Ho Chi Minh City targets high-quality FDI inflows

The goal of 11 billion USD in FDI this year comes amid rising registered capital and the emergence of billion-USD projects that are injecting fresh momentum into the investment landscape.

Ho Chi Minh City has set a target of attracting 11 billion USD in foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2026, prioritising high technology, logistics, and financial – commercial centre projects. The goal comes amid rising registered capital and the emergence of billion-USD projects that are injecting fresh momentum into the investment landscape.

Rising capital flows into data infrastructure

Hoang Vu Thanh, Acting Director of the municipal Department of Finance, said total FDI inflows in the first two months of 2026, including newly registered projects, capital adjustments, and capital contributions or share purchases, reached nearly 979.6 million USD, up 28.4% year-on-year.

Ho Chi Minh City targets high-quality FDI inflows -0
Ho Chi Minh City targets a 15% increase in newly licensed projects, construction permits given, and land-use right certificates granted compared to 2025. Photo: VNA

The city granted investment registration certificates to 286 new projects, with total registered capital exceeding 242.8 million USD. Meanwhile, 59 existing projects raised their capital, recording a net increase of 480.6 million USD. In addition, 305 transactions involving foreign investors contributing capital, purchasing shares, or acquiring stakes in domestic enterprises were recorded, with total registered capital of approximately 256.2 million USD.

This structure indicates that capital inflows are driven not only by new projects but also by the expansion of existing operations, reflecting sustained investor confidence. Additional capital is particularly significant as it is typically associated with operationally effective projects that demonstrate long-term prospects.

A notable highlight is the sharp rise in investment in data infrastructure. In February 2026, UAE-based technology group G42, in partnership with a consortium of Vietnamese investors, signed a long-term framework agreement to develop a large-scale data centre system in Vietnam, with planned investment totalling up to 2 billion USD.

In addition, a US investor is advancing a similar data centre project with an estimated investment of around 2 billion USD.

Nguyen Van Duoc, Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee, noted that these investors have pledged to disburse approximately 60% of total capital, equivalent to 1.2 billion USD, by the second quarter of 2026.

The early and substantial disbursement commitment underscores investors’ readiness and determination to implement their projects, providing a concrete basis for the city to realise its full-year FDI target.

Ho Chi Minh City currently leads the country in cumulative valid FDI capital, with 142.9 billion USD across 20,756 active projects. This scale not only reflects the attractiveness of its investment environment but also affirms its role as a key economic and financial hub within regional production and service networks.

Selective investment attraction

This year, Ho Chi Minh City is targeting selective FDI attraction, focusing on high technology, digital transformation, logistics, and financial – commercial centres which are characterised by high added value, technological spillovers, and global supply chain connectivity. The Vietnam International Financial Centre in the city and the Cai Mep Ha Free Trade Zone are viewed as pivotal projects in this strategy.

At the same time, the southern metropolis is accelerating the expansion of its Hi-Tech Park, developing smart and eco-industrial parks and export processing zones, preparing clean land sources, and ensuring stable digital and energy infrastructure. These measures are designed to anticipate shifts in global production and supply chain restructuring amid evolving geopolitical and trade dynamics.

Institutional reform is central to achieving the 11 billion USD target. In 2026, the city plans to eliminate or simplify 100% of unnecessary, overlapping, or unclear investment and business conditions, and abolish all business conditions for sectors not subject to conditional investment under the Law on Investment.

Notably, it aims to reduce administrative procedure processing times and compliance costs by 50%. Procedures will be restructured based on digital data, eliminating the requirement for individuals and businesses to resubmit documents that have already been digitised, while avoiding the issuance of impractical new regulations or standards. Effective implementation of the Government’s Resolution 66/2025/NQ-CP on data-based administrative reform is considered a critical lever to improve investor experience.

The city also targets a 15% increase in newly licensed projects, construction permits given, and land-use right certificates granted compared to 2025. A dedicated task force will continue to review and remove obstacles for stalled projects and land areas, expediting progress on projects with hindrances cleared in 2025 and resolving outstanding issues.

A new feature of the 2026 investment promotion strategy is the planned establishment of specialised working groups to engage directly with major global technology corporations and strategic investors. This tailored approach will enable the city to proactively propose competitive and internationally benchmarked incentives to attract large-scale, high-tech projects.

VNA

Other News

Plan issued to develop agricultural logistics system

Plan issued to develop agricultural logistics system

A key target is that by 2030, all concentrated agricultural, forestry and fisheries production areas will have access to essential services, including product traceability, quarantine, testing, quality certification, processing and market development. The move reflects growing international demand for stricter food safety, quality and traceability standards, which have become increasingly important for agricultural exports.

Vietnam seeks stronger export growth in H2

Vietnam seeks stronger export growth in H2

Despite the encouraging performance, Vietnam's exports remain heavily dependent on a limited number of major markets and product groups, while the domestic value added of many export products remains relatively low because of their reliance on imported raw materials and components.

RoK picks Vietnam as K-Food logistics hub for ASEAN expansion

RoK picks Vietnam as K-Food logistics hub for ASEAN expansion

Demand for Korean food in Vietnam has continued to grow rapidly alongside the popularity of the Korean Wave, or Hallyu, making the country a strategic market in the RoK's plan to expand agricultural and food exports to ASEAN, the RoK's Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said.

Nearly 68,000 smuggling, trade fraud, counterfeit cases uncovered in H1

Nearly 68,000 smuggling, trade fraud, counterfeit cases uncovered in H1

Authorities detected and handled 67,937 violations in the first half of the year, up 36.66% year-on-year. Budget revenue from enforcement reached nearly 9.65 trillion VND (nearly 367 million USD), an increase of 49.36%, while investigation was launched into 1,676 criminal cases involving 2,789 suspects.

Vietnam joins global push for energy efficiency

Vietnam joins global push for energy efficiency

Participation in the Montreal Declaration also provides a foundation for Vietnam to explore deeper engagement with the IEA's multilateral energy efficiency initiatives, offering opportunities to access data, policy experience, technical tools and public-private partnership models in energy conservation.

Vietnam's Q2 GDP rises 8.39% amid broad-based economic growth

Vietnam's Q2 GDP rises 8.39% amid broad-based economic growth

Releasing the country's socio-economic data for the second quarter and the first half of the year on July 3, NSO Director Nguyen Thi Huong said Vietnam sustained positive growth across most industries and sectors despite a challenging international economic environment.

Public-private partnerships drive low-emission rice farming

Public-private partnerships drive low-emission rice farming

Experts agreed that integrating nutrient management, biotechnology, mechanisation and digital technologies will enhance productivity, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and accelerate the transition towards greener, more sustainable rice production.

Vietnam's tilapia exports maintain strong growth

Vietnam's tilapia exports maintain strong growth

Vietnam's tilapia export revenue in the first five months of 2026 hit 62 million USD, more than doubling that in the same period last year, reflecting a strong recovery in international demand

Vietnam's domestic carbon exchange launched

Vietnam's domestic carbon exchange launched

The carbon exchange creates a mechanism that enables businesses to optimise emission-reduction costs through trading emission quotas and carbon credits, encourages technological innovation, and supports sustainable development while maintaining the principle of not sacrificing the environment for economic growth.

SBV raises short-term capital lending cap to 40%

SBV raises short-term capital lending cap to 40%

The new circular will help credit institutions have more room to provide capital to businesses and investment projects to support high economic growth in the next few years, while increasing flexibility in the SBV’s monetary policy management.

Business confidence in Vietnam rebounds strongly: UOB

Business confidence in Vietnam rebounds strongly: UOB

The study found that 85% of Vietnamese enterprises reported positive business sentiment, a sharp increase from 48% in 2025, when business confidence was weighed down by uncertainties surrounding US tariff policies and related trade developments.

Bac Ninh seeks high-quality foreign investment for sustainable growth

Bac Ninh seeks high-quality foreign investment for sustainable growth

According to Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Pham Van Thinh, the province aims to maintain stable and sustainable growth, improve the competitiveness of both the economy and local businesses, and make better use of free trade agreements (FTAs) to expand and diversify export markets.