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This marking the highest level recorded since 2009.

Vietnam attracted $54.85 billion in registered foreign direct investment (FDI) this year, as of October 31, 2026, up 74 per cent from the same period last year and the highest level recorded since 2009, according to a report released by the National Statistics Office on November 3.

The strong growth was largely driven by a surge in newly registered investment. During the 10-month period of 2026, Vietnam licensed 3,478 new projects, up 4.7 per cent year-on-year, with registered capital reaching $30.73 billion, 2.2 times the figure recorded in the same period of 2025. This indicates a growing concentration of investment in large-scale, high-technology projects.

Investor confidence was also reflected in additional capital commitments by existing investors. A total of 1,079 previously licensed projects registered capital increases worth $16.13 billion, up 33.2 per cent year-on-year.

Foreign investors also made 2,616 capital contribution and share purchase transactions worth $7.99 billion, an increase of 49.6 per cent. Of these, 828 transactions added $3.28 billion to companies’ charter capital, while 1,788 share purchases worth $4.71 billion did not increase charter capital.

Manufacturing and processing continued to attract the largest share of FDI. The sector secured $14.61 billion in newly registered capital, accounting for 47.5 per cent of the total. Including adjusted capital, its combined registered investment reached $24.19 billion, or 51.6 per cent of the $46.86 billion in new and adjusted project capital.

Among 80 countries and territories with newly licensed projects, Singapore ranked first with $9.52 billion, representing 31 per cent of newly registered capital. South Korea followed with $5.81 billion (18.9 per cent), ahead of Luxembourg with $4.99 billion (16.2 per cent). Other major investors included Hong Kong (China), with $3.57 billion; China with $2.77 billion; Japan with $1.58 billion; and the Netherlands with $438.5 million.

Disbursed FDI in the first 10 months was estimated at $24.08 billion, up 13.1 per cent year-on-year and the highest disbursement recorded for the same 10-month period in the past five years.

Transport sector making the biggest contribution to the overall CPI increase, driven by petrol price hike.

Vietnam’s consumer price index (CPI) increased by 0.20 per cent in October compared with the previous month, while average CPI for the first 10 months of 2026 rose 4.57 per cent year-on-year, according to a report released by the National Statistics Office on November 3.

Of the 11 major groups of consumer goods and services, seven recorded price increases in October, while four saw declines.

Among the groups posting increases, transport recorded the largest rise, at 2.66 per cent, making the biggest contribution to the overall CPI increase, adding 0.27 percentage points. This was mainly driven by a 6.86 per cent increase in petrol prices and a 0.75 per cent rise in diesel prices, following adjustments in line with international fuel market trends.

Meanwhile, lower prices in four consumer groups helped moderate overall inflation.

Culture, entertainment and tourism recorded the sharpest decline, at 0.87 per cent. October marked the low season for both domestic and international tourism, with domestic travel service prices falling 1.27 per cent, outbound tourism services dropping 1.03 per cent, and hotel and guesthouse accommodation prices decreasing 1.72 per cent.

Notably, prices in the food and catering services group fell 0.24 per cent, directly reducing overall CPI by 0.09 percentage points.

Core inflation declined 0.05 per cent month-on-month in October but rose 4.04 per cent year-on-year. On average, core inflation increased 4.24 per cent in the first 10 months of 2026, below the corresponding 4.57 per cent rise in headline CPI.

The Vietnamese manufacturing sector continued expansion in October, although price increases and supply issues limited growth in some cases.

The S&P Global Vietnam Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index ticked up to 52.3 points in October from 51.9 points in September, pointing to a further modest monthly strengthening in the health of the sector at the start of the fourth quarter. Business conditions have now improved in 16 consecutive months.

The overall improvement in operating conditions was limited by slower rises in output and new orders. Total new business rose for the sixth month running, despite falling new export orders weighing on growth. The rate of expansion was solid, but the slowest in the current growth sequence.

Manufacturing production expanded again in October as new orders increased on stronger customer demand. However, growth also eased here, hitting a six-month low. Some respondents said difficulties obtaining raw materials had limited production growth.

Transportation difficulties were evident in data on suppliers' delivery times, which lengthened markedly and to the largest extent since April. Rising fuel prices and poor weather conditions were among the factors leading to transportation delays, according to respondents.

Difficulties importing goods and the use of inputs to support production meant that stocks of purchases decreased solidly, despite sustained growth of input buying as companies made efforts to secure goods to support production.

Rising transportation costs were also central to the latest rise in input prices as higher costs for oil pushed up fuel prices. The rate of inflation quickened for the second month running and was the fastest since June, albeit still well below the spike seen following the outbreak of war in the Middle East. In turn, output prices also increased at a sharper pace, following only a slight rise in September.

Employment fell for the third consecutive month in October, though only slightly, with some firms citing staff resignations. Despite the smaller workforce, slower new order growth and more efficient processing of outstanding work allowed firms to reduce backlogs modestly.

Stocks of finished goods also fell as firms sold warehoused goods to draw down inventories. Post-production stocks decreased markedly, though slightly less than in September.

Optimism about better raw material availability and further improvements in market conditions supported a positive 12-month outlook for production. Sentiment hit an eight-month high but remained weaker than before the war in the Middle East.

Andrew Harker, economics director at S&P Global Market Intelligence said, "Vietnamese firms are battling to maintain growth at present amid headwinds that are making their operations more challenging. New orders continued to rise in October, feeding through to a solid increase in production, but in both cases rates of expansion slowed from September."

"The limits to growth were often due to the international environment. Fuel and transportation costs rose amid higher oil prices, while companies reported difficulties importing and exporting products. While firms are able to maintain improvements for now, they will be hoping for a more conducive environment to growth in the months ahead," he added.