As of January 20, newly-registered, additional, and capital contributions and share purchases by foreign investors totaled over $2.36 billion during the month, marking a 40.2 per cent increase compared to January 2023, figures from the Foreign Investment Agency (FIA) at the Ministry of Planning and Investment show.

This represents a notable return to positivity, after the January 2023 figure was down 19.8 per cent year-on-year.

Newly-registered capital stood at $2 billion, up 66.9 per cent, which the FIA said is attributable to a rapid rise in the number of new projects, to 190, up 24.2 per cent, including sizeable investments such as a large urban development project in Hanoi with total capital of over $662 million.

Seventy-five existing projects, meanwhile, registered to add $235.4 million in capital, down 15.7 per cent year-on-year in number and 23.1 per cent in volume. There were also 174 instances of capital contributions and share purchases, a decline of 14.7 per cent, with total capital of over $116.5 million.

Alongside positive trends in registered capital, disbursement during January also showed promise, hitting $1.48 billion, for a 9.6 per cent increase compared to January 2023.

Investments flowed into Vietnam from 39 countries and territories during the opening month of the year. Singapore took the lead, with over $1.4 billion, or 59.5 per cent of the total and up 72.8 per cent year-on-year. Japan followed, with nearly $297 million, or 12.6 per cent of the total and a seven-fold increase year-on-year, then Samoa, China, and Hong Kong (China).

China led in new investments, with almost 19 per cent of all new projects. South Korea had the most additional capital, with 26.7 per cent of the total, and also capital contributions and share purchases, with 25.3 per cent.

Foreign investment went to 35 of Vietnam’s 63 cities and provinces. Hanoi topped the list, with over $867 million in capital, or 36.7 per cent of the total and up 39.7-fold year-on-year. The southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau followed, with nearly $282 million in capital, or 11.9 per cent of the nationwide total, followed by Bac Giang, Bac Ninh, and Dong Nai.

As of January 20, Vietnam had 39,377 active foreign investment projects with almost $471.9 billion in registered capital. Disbursed capital is estimated at nearly $298.66 billion, or approximately 63.3 per cent of total registered capital still in effect.