The Republic of Korea (RoK) has been the biggest investor among 86 countries and territories investing Vietnam so far this year, with total investment of 2.63 billion USD, accounting for 26.5 percent of total foreign direct investment (FDI) the country has attracted in the reviewed period.

A view at the Samsung factory in Thai Nguyen where cellphones are manufactured. 

According to the Foreign Investment Agency under the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the RoK was followed by Japan with 1.52 billion USD and Singapore with 1.11 billion USD. 

In 2017, the RoK was the second largest foreign investor in Vietnam, just behind Japan, with total registered capital of 8.49 billion USD. But in terms of accumulative investment, the country ranked first among 125 countries and territories investing in Vietnam, with total investment capital of 57.7 billion USD by the end of December 2017.

The agency reported that in the first five months of 2018, Vietnam attracted 9.9 billion USD of FDI, equivalent to 81.6 percent of that in the same period last year. 

Of which, the processing and manufacturing industry lured 5.18 billion USD, or 52.3 percent, while real estate enjoyed 1.07 billion USD, and retail and wholesale sector attracted 1.02 billion USD.

Ho Chi Minh City has been the most attractive destination out of 53 cities and provinces in FDI attraction. The city lured 2.39 billion USD, or 24.2 percent of total investment. Hai Phong ranked second with 1.07 billion USD, followed by Hanoi with 835.3 million USD.-VNA