Vietnam's foreign investment inflows accelerated sharply in the first seven months of 2026, supported by billion-dollar projects from several Asian economies.

Years of sustained investment are paying dividends for Thailand's biggest companies as Vietnam continues to emerge as one of their most important overseas markets.

Vietnam's economy has delivered one of its strongest first-half performances in years, supported by investment, exports and tourism, while risks remain on the horizon.

Vietnam is entering a new phase in attracting FDI, with the emphasis shifting from the volume of capital inflows to technology, innovation and added value creation, following the issuance of Politburo Resolution No. 10-NQ/TW.

Foreign digital service providers paid more than 12.5 trillion VND (479.5 million USD) in taxes through Vietnam's foreign supplier portal during the first six months of this year, underscoring the rapid growth of cross-border digital tax collections.

After nearly four decades of opening up, Vietnam's success in attracting FDI hardly needs further proof.

Gia Lai showcased its investment potential in Shanghai, Suzhou and Ningbo as it looked to attract high-value Chinese investment.

HCM City is home to 20,259 FDI projects with total registered capital of nearly 142 billion USD from 152 countries and territories. In the first half of 2026, the city attracted more than 6.8 billion USD, fulfilling 62% of its annual target.

Experts at the Vietnam Industrial Park Summit 2026 called for a fundamental overhaul of the country's industrial park model to support long-term industrial growth.

Vietnam's industrial parks are being urged to adopt AI, data-driven management and green technologies to strengthen their appeal to multinational manufacturers.

Resolution 10 marks a new phase in Vietnam's FDI strategy, emphasizing technology transfer, local supply chains and stronger links between foreign investors and domestic firms.

Instead of concentrating mainly on attracting foreign capital, Resolution No. 10-NQ/TW emphasises building a foreign-invested sector that is closely integrated with the domestic sector to create new growth drivers for the country.

The Politburo’s Resolution 10 has shifted from the mindset of "attracting FDI" to "creating a high-quality investment ecosystem," and from the pursuit of pure growth to development closely linked with national defense, security, and foreign affairs.

Vietnam is entering a new phase in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) with a double challenge - securing larger capital inflows while ensuring that new projects deliver higher technological value.

According to the Department of Finance, as of May 31, the city had nearly 21,000 active FDI projects worth over 143.3 billion USD, remaining Vietnam’s leading FDI destination. In the first half of 2026, FDI reached over 6.8 billion USD.

Vietnam attracted 34.65 billion USD in foreign direct investment (FDI) in the first six months of 2026, while disbursed FDI reached its highest first-half level in five years, according to the National Statistics Office (NSO).

Strong manufacturing investment helped Vietnam attract $34.65 billion in FDI during the first half of 2026, led by Thai Nguyen and Singaporean investors.

For many years, FDI has been a major advantage for Vietnam. But in the new phase, FDI cannot merely be an advantage in terms of capital, jobs, and exports. The country needs to transform FDI into enhancing the capability of Vietnamese businesses.

Vietnam's decades-long growth model delivered remarkable success. But as global competition changes, the country now faces a more fundamental challenge - creating its own competitive advantage.