According to the General Statistics Office under the Ministry of Finance, Vietnam’s industrial diversification is becoming more apparent, especially in high-tech and high-value segments.

In the first half of 2025, products in the computing, electronics, and optics group accounted for over 19% of newly registered FDI in manufacturing, with 99 new projects.

In the first six months of 2025, foreign investors registered a total of $21.5 billion in Vietnam, a 32.6% increase compared to the same period in 2024. Manufacturing remained the top recipient with nearly $11.97 billion, representing 56.5% of total registered capital and marking a 32% year-on-year increase.

Of this, newly registered FDI in manufacturing reached $5.01 billion. The number of new projects rose sharply due to the ongoing shift and restructuring of global supply chains. Vietnam recorded 759 new manufacturing projects in H1 2025, up 40% from the same period last year.

The northern region remained the leading FDI destination, attracting 54% of total capital and over 380 projects. The central region doubled its market share from 3% to 6% thanks to improved logistics and lower operational costs in several provinces.

China retained its top position among foreign investors, accounting for 23.4% of total registered capital, followed by Singapore (15.6%), Hong Kong (12.3%), Taiwan, and Japan. The United States remained modest in comparison, contributing less than 5%. In terms of project volume, China also led with 277 new manufacturing projects.

Key provinces and sectors

Among the standout provinces were Bac Ninh, Ha Nam, and Dong Nai. Bac Ninh led with over 13% of total new manufacturing FDI and the highest number of projects (115). Ha Nam followed with 10% of capital across 33 projects. In the south, Dong Nai secured 8% with 58 projects, while Ba Ria-Vung Tau also claimed 8% with 19 projects.

Vietnam’s shift toward industrial diversification is evident across various sectors, particularly high-value and high-tech fields.

The computing, electronics, and optics category alone made up more than 19% of all new manufacturing FDI in H1 2025.

Notably, ready-built factory transactions surpassed land lease deals in number for the first time. Of the 759 new FDI manufacturing projects, 410 (54%) opted for leasing ready-built factories rather than land.

This trend reflects a market preference for speed, flexibility, and scalability - especially in electronics, assembly, and packaging industries, where companies seek rapid entry and lower upfront investment.

The rise of ESG-compliant, automated factories

Analysis by Savills Vietnam indicates that this shift creates opportunities for investors to develop standard-compliant, ESG-ready factory supply chains prepared for automation.

However, in terms of investment value, land deals still dominated at 76% (approximately $3.84 billion), while ready-built factories claimed 24% - a significant rise from 14% in the same period last year.

This narrowing gap signals growing interest in ready-built factory models due to their lower capital expenditure (CAPEX) and higher operational flexibility.

The regional breakdown of factory project ratios shows the north at 54%, the south at 57%, and the central region at 41%.

PV