Republic of Korea's major projects expected to drive Vietnam’s FDI surge
Large-scale projects invested by Korean investors in strategic sectors such as semiconductors and energy are poised to give a strong boost to foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows into Vietnam, creating momentum to attract more high-value projects from global investors.
Workers at a wholly Republic of Korea-invested factory. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) 𓂃– Large-scale projects invested by Korean investors in strategic sectors such as semiconductors and energy are poised to give a strong boost to foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows into Vietnam, creating momentum to attract more high-value projects from global investors.
FDI maintains strong growth despite global slowdown
FDI inflows into Vietnam has remained vibrant despite the global investment slowdown caused by geopolitical uncertainties and US tariff policies.
According to the Foreign Investment Agency under the Ministry of Finance, in the first seven months of 2025, registered FDI reached over 24.1 billion USD, up 27.3% year-on-year, while disbursed capital hit 13.6 billion USD, up 8.4%.
Notably, adjusted capital surged by 95.3% to nearly 10 billion USD, while capital contributed through share purchases climbed 61% to more than 4 billion USD. The number of new projects, capital adjustments, and share purchase transactions all rose from a year earlier. In July alone, although the number of projects declined compared to June, adjusted capital more than doubled to 1.04 billion USD, while capital through share purchases jumped 84.5% to nearly 790 million USD.
This reflects a trend towards more selective, large-scale deals in mid-year, the agency noted, adding that accelerating FDI inflows demonstrate continued investor confidence in Vietnam’s potential.
At the inauguration of Coherent’s 127 million USD plant in the southern province of Dong Nai, Gary Kapusta, Chief Supply Chain Officer at Coherent Corp, said that the company now employs some 2,000 people in Vietnam and considers the country a central hub for its global production, product development, and photonics technology innovation.
Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung said Coherent’s investment will help Vietnam become a key link in the global semiconductor chain, joining major tech names such as Nvidia, Apple, Google, Qualcomm, Amkor, Marvell, Intel, and Meta.
However, at the Government's regular July meeting, Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang acknowledged that Vietnam still lacks major and high-tech projects, with new registered FDI in the first seven months down 11.1% year-on-year to just over 10 billion USD.
Turning Korean investment plans into reality
To attract more FDI, Vietnam needs large-scale, high-tech, and strategic industry projects. In this context, Deputy PM Dung recently chaired a meeting to review and promote Korean investors’ projects in strategic sectors, including semiconductors and energy.
Korean businesses showcase their products in Khanh Hoa province. (Photo: VNA)
This year also marks the 30th anniversary of Samsung’s investment in Vietnam. The Korean conglomerate has invested over 23.2 billion USD in the Southeast Asian country, not only in manufacturing but also in research and development. Its 220 million USD R&D centre in Hanoi, inaugurated in late 2022, underscores Vietnam’s growing role in Samsung’s global strategy. The Government hopes Samsung will expand into semiconductor manufacturing in Vietnam.
Samsung will continue to deepen its partnership with the Vietnamese Government for mutual benefit, while striving to become a trusted and beloved company among the Vietnamese people, said Na Ki Hong, General Director of Samsung Vietnam.
Other Korean giants such as LG, Hyosung, Lotte, Hana Micron, and SK Group are also moving forward with new plans. SK, after investing billions of USD in Vietnamese firms, including Vingroup, Masan, and Pharmacity, is planning three LNG-to-power projects worth over 10 billion USD, alongside initiatives in AI, hydrogen, logistics, green agriculture, and innovation.
LG Energy Solution has also explored investment opportunities in northern Phu Tho province, proposing cooperation in electric vehicle battery production, charging stations, and battery-swapping infrastructure, using official development assistance (ODA) funding from the Korean Government.
Industry experts agreed that if these strategic projects from Korean investors are realised, they will not only strengthen the Republic of Korea's position as one of Vietnam’s top investors but also serve as a catalyst for broader FDI growth, attracting more global technology firms to Vietnam’s strategic industries./.
Vietnamese Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung and his Korean counterpart Chae Hwi Young co-chaired a Vietnam – Republic of Korea (RoK) dialogue on cultural industry cooperation in Seoul on August 11, as part of the ongoing state visit by Party General Secretary To Lam and his spouse.
The state visit to the RoK by Vietnamese Party General Secretary To Lam and his spouse was a great success, marking a significant milestone and opening a new chapter in the Vietnam–RoK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Party General Secretary Lam called on the RoK to help enhance the capacity of Vietnamese firms to integrate more deeply into the global supply chains of Korean companies, and to encourage Korean businesses to expand investment in Vietnam, particularly in infrastructure development, high-tech electronics manufacturing, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, renewable energy, and smart cities.
The recent administrative merger offers a unique opportunity to establish a unified and synchronised logistics system, turning the Southeastern Key Economic Region into a high-performing hub for trade, investment, and marine economy.
Vietnam’s state budget revenue from import-export activities reached over 261.37 trillion (9.97 billion USD) in the first seven months of 2025, equivalent to 63.6% of the annual estimate and 55.6% of the targeted goal, marking a 9.1% increase year-on-year, the Department of Customs reported.
Experts warned that excessive capital concentration in high-risk sectors like real estate and securities, risks of imbalances and non-performing loans could increase.
Demand for durians in the Chinese market is surging, prompting growing interest among importers in seeking supply from Vietnam. With its geographical proximity, short transport time and distinctive flavour, Vietnamese durian is highly regarded for both quality and long-term growth potential.
EVN leaders said CMIS has advanced to version 4.0 over the past two decades, fully digitising operations and customer services while handling data for over 32 million clients and processing hundreds of millions of transactions each year.
With a combined market of over 370 million consumers, Vietnam and Indonesia leverage agricultural strengths: Vietnam leads in rice exports, while Indonesia dominates palm oil and coffee and is advancing toward rice self-sufficiency. Key cooperation opportunities span sustainable fisheries, hi-tech farming, agricultural science innovation, integrated value chains, and market access.
In the first seven months of this year, retail sales of goods were estimated at approximately 3.05 quadrillion VND, accounting for 76.4% of the total revenue and rising by 7.8% compared to the same period last year.
Under the agreement, customers will enjoy tailored financing solutions, including attractive interest rates, flexible repayment options, 100% on-road funding, exclusive offers and priority services - applicable across VinFast’s entire product portfolio. Dedicated HDFC Bank representatives will be available at all VinFast showrooms to provide on-site support, making EV ownership more accessible and convenient for a wider range of Indian consumers.
Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows into Ho Chi Minh City rebounded strongly in the first seven months of 2025, reaching nearly 6.2 billion USD, up 45.67% year-on-year after a slowdown last year.
To meet the ambitious annual target of 47–48 billion USD, the sector must now achieve monthly exports of over 4 billion USD during the remaining months of the year.
The Airbus A321NX is the first in a fleet of eight modern aircraft scheduled for delivery and operation throughout 2025, marking the beginning of Sun PhuQuoc Airways’ carefully planned investment strategy to build a modern fleet operating with safety, stability, and world-class standards.
Experts say that after over a decade of implementation, the credit growth quota policy is currently inappropriate and is criticised for creating an “ask and give mechanism”, hindering people and businesses from accessing bank loans.
The country's industrial growth in the period was largely fuelled by the manufacturing and processing sector, which expanded by 10.3% and contributed 8.5 percentage points to the overall IIP.
VietnamUSA.Arobid.com is Vietnam’s first B2B e-commerce platform dedicated to helping Vietnamese enterprises access the US market, a vast and promising market, yet one that is highly demanding in terms of standards, tariffs, and distribution channels.
The Vietnamese booth featured fresh durian, durian ice cream, durian cakes, and other fruits such as dragon fruit and passion fruit, attracting strong interest from Beijing residents and ASEAN diplomats.
