Ho Chi Minh City sees FDI surge in first quarter
Foreign direct investment into Ho Chi Minh City reached nearly USD 2.9 billion in the first quarter, rising more than 200 per cent year on year.
The figures were announced on March 26 by Nguyen Hoang Anh of the municipal Department of Finance.
Aerial view of Ho Chi Minh City (Photo: Nam Anh)
According to the official, the increase was calculated against combined inflows across the former administrative areas of Ho Chi Minh City, Ba Ria-Vung Tau and Binh Duong. Compared with the old Ho Chi Minh City alone, FDI surged by nearly 480 per cent.
The strong inflows highlight the city’s resilience amid global economic uncertainty.
A report by Cushman & Wakefield said southern Vietnam’s industrial property market could enter a robust growth phase between 2026 and 2029, driven by green and integrated industrial hubs aligned with ESG standards to attract higher-quality investment.
Alongside rising FDI, the city recorded solid first-quarter performance across key indicators. New business registrations increased by 47 per cent, while retail and service revenues exceeded VND 476 trillion (about USD 18.1 billion), up 13.7 per cent. Tourism revenue reached approximately VND 150 trillion.
Exports in the January-March period topped USD 22 billion, up 1.12 per cent year on year, constrained by higher freight costs and longer shipping times, particularly for perishable goods. Imports rose 4.2 per cent, adding pressure to input costs amid ongoing supply disruptions.
The Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Development Studies projected first-quarter growth in the range of 7 per cent to above 10 per cent, depending on how the Middle East situation evolves.
Source: Dtinews
