2025 closed with many important milestones in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) and Vietnam's international trade activities.
Total registered FDI capital exceeded 38 billion USD, capital realized reached the highest level in 5 years, while import and export turnover approached the 930 billion USD mark, reflecting the resurgence of the manufacturing - export sector and the increasingly clear role of FDI in economic growth and international integration.
FDI in 2025 maintains growth momentum, highest realized capital in 5 years
According to statistical data compiled by the Statistics Office, by the end of December 2025, the total foreign direct investment registered in Vietnam reached about 38.42 billion USD. Capital flows continued to be supplemented through all three channels: newly licensed projects, capital increase adjustments and capital contributions, share purchases, reflecting the stable interest of foreign investors in the domestic business environment.
Notably, FDI capital implemented in 2025 is estimated to reach about 27.6 billion USD, an increase of nearly 9% compared to the previous year and the highest level in 5 years. This result shows that the capital absorption capacity of the economy continues to improve, and also reflects that many FDI projects have entered a stage of substantial implementation, directly contributing to production and growth.
By sector, the processing and manufacturing industry is still the main destination of FDI capital, accounting for the largest proportion of total realized capital. This structure is consistent with the orientation of attracting investment associated with production, export and deeper participation in Vietnam's global supply chain.
Import and export in 2025 approach 930 billion USD, maintaining trade surplus
Parallel to FDI capital flows, Vietnam's commodity trade activities in 2025 continued to record a new record. According to the Customs Department, total import and export turnover for the whole year reached about 930 billion USD, a sharp increase compared to 2024 and belongs to the highest group ever.
In which, export turnover is estimated at over 470 billion USD, an increase of about 15–17%, showing that the recovery and expansion of export markets continue to be maintained. Imports reached over 450 billion USD, mainly serving the demand for raw materials and components for domestic production, reflecting the dynamism of the production and business sector.
The trade balance continues to maintain a trade surplus of about 20–21 billion USD, marking many consecutive years of Vietnam maintaining a trade surplus status. The export structure focuses on key industry groups such as electronics, machinery, textiles, footwear, and wooden furniture; while major markets such as the United States, European Union, China and South Korea continue to play an important role, contributing to market diversification and risk diversification in the context of volatile global trade.
The role of FDI in the context of improving growth quality
Statistical reports show that the FDI enterprise sector continues to account for about 70–72% of Vietnam's total import and export turnover in 2025.
Along with the positive results, experts believe that in the coming period, it is necessary to continue to shift the focus from attracting FDI on a large scale to improving the quality of capital flows. The focus includes encouraging high-tech projects, increasing the localization rate, strengthening links with domestic enterprises and creating more skilled jobs for workers.
Vietnam's implementation of new policies such as global minimum tax, promoting administrative procedure reform and investing in improving infrastructure quality is expected to contribute to filtering and attracting more effectively FDI capital flows in the coming time, while ensuring harmonious benefits between the State, investors and workers.
Overall, 2025 marks the stability and sustainability of FDI capital flows, along with new records in import and export. The achieved results not only strengthen the confidence of foreign investors in the Vietnamese business environment, but also create an important foundation for the economy to enter a new stage of development - attracting more selective FDI, closely linking investment, trade and long-term growth quality.
In the context of a still uncertain world economy, the results achieved in 2025 create an important foundation for Vietnam to enter a new stage of development, with the goal of attracting more selective FDI and improving the quality of growth, closerly linking investment, trade and long-term benefits of the economy.
