efficiency, technology and environmental protection as the main evaluation criteria. Priority will be given to projects with advanced technology, new technology, high technology, clean technology, modern management, high added value, spillover effects, and connection to global production and supply chains.

To achieve the above goals, Vietnam is continuing to improve its institutions and policies on foreign investment cooperation with high competitiveness and international integration; meeting the requirements of renewing the growth model, improving productivity, quality, efficiency and competitiveness of the economy. Creating a business environment and competitiveness among the ASEAN 3 before 2030. These efforts are strong commitments for Vietnam to continue to become a "bright star" in attracting foreign investment inflows in the 21st century.

Mr. Wakabayashu Koichi - Chairman of the Japan Business Association in Vietnam: Japanese enterprises have shifted their investment direction from labor-intensive to increasing industrial value, developing human resources and infrastructure. Accordingly, Japanese enterprises encourage the development of high value-added industries, including research and development (R&D), and improving the capacity of energy conversion projects, to demonstrate their commitment to a green Vietnam.

Source: https://congthuong.vn/thu-hut-fdi-viet-nam-tro-thanh-ngoi-sao-trong-mat-nha-dau-tu-432741.html