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Two converging trends continue to drive FDI into Vietnam

Two converging trends continue to drive FDI into Vietnam

Asian partners continue to dominate foreign direct investment (FDI) into Vietnam in the first five months of 2026, as both the wave of production diversification away from China and the ongoing restructuring of capital flows within ASEAN jointly generate additional momentum for investment inflows.

Total newly registered FDI into Vietnam during the five-month period reached more than $24.8 billion, up 34.9% year-on-year. Disbursed capital amounted to $9.7 billion, an increase of 9.6%.

“This result shows that Vietnam remains an attractive destination for foreign investors amid ongoing shifts, restructuring, and diversification of global supply chains,” the Foreign Investment Agency (FIA) under the Ministry of Finance noted in its periodic report.

The most notable aspect is not only the increase in capital, but also the structure of investor origins. Singapore and South Korea continued to lead, while mainland China, Hong Kong, and Indonesia ranked among the top five investors.

Together, these five economies accounted for more than 85% of total registered FDI during the period, underscoring the continued dominance of Asian capital flows.

According to the FIA, this structure reflects Vietnam simultaneously benefiting from two major trends: the relocation and diversification of supply chains away from China, and the restructuring of investment within ASEAN.

Two capital flows converge

After five months, Singapore led in investment in Vietnam with more than $8.5 billion, followed by South Korea with over $6.7 billion. Combined, these two partners accounted for more than 60% of total registered FDI into Vietnam over the period.

Singapore’s position reflects its role as a regional financial and investment hub. A portion of multinational projects in Vietnam is registered through Singapore-based entities.

Meanwhile, South Korean capital continues to focus on industrial manufacturing, electronics, semiconductors, and expansion projects by companies already operating in Vietnam.

Mainland China ranked third in total registered capital, while also leading in the number of newly registered projects. This reflects a trend of Chinese firms expanding production capacity into Vietnam to diversify operations, access ASEAN markets, and benefit from free trade agreements.

However, this is not simply a case of production relocating out of China. In many industries, Vietnam is becoming an additional node in regional production networks, while its manufacturing sector remains heavily dependent on machinery, raw materials, and intermediate inputs imported from China.

At the same time, the presence of Singapore and Indonesia among the leading investors highlights the growing importance of intra-ASEAN capital flows.

Indonesia recorded about $1.74 billion in registered capital, almost entirely from a single equity contribution and share acquisition transaction in Ho Chi Minh City. This illustrates that ASEAN capital flows are not limited to greenfield projects, but also include mergers, acquisitions, and equity investments in existing firms.

Major projects shaping the FDI landscape

Several large-scale projects have significantly influenced FDI figures since the beginning of the year.

Notable examples include the Can Gio International Transshipment Port with total investment of $4.9 billion; the GS Nha Be Metrocity project, which increased capital by $2.2 billion; a smart complex project in the Thu Thiem New Urban Area with a capital increase of around $1.2 billion; and a $2.1 billion AI data center in Tan Phu Trung Industrial Park, all in Ho Chi Minh City. In Nghe An province, the South Korean-invesed Quynh Lap LNG thermal power plant boasts more than $2.2 billion in investment.

In Thai Nguyen province, Samsung Electro-Mechanics Vietnam No. 2 has registered $1.2 billion capital, focusing on high-end FCBGA circuit boards used in robotics, autonomous vehicles, and advanced technology devices.

Together with another multi-billion-dollar technology project, this has helped Thai Nguyen emerge as Vietnam’s leading locality for FDI attraction in the Jan-May period, while also reflecting South Korea’s shift toward higher-value, more technology-intensive investments.

Posco Future M has also invested in a project producing artificial graphite anode materials for lithium-ion batteries in Thai Nguyen, with more than $282 million in capital, linked to the electric vehicle, battery, and new energy supply chains.

In addition to manufacturing projects, an Indonesian investor’s transaction of more than $1.7 billion in contributing capital to VLD Investment and Finance JSC has also significantly affected the capital structure by partner country. However, this is registered capital via equity contribution and share acquisition, not a new investment project.

FDI concentrated in manufacturing and emerging industrial hubs

The processing and manufacturing sector remained the main driver of investment, accounting for more than 60% of total registered capital in the first five months.

Projects in electronics, semiconductors, battery materials, and data centers indicate that new capital flows are increasingly directed toward higher-value technology sectors, while manufacturing continues to be the core attraction for FDI.

Foreign investors invested across 29 provinces and cities. Thai Nguyen led with more than $7.6 billion, followed by Ho Chi Minh City and Nghe An. Tay Ninh, Bac Ninh, and Hanoi also ranked among the major destinations.

Thai Nguyen stood out for electronics, semiconductor, and high-tech material projects, while Nghe An attracted large-scale energy investments.

The rise of these localities suggests the early formation of new industrial hubs supported by land availability, industrial park infrastructure, and capacity to absorb large-scale projects. However, this concentration also makes provincial FDI performance more volatile, depending on the timing of a few major projects.

Disbursed FDI over the five-month period reached its highest level in five years for the same period, indicating that licensed projects continue to be implemented at a steady pace.

However, the growth rate of disbursed capital remained significantly lower than that of registered capital. According to the FIA, this highlights the need to closely monitor capital absorption capacity, implementation progress, and the conversion of registered capital into actual disbursements.

The agency also pointed to persistent bottlenecks in energy infrastructure, logistics, high-quality human resources, supporting industries, and project implementation procedures.

Amid intensifying global competition for high-tech investment, the FIA emphasized that Vietnam must improve energy and logistics infrastructure, enhance industrial park quality, develop a skilled technical workforce, and streamline procedures related to land, construction, environmental approvals, and fire safety.


Source: Quang Minh, Minh Hue

Photo: Photo courtesy of the company

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New rules promote sustainable growth of corporate bond market

New rules promote sustainable growth of corporate bond market

According to the State Securities Commission, the new decree completes the legal framework, thoroughly address practical difficulties, and enhance transparency to protect the legitimate rights of investors, creating conditions for businesses to raise medium- and long-term capital to serve economic growth.

HÀ NỘI — New regulations on private placement of corporate bonds will help strengthen investor confidence and promote the development of a sustainable market, according to the State Securities Commission (SSC).

Decree 200/2026/NĐ-CP has taken effect this month to replace Decree No. 153/2020/NĐ-CP, Decree No. 65/2022/NĐ-CP and Decree No. 08/2023/NĐ-CP.

According to the SSC, the new decree completes the legal framework, thoroughly addresses practical difficulties and enhances transparency to protect the legitimate rights of investors, creating conditions for businesses to raise medium- and long-term capital to serve economic growth.

One of the notable changes in the decree is the clear distinction between the conditions, documents and procedures for offering securities according to two different groups of businesses: the first group includes public companies, securities companies and securities investment management companies; and the second group includes businesses not falling under the aforementioned categories.

“This separation aims to both facilitate businesses in the implementation process and to make it easier for management authorities to categorise inspections, audits and violations according to the specific characteristics of each group,” the SSC explains.

To ensure the financial safety of the system, the decree added a crucial condition: the debt of enterprises, including the value of bonds expected to be issued, must not exceed five times their equity capital, as stipulated in the amended Enterprise Law of 2025. However, this regulation also includes reasonable exceptions for State-owned enterprises, credit institutions, insurance companies, or entities issuing bonds to implement specific real estate projects.

In parallel with controlling financial leverage, Decree 200 also redefines the purpose of issuance and the management and use of capital. Accordingly, funds raised from bond issuance must be used to implement investment projects in accordance with the forms stipulated in the Investment Law.

Notably, enterprises are obligated to separately monitor this capital, ensuring that the management and use of capital are in line with the issuance plan announced to investors. In cases where an enterprise issues bonds through a second party to use the capital for an investment project, the issuer must establish strict monitoring measures to ensure the second party fulfils its commitments.

To create flexibility while maintaining security, the decree allows businesses to deposit funds in commercial banks or purchase certificates of deposit when the raised capital has not yet reached the disbursement deadline.

Simultaneously, the mechanism for changing bond terms or issuance purposes has been standardised. Specifically, it must be approved by the competent authority and receive the consent of bondholders representing 65 per cent or more of the total outstanding bonds. For bondholders who do not agree, the enterprise is required to complete the early repurchase of the bonds before implementing these changes.

Aiming for a professional bond market and minimising risks for individual investors, the decree has significant adjustments regarding the eligible participants in transactions.

Accordingly, professional individual investors are only allowed to purchase and transfer privately placed corporate bonds under certain conditions. Specifically, for bonds other than convertible bonds issued by financial institutions or public companies, individuals can only participate if the bond has a credit rating and is secured by collateral, or if there is a payment guarantee from a credit institution. The decree also clarifies that the collateral must have sufficient value to pay the entire principal of the bond and absolutely cannot include shares, stocks, or capital contributions of the issuing company itself. This regulation aims to ensure that the collateral is substantial and highly liquid in the event of a crisis.

In terms of documentation and information transparency, the new decree abolishes the regulation allowing the use of audited semi-annual or quarterly financial statements as a basis for determining issuance eligibility. Instead, businesses are required to rely on audited annual financial statements to accurately determine the debt-to-equity ratio, in line with the spirit of the 2025 Enterprise Law. For parent-subsidiary company models, both audited consolidated financial statements and audited financial statements of the parent company are mandatory.

The responsibilities of service providers such as consulting firms, issuing agents, auditing organisations, and credit rating agencies have also been increased. Specifically, these organisations are directly responsible for the accuracy and truthfulness of the reports and documents in the issuance dossier.

The decree also regulates the issuer's obligation to disclose information, which extends until the bonds are fully delinquent, including periodic reports on capital utilisation, to ensure maximum oversight for investors.

According to the SSC, the new decree is a significant step forward in perfecting the institutional framework for Việt Nam's capital market. By combining measures to tighten discipline with regulations to create transparency, the decree not only protects investors but also helps financially sound businesses find effective capital-raising channels.

“This helps bring the corporate bond market back onto a sustainable development trajectory and makes a positive contribution to the development of the economy,” the SSC said.

HCMC to use prime land assets worth $889 mln to pay Masterise for two major bridge projects

HCMC to use prime land assets worth $889 mln to pay Masterise for two major bridge projects

Ho Chi Minh City will use prime land assets worth more than VND23.4 trillion ($889.4 million) and public funds to compensate Masterise for two major bridge projects under build-transfer (BT) contracts, according to a new decision by the city People's Council.

The council approved adjustments to the investment policies for the Can Gio bridge and Phu My 2 bridge projects, both of which are being developed by the local developer under public-private partnership (PPP) arrangements.

For the Can Gio bridge project, authorities revised the payment structure after changes to the land bank earmarked for investor compensation. The city will now allocate two downtown land plots with a combined estimated value of more than VND7.5 trillion ($285.06 million) and use budget funds to cover the remainder of the payment obligation.

The sites include a property at 8-12 Le Duan boulevard, valued at VND3.42 trillion ($130 million), and another at 2-4-6 Hai Ba Trung street, valued at around VND4.11 trillion ($156.21 million).

The land assets account for roughly 69.7% of the BT contract value for the bridge construction, estimated at VND10.82 trillion ($411.25 million). The remaining VND3.74 trillion ($142.15 million) will be paid from the local budget after the land transfer is completed.

The Can Gio bridge project has a revised total investment of about VND13.35 trillion ($507.41 million), including interest expenses during construction, up by VND148 billion ($5.63 million) from the previously approved plan.

The bridge will span across the Soai Rap river, linking Can Gio with Nha Be communes and replacing the Binh Khanh ferry crossing. The project includes a bridge section of about three kilometers and connecting roads, bringing the total length to roughly seven kilometers.

Separately, the city approved adjustments to the Phu My 2 bridge project, for which land assets valued at approximately VND15.91 trillion ($604.72 million) are expected to be used as payment to the investor.

The bridge will connect Nguyen Huu Tho road in HCMC with Lien Cang road in the neighboring industrial city of Dong Nai. The route will stretch about 6.64 km, including 4.6 km within HCMC and 2.04 km in Dong Nai.

Designed with eight traffic lanes and supporting infrastructure, the project carries a total investment of about VND21.83 trillion ($829.73 million), including financing costs during construction. Completion is targeted for 2029.

Authorities view Phu My 2 as a strategic transport link that will strengthen connections between southern HCMC, Dong Nai's Nhon Trach commune, and Long Thanh International Airport.

Once completed, the bridge is expected to ease congestion on the existing Phu My bridge, National Highways 1 and 51, and the Ho Chi Minh City-Long Thanh expressway, while improving logistics efficiency and supporting economic activity across the southern key economic region.

US leads imports of Vietnam’s computers and electronics in five months

US leads imports of Vietnam’s computers and electronics in five months

VOV.VN - The US imported US$22.54 billion worth of computers, electronic products and components from Vietnam during the five-month period of 2026, making it Vietnam’s largest export market for the sector, ahead of China, the European Union and Hong Kong.

According to the Vietnam Customs, Vietnam’s exports of computers, electronic products and components totaled nearly US$56.2 billion in January-May, up 46.2% year-on-year.

The US remained the sector’s main growth driver, with exports to the market rising nearly 55% and accounting for more than 40% of total export value.

China ranked second with imports worth US$8.82 billion. The EU and Hong Kong also ranked among Vietnam’s leading export markets, with Hong Kong serving as a major transshipment hub for Vietnamese electronics.

Exports to the EU posted a strong recovery, while the ASEAN became another fast-growing market, with export value reaching US$3.02 billion, up nearly 77% year-on-year.

Other Asian markets, including the Republic of Korea (RoK), Taiwan (China), Japan and India, also continued to grow, indicating Vietnam’s ongoing efforts to diversify its export markets.

Several non-traditional markets such as Mexico, the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada also recorded strong growth.

In 2025, Vietnam’s exports of computers, electronic products and components surpassed US$100 billion for the first time. With strong momentum in early 2026, export value for the sector is expected to significantly exceed last year’s level.


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