Sizeable investments signal FDI bright spot

Vietnam's push to attract higher-quality foreign investment is beginning to pay off, as the reemergence of billion-dollar projects signals growing confidence in its high-tech ambitions.

- By Huong Ha

A standout development in the country's foreign direct investment (FDI) performance in the first two months of 2026 was the licensing of a $1.2 billion complex in high-end printed circuit board manufacturing, marking the reemergence of large-scale investments in the technology space.

According to the Foreign Investment Agency (FIA), which is under the Ministry of Finance, the investment, which the investor currently wishes to keep the details of under wraps, represents a bright spot in attracting major high-tech investments.

"Its implementation underscores Vietnam's policy of selective FDI attraction, prioritising advanced technologies, high value-added ventures and stronger links with domestic enterprises," the agency noted in a report in early March.

Supported by this undertaking, total registered FDI in the first two months of 2026 exceeded $6 billion. While this marks a 12.6 per cent on-year decline, the figure remains relatively positive given heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and ongoing volatility in global trade and tax policies.

"Multinational corporations are increasingly adopting a cautious approach, focusing on optimising existing supply chains and reassessing overseas expansion plans," said Van Duc Phu from the FIA's northern Investment Promotion, Information and Support Centre.