Foreign direct investment off to stirring start in 2025

Foreign direct investment off to stirring start in 2025

Vietnam’s ongoing appeal as a top investment destination has been laid bare by overall figures for the year so far.

Vietnam’s total registered FDI so far is expected to reach 30 per cent higher than the same period last year, Photo: Duc Thanh

Only one week is left before official figures of Q1 foreign direct investment (FDI) are published, but several localities have already announced major successes.

According to Binh Duong Department of Finance, the southern province has attracted over $630 million in FDI, representing a significant increase of 326 per cent compared to the same period in 2024.

The figures cover 58 new projects with a total investment of $100 million, 26 with increased capital by around $452 million, and over 30 involving capital contributions for purchasing shares, amounting to $78 million.

Up to now, Binh Duong has attracted around 4,460 foreign-invested projects with a total investment of over $42.5 billion. In 2025, the province strives to pull in about $2 billion in foreign capital. Binh Duong leaders said it continues to effectively exploit relationships with focal points in foreign markets by regularly connecting with promotional activities. At the same time, it continues to improve the investment environment with appropriate methods.

Data released by the Foreign Investment Agency noted that the total registered FDI in Vietnam reached nearly $6.9 billion in the first two months of 2025, a strong 35.5 per cent increase compared to the same period last year.

“Although the first two months of the year included the Lunar New Year holiday, investment promotion and licensing activities were remarkably bustling. The rise in the number of new ventures and the number with adjusted capital reaffirms that Vietnam remains a trusted market for foreign backers,” Nguyen Van Toan, vice chairman of the Vietnam Association of Foreign-Invested Enterprises told VIR.

“With the current growth momentum, it is forecasted that by the end of March, the total registered foreign investment in Vietnam will reach over $9 billion, up 30 per cent from the same period last year,” he added.

Meanwhile, in the northern province of Bac Ninh, the province led the country by pulling in $1.44 billion in FDI across January and February, 3.8 times higher than the same period last year.

Dong Nai province also saw positive signs in attracting FDI. Between January and February, the province lured $1.16 billion in foreign capital, signifying an increase of 325 per cent compared to the same period of the last year, and exceeding the $1.1 billion target for the entire year.

Bui Anh Tuan, executive director of Asset and Logistics Management at Mapletree Vietnam, said the company has been putting money into Vietnam for nearly 20 years in various provinces.

“In 2025, we chose Dong Nai due to its favourable location, strong infrastructure, and proactive support from local authorities, which will help us complete and put the project into operation quickly,” Tuan said.

The company received aproval for Mapletree Logistics Park Tam An 1, located in the Tam An industrial cluster, with a total investment of over $100 million.

The leader of one large foreign-invested enterprise told VIR, “My corporation is planning to build a semiconductor manufacturing plant in Vietnam at a cost of billions of US dollars. If it comes to fruition, alongside the existing presence of Intel, Amkor, Infineon, Marvell, and HanaMicron, Vietnam could become a stronghold for the world’s semiconductor manufacturers.”

However, one of the leader’s biggest concerns to impact their decision is Vietnam’s ability to ensure energy supply, which the government has been striving to address in recent times.

VIR