A series of large-scale foreign direct investment (FDI) projects were granted investment registration certificates in November, contributing to Vietnam’s strong FDI performance in the first 11 months of the year.

Viet Phat is about to launch the Aeon Mall Bien Hoa project worth over 6 trillion VND.

Notable examples include the AEON MALL Bien Hoa commercial centre project in Dong Nai province with total investment of 261.1 million USD by Japan’s AEON Group; the Phu My 3 chemical production project in Ho Chi Minh City worth 203.6 million USD by Lee & Man Chemical Co. Ltd. (Hong Kong, China); and the STABOO Thanh Hoa OSB bamboo board manufacturing project valued at 150 million USD by Switzerland’s STABOO JSC.

These projects helped lift Vietnam’s total registered FDI in the 11 months to 33.69 billion USD, up 7.4% year on year. Disbursed FDI reached a record 23.6 billion USD, rising 8.9% over the same period. Commenting on this result, Russia’s Sputnik news agency highlighted that Vietnam has “won the FDI race”.

In its 11-month FDI report, the Foreign Investment Agency under the Ministry of Finance noted that the global investment environment continues to be affected by complex economic and geopolitical factors.

These pressures are prompting global capital flows to prioritise markets with stable fundamentals and strong absorption capacity.

Amid a trend of capital “contraction and restructuring”, the Asia–Pacific region remains an attractive destination thanks to sustained demand in electronics, semiconductors and technology, particularly in Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia.

According to the agency, Vietnam continues to be a reliable destination for investors thanks to its stable macroeconomic environment, consistent investment policies and improving capacity in electronics and component manufacturing.

However, as production relocation to Southeast Asia accelerates and competition for FDI intensifies, Vietnam faces increasing pressure from regional rivals such as India, Malaysia and Indonesia, which are offering bold tax incentives and developing specialised industrial parks.

This reality requires Vietnam to shift its focus from attracting large volumes of capital to drawing high-quality investment, prioritising core technologies, innovation, value chain linkages and higher localisation rates.

This transition has already been identified as a strategic direction. Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang has repeatedly stressed that Vietnam must prioritise high-tech and innovation-driven projects if it aims to become a developed country by 2045.

Vietnam will prioritise high-tech, innovative, high value-added and environmentally friendly projects instead of pursuing quantity at all costs, he said.

The recent adoption of the amended Law on High Technology and the revised Law on Investment by the National Assembly is expected to provide a major institutional boost.

These laws introduce important reforms, including reduced pre-licensing procedures, a stronger shift to post-inspection, simplified registration and notification mechanisms, a narrower list of conditional business lines, and stronger incentives for high technology, innovation and green growth.

FDI attraction in 2025, particularly in the first 11 months, has maintained a positive momentum, underscoring Vietnam’s sustained appeal amid global fragmentation.

According to the Foreign Investment Agency, healthy registered and disbursed capital flows are reinforcing investor confidence and laying a foundation for further acceleration in late 2025 and into 2026.

At the Vietnam M&A Forum, Tamotsu Majima, Senior Director of RECOF Corporation, said that Vietnam’s solid growth, extensive network of new-generation free trade agreements and strategic partnerships have created confidence and significant opportunities for multinational corporations.

Deputy Minister of Finance Tran Quoc Phuong recently stated that the Ministry of Finance is developing a scheme on foreign-invested economic development and a new-generation FDI attraction strategy.

With more open, attractive and competitive policies, these initiatives are expected to help Vietnam achieve a substantive shift from attracting large capital volumes to securing high-quality FDI.

Investors eye Vietnam as next FDI hub, urge clearer policy enforcement

According to the Ministry of Finance’s National Statistics Office, total registered FDI in Vietnam, including new registrations, capital adjustments, and share purchases, amounted to 31.52 billion USD as of October 31, a 15.6% year-on-year gain.

 

Vietnam draws 31.52 billion USD in FDI in January-October

Vietnam attracted 31.52 billion USD in foreign direct investment (FDI) in the first 10 months of 2025, up 15.6% year-on-year, according to the National Statistics Office.

 

Domestic-foreign business connectivity key to FDI quality improvement

In the first nine months of 2025 alone, registered FDI inflows topped 28.54 billion USD, up 15.2% year on year, with disbursed capital hitting a five-year record of 18.8 billion USD.

 

Eco-industrial parks with integrated infrastructure draw rising FDI interest

Since early 2025, a growing number of investors from Europe, the US and Japan have been touring southern Vietnam to seek potential investment locations. While land costs and location were once the main concerns, sustainability has now become a decisive factor, including renewable energy use, integrated services, and environmentally friendly living spaces.

 

Vietnam moves to attract higher-quality FDI flows

Under the Government’s Decree No. 236/2025/ND-CP, effective from October 15, 2025, Vietnam officially applies a global minimum tax rate of 15% on multinational enterprises with consolidated revenues of 750 million EUR (877.87 million USD) or more. This move helps the Southeast Asian nation align its tax policy with international practices, as more than 100 countries have already introduced similar measures.

 

Nine-month FDI up 15% year on year

Vietnam attracted a total of 28.54 billion USD in foreign direct investment (FDI) between January and September, 2025, marking a 15.2% increase compared to the same period last year, according to the National Statistics Office of Vietnam.