Vietnam industrial zones continued to attract attention in the first quarter of 2026 as foreign direct investment (FDI) reached US$15.2 billion, up 42.9 per cent year-on-year. The latest figures highlight continued investment activity across key sectors, particularly manufacturing and processing, which remained the largest recipient of foreign capital.
New FDI Registrations Reach US$15.2 Billion
Vietnam recorded a total registered FDI of US$15.2 billion in the first quarter of 2026, marking growth of 42.9 per cent year-on-year. The increase was driven primarily by newly licensed projects, which accounted for a significant share of total registered capital during the period. These figures represent one of the strongest quarterly performances in recent years and reflect continued investment activity across multiple sectors.
A total of 904 newly licensed projects were granted investment certificates during the first three months of the year. These projects registered combined capital of US$10.23 billion, up 6.4 per cent in project numbers and 2.4 times in registered capital compared with the same period of 2025. The increase highlights both the scale and value of newly approved investment projects. It also demonstrates continued interest from international investors seeking opportunities in Vietnam.
In addition to newly licensed projects, 251 existing projects registered additional capital totaling US$2.3 billion. Foreign investors also completed 703 capital contribution and share acquisition transactions worth US$2.66 billion, an increase of 2.3 times year-on-year. These figures show that investment activity continued through multiple channels beyond new project approvals. The data also indicates active participation from foreign investors across different forms of investment.
Manufacturing Remains the Main Destination for Investment
The manufacturing and processing sector continued to attract the largest share of newly registered capital. During the first quarter, the sector received US$7.07 billion, accounting for 69 per cent of total newly registered FDI. This made manufacturing the leading destination for foreign investment among all economic sectors. The sector maintained a significant lead over other industries in terms of capital attraction.
Electricity, gas, water, and air conditioner production and distribution ranked second with US$2.28 billion, accounting for 22.3 per cent of newly registered capital. The remaining sectors attracted a combined US$884.6 million, representing 8.7 per cent of the total. These figures illustrate how investment capital was distributed across different segments of the economy. The data also provides insight into the sectors receiving the highest levels of investor interest during the quarter.
When both newly registered and additional capital are combined, manufacturing and processing attracted US$8.85 billion, accounting for 70.6 per cent of the total. Manufacturing also dominated disbursed FDI, receiving US$4.48 billion, or 82.8 per cent of the US$5.41 billion disbursed during the quarter. The consistent performance across registered, additional, and disbursed capital highlights the sector’s important role within Vietnam’s investment landscape. It also underscores the continued concentration of foreign capital in production-related activities.
Foreign Investors Continue Expanding Their Presence
Among the 52 countries and territories with newly licensed projects, Singapore remained the largest investor during the first quarter of 2026. Investors from Singapore registered US$5.32 billion, accounting for 52 per cent of total newly registered capital. The Republic of Korea followed with US$3.68 billion, equivalent to 35.9 per cent of the total. China, Hong Kong (China), Japan, and the United States also recorded new investment projects during the period.
Disbursed FDI reached an estimated US$5.41 billion during the January–March period, increasing by 9.1 per cent year-on-year. According to the National Statistics Office, this was the highest first-quarter disbursement figure recorded over the past five years. The increase indicates continued implementation of investment projects across the country. It also reflects the conversion of registered capital into actual business and production activities.
Foreign investors remained active in capital contributions and share purchases of local companies. Through 703 transactions, total investment reached US$2.66 billion, with wholesale and retail trade accounting for US$1.85 billion, or 69.6 per cent of the total. Manufacturing and processing attracted US$389.2 million through this channel, while other sectors received the remaining capital. These figures demonstrate the diversity of investment channels utilized by foreign investors. They also show continued participation in both new and existing business activities.
Overall, with total registered FDI reaching US$15.2 billion and manufacturing attracting more than US$8.85 billion in newly registered and additional capital, the first quarter of 2026 marked a strong start to the year for foreign investment in Vietnam. These figures provide a useful indication of the investment trends supporting industrial and manufacturing activities across the country.
Source: Vietnam Plus