Vietnam FDI reaches $40.63 billion amid shift to high-tech sectors

Vietnam is experiencing a significant surge in foreign direct investment (FDI) and a strategic shift toward high-tech, sustainable industrial development. In the first eight months of 2026, total registered FDI reached $40.63 billion, a 55.4% increase compared to the same period last year. Singapore emerged as the largest investor, contributing $7.62 billion, or 35.1% of the total.

Realized FDI reached $17.25 billion, the highest for an eight-month period in five years, with the manufacturing and processing sector accounting for 82.6% of this total. This growth reflects a transition from cost-based attraction to attracting high-quality capital in strategic sectors such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, renewable energy, and R&D.

Regional provinces are actively restructuring to support this shift. Hưng Yên and Phú Thọ are prioritizing green industrial zones and Net-Zero standards, focusing on circular waste management and renewable energy. Meanwhile, Tây Ninh is leveraging its strategic location to attract high-value projects in biotechnology and precision mechanics. Additionally, domestic industries, such as coal mining and mechanical engineering, are increasingly adopting automation and green technologies to meet international environmental standards and improve resource management.