According to the Vietnam Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), as of May 20, 2024, foreign investors registered 1538 projects with nearly 9.54 billion USD, up 18.9% in the project number and 46.9% in capital as compared to the same period last year.

Foreign firms invested in 18 out of the 21 economic sectors, of which the processing and manufacturing industry took the lead with 10.69 billion USD. The real estate came next with a total investment of more than 2.47 billion USD, increasing 61.5% year-on-year. Followed were wholesale and retail, and professional, scientific and technological activities with over 614 million USD and nearly 452 million USD, respectively.

Among the 84 countries and territories having investment in Vietnam in the first six months, Singapore was the largest investor with approximately 5.58 billion USD, making up of 36.7% of the total and growing 86% year-on-year. Japan came second with more than 1.73 billion USD, making up 11.4% of the total investment, and dropping 21.6% than the figure as compared with the same period last year. Followed by Hong Kong (China), South Korea, and China.

The foreign businesses invested in 48 provinces and cities nationwide in the first six months of 2024. . Bac Ninh led in FDI attraction with 2.58 billion USD, making up 17% of the total and 3.1 times higher than the figure of previous year. Ba Ria – Vung Tau ranked second with nearly 1.54 billion USD, accounting 10.1% of the total and 12 times higher as compared with the same period last year. Quang Ninh ranked third with a total registered capital of over 1.36 billion USD, accounting for 9% of the total. Followed by Ha Noi, Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh City and so on. Ho Chi Minh City was the best performer in attracting new projects (38.8%), and capital contributions and share purchases (71.5%); Bac Ninh led in added capital (13.5%).

In the first six months of 2024, the FDI sector saw a trade surplus of 22.62 billion USD including crude oil and over 21.62 billion USD excluding crude oil, while the domestic sector had a trade deficit of over 13.3 billion USD.

Vietnam economy depends heavily on FDI sector and on surplus export to US (+100 billion USD) and European Union market (+36 billion USD), while the trade balance with China remains deficit with more than 60 billion USD.