In particular, the South Korean delegation praised the Vietnam-Korea Institute of Science and Technology (VKIST) as a flagship model for bilateral cooperation.

Vietnam encourages South Korean enterprises to bolster new investments and expand their operations in the country, particularly in priority sectors such as infrastructure, high-tech electronic manufacturing, semiconductors, big data, biotechnology, and smart cities.

Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung made these remarks while hosting South Korea’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT, Mr. Bae Kyung Hoon, in Hanoi on April 22.

The meeting was held as part of the state visit to Vietnam by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung to Vietnam between April 21-24.

The Vietnamese Deputy PM urged ministries and agencies from both nations to continue their close coordination to ensure the effective operation of cooperation mechanisms. He emphasized the need to translate policy agreements into concrete, practical projects that yield tangible benefits.

South Korean Deputy PM Bae Kyung Hoon, for his part, highlighted that many major South Korean corporations highly value Vietnam's development potential and high-quality human resources. He noted that the two sides are currently expanding cooperation across various fields, including agriculture, human resource training, and the implementation of Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects.

In particular, the South Korean delegation praised the Vietnam-Korea Institute of Science and Technology (VKIST) as a flagship model for bilateral cooperation.

Deputy PM Bae Kyung Hoon expressed his expectation that VKIST would continue to evolve into a symbol of the enduring partnership between the two countries.

The South Korean side committed to strengthening support and coordination for the effective implementation of projects related to VKIST. The goal is to transform the institute into more than just a research facility, serving as a vital bridge for business collaboration between the two nations. VKIST is also envisioned as a foundation for joint human resource training programs, specifically in software development and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The South Korean Deputy PM further emphasized the vast potential of Vietnam's young workforce and expressed his hope for enhanced cooperation in cutting-edge sectors such as AI and the semiconductor industry—key areas of focus for the South Korean Government.

AG&P LNG, a subsidiary of U.S.-based energy investment firm Nebula Energy, has agreed to acquire the remaining stake in the Cai Mep LNG terminal in Ho Chi Minh City, paving the way for full ownership and a stronger presence in Vietnam’s liquefied natural gas sector.

According to shipping news outletTrade Winds, AG&P LNG on April 21 (U.S. time) reached an agreement to purchase the remaining 51 percent stake in Cai Mep LNG Terminal Company Limited, the terminal’s owner, from Hai Linh Co. Ltd., lifting its ownership to 100 percent.

Both companies are headquartered in northern Phu Tho Province.

AG&P LNG previously held a 49-percent stake in the terminal, with the remainder owned by Hai Linh.

Upon completion, Cai Mep LNG Terminal Company Limited will become a wholly owned subsidiary of AG&P LNG, while Hai Linh will divest its entire stake.

The deal value has not been disclosed.

The transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.

AG&P LNG said the Cai Mep LNG terminal can be expanded to a capacity of up to six million metric tons per year and will serve as a core LNG import facility within Nebula Energy’s global portfolio.

The terminal is one of only two LNG import facilities currently in operation in Vietnam.

It is located in the former Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, now part of Ho Chi Minh City following a national administrative restructuring that took effect on July 1, 2025.

Le Van Tam, general director of Hai Linh, said the divestment would allow the company to focus on its petroleum business and the Hiep Phuoc power project, while enabling the terminal to be further developed by a specialized LNG infrastructure operator.

Completed and commissioned in 2025, the Cai Mep LNG terminal is ready to supply stable LNG volumes to downstream customers in southern Vietnam.

Situated near the Mekong Delta, the facility has three onshore storage tanks with a total capacity of 220,000 cubic meters and is equipped for break-bulk operations to reload LNG onto smaller vessels.

It also features 14 loading bays for compressed natural gas (CNG) and LNG trucks.

The terminal is not only connected to the nearby Phu My Industrial Park but also linked via pipeline to the Phu My gas-fired power complex, the country’s largest facility of its kind with a capacity of around 3.9 GW.

Peter Gibson, chairman of Nebula Energy, described the move to full ownership as a significant milestone for AG&P LNG and Vietnam’s broader energy transition.

AG&P LNG said the terminal’s connectivity via major expressways to key demand centers has made it a critical link in Vietnam’s emerging LNG-to-power value chain.

The acquisition is expected to accelerate capacity expansion, strengthen downstream gas distribution, and fully integrate the Cai Mep terminal into Nebula Energy’s global LNG network.

Impressive FDI figures for the opening quarter of 2026 confirm the belief investors hold in Vietnam’s future.

Vietnam kicked off 2026 on a high note in terms of FDI, posting robust growth in the opening months of the year. Data released by the National Statistics Office (NSO) at the Ministry of Finance put total registered FDI at $15.2 billion in the first quarter, for a significant 42.9 per cent increase year-on-year.

The surge reflected foreign investors’ confidence in Vietnam despite geopolitical tensions, trade uncertainties, and economic slowdowns in some major markets. “The increase in registered FDI is not purely a short-term spike, but reflects sustained investor confidence in Vietnam as a regional production and operational base,” Mr. Matthew Lourey, Chairman of Alitium, told Vietnam Economic Times / VnEconomy. “Vietnam remains one of the most logical beneficiaries of this shift, given its manufacturing ecosystem, workforce profile, and trade connectivity.”

Key standout projects

FDI inflows were geographically concentrated in key economic zones. According to the NSO, Ho Chi Minh City saw a dramatic surge in capital, attracting nearly $2.9 billion in the first quarter, an increase of over 200 per cent against the same period last year and driven by projects in technology, media, and manufacturing.

For example, the TikTok Shop Vietnam Company Limited was licensed to implement a new project with capital of $125 million in the information and communication industry. This was one of the most prominent investments in the period, reflecting growing interest in digital platforms and e-commerce infrastructure. The Netherlands’ MSD Animal Health Vietnam, meanwhile, added capital of $80 million in professional, scientific, and technological activities.

Other notable expansions in Ho Chi Minh City included the SP Vietnam Ho Chi Minh JSC adding capital of $67 million to investments in the communications industry, and the Momogi Group Vietnam registering a capital contribution of over $64.3 million in Bibica.

Meanwhile, northern provinces like Bac Ninh and Thai Nguyen remained magnets for heavy manufacturing, especially electronics and components, with contributions from South Korea, Singapore, and elsewhere.

Bac Ninh licensed 138 new projects and approved capital increases to 89 existing projects during the first quarter of the year, with total registered and additional investment capital standing at some $5.2 billion. Notable projects included Foxconn from Taiwan (China) adding $287.1 million to investment in its Bac Ninh facility to expand production capacity in electronic assembly, and Cooler Master Vietnam, a Taiwan (China)-based computer hardware manufacturer, investing $100 million in a facility at Bac Ninh’s Gia Binh Industrial Park.

In terms of investment destinations, Thai Nguyen led the country in attracting new FDI, with total newly-registered capital exceeding $5.4 billion in the first quarter, and it continues to be a key hub for Samsung-related and high-tech manufacturing.

Overall, the first quarter of 2026 demonstrated Vietnam’s continued attractiveness for quality FDI with a mix of new projects and expansions that boosted employment, technology transfer, and export capacity. As Vietnam navigates a complex global landscape, this strong start to the year positions Vietnam as a bright spot in regional investment flows.

Sustaining momentum

According to the NSO, disbursed FDI reached an estimated $5.41 billion in the first quarter, up 9.1 per cent year-on-year and marking the highest first-quarter disbursement for the past five years, since 2022. The manufacturing and processing industry attracted the largest share, with $7.07 billion in newly-registered capital, accounting for 69 per cent of the total for new projects. The sector continued to benefit from global supply chain diversification as companies sought resilient alternatives for electronics, semiconductors, and consumer goods assembly.

There is also growing momentum in higher-value electronics, support industries, and industrial infrastructure. In parallel, logistics, data infrastructure, and business services are seeing increased investment, reflecting Vietnam’s transition from a purely production-focused market to a more integrated regional hub.

In terms of investor profiles, there is continued strength from North Asian investors, alongside sustained interest from Singapore-based holding structures representing global investors operating through a Singapore-based regional hub. “There is also a notable increase in activity from mid-market European investors, particularly in advanced manufacturing and industrial services,” Mr. Lourey said.

However, it’s not a shift away from traditional manufacturing but an expansion alongside it. Vietnam continues to benefit from its role in global supply chain diversification, so electronics assembly, textiles, and general manufacturing remain the backbone of FDI inflows. Simultaneously, investors are increasingly allocating capital into future-oriented sectors such as AI, data infrastructure, and green technologies. “These are not always immediate return plays,” said Mr. Leif D. Schneider, Attorney & Country Head of law firm Luther in Vietnam. “They are strategic positioning investments linked to Vietnam’s long-term role in global value chains.”

He added that sustaining the required momentum to achieve the figurative “giant leap forward” requires addressing two structural constraints. The first is supply chain depth. Vietnam has made significant progress but is still largely an assembly hub in many sectors. The second constraint is talent. There is no shortage of workers but there is a clear gap when it comes to highly-specialized skills such as semiconductor engineering, advanced manufacturing, and energy systems. “Bridging that gap will be decisive,” he believes. “In the next phase, competitiveness will be defined less by cost advantage and more by capability. That is the transition Vietnam is currently navigating.”

According to Mr. Lourey, the disbursement figure of $5.41 billion in the first quarter is particularly encouraging, as it reflects not just commitments but actual execution. Several factors have contributed to improved implementation. Firstly, there is greater familiarity among repeat investors, who are able to navigate licensing, land access, and operational setup more efficiently. Secondly, regulatory processes, while still complex, are becoming more predictable in key localities with strong FDI track records. Thirdly, industrial infrastructure, including ready-built factories and industrial parks, has improved significantly, allowing for faster project mobilization.

Entering a new phase

Vietnam has already positioned itself very well from a strategic standpoint. The directions set at the 14th National Party Congress represent a renewed and fortified commitment to this course. “For 2026 and 2027, the key differentiator will not be new or different investment incentives,” Mr. Schneider said. “The measure of success in this regard is speed and predictability of implementation.”

In practical terms, bolstering Vietnam’s new wave of development requires faster licensing cycles, more efficient land allocation, and reliable power and digital infrastructure. High-value sectors such as semiconductors, AI, and data centers are not tolerant of uncertainty in electricity supply or connectivity. “If Vietnam can deliver consistency on those fronts, disbursement will accelerate naturally,” he explained.

At the same time, Vietnam is moving toward a more ecosystem-driven development model. Investors are no longer looking at standalone projects. They want integrated industrial clusters where suppliers, logistics, and talent are advantageously co-located. “If Vietnam succeeds in building those ecosystems it will significantly compress the time between commitment and actual capital deployment,” he continued. “Ultimately, the question investors are asking today is no longer ‘Why Vietnam?’ That case has already been made. The real question is how fast operations can be scaled.”

Looking ahead, Vietnam remains very well positioned to maintain strong FDI inflows through the remainder of 2026. “The underlying fundamentals - demographics, cost competitiveness, and strategic location - remain intact, and the government continues to demonstrate a clear commitment to attracting and facilitating foreign investment,” Mr. Lourey said.

For foreign investors, he went on, the key message is that Vietnam is a high-opportunity market but not a passive one. Success requires upfront structuring, careful planning, and a strong understanding of both regulatory requirements and practical implementation. Investors should focus on getting the fundamentals right from the outset, particularly around investment structuring, capital flows, and compliance frameworks.

Analyst view Vietnam’s first-quarter FDI figures as a positive sign for the year as a whole. To capitalize, continued reforms and infrastructure upgrades could enhance the business climate and reinforce Vietnam’s role as a dynamic emerging economy as well as underscore its enduring appeal as a manufacturing and supply chain hub in Southeast Asia.