According to the Foreign Investment Agency under the Ministry of Finance, Vietnam has so far attracted investors from 153 countries and territories worldwide. The Republic of Korea (RoK) leads the list, with 10,412 valid projects and total registered capital exceeding US$95.133 billion.

In January 2026 alone, Korean investors injected money into 42 new projects, increased capital in 21 existing projects, and carried out 46 capital contributions and share purchases. Total registered capital surpassed US$551 million, ranking second among 52 countries and territories investing in Vietnam during the month.

To date, numerous major RoK conglomerates have established a strong presence in Vietnam, viewing the country as a strategic investment destination. A notable example is Samsung, which began investing in Vietnam in 2008 with a single mobile phone manufacturing plant in Bac Ninh province. After nearly 18 years, Samsung now operates six factories, an R&D centre, and a sales entity in Vietnam.

More significantly, Vietnam has evolved beyond a manufacturing base to become a strategic hub, playing a key role in Samsung’s global production and research and development activities.

Alongside Samsung, other major Korean corporations, including LG, Lotte, Hyundai, and SK, have also identified Vietnam as an indispensable destination for expansion.

The RoK’s FDI in Vietnam is concentrated primarily in processing and manufacturing. Over the years, Korean enterprises have made substantial contributions to transforming Vietnam’s growth model and accelerating economic growth.

Commenting on future investment prospects, Hong Sun, honorary chairman of the Korean Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (KoCham), noted that Vietnam is emerging as one of the fastest-growing economies in the region and globally with the country’s GDP growing by 8.02% in 2025.

He described the growth result as impressive, noting that it far exceeded the expectations of many international organisations amid ongoing global inflation and supply chain disruptions.

From the perspective of the Korean business community, he said, the outcome demonstrated Vietnam’s strong internal resilience and the Government’s flexible management. He added that the country’s 8.02% GDP growth rate in 2025 would serve as an important launchpad for achieving double-digit growth targets in 2026 and throughout the 2026–2030 period.

According to the executive, Vietnam’s robust economic performance is already influencing Korean companies’ investment strategies. He observed a growing wave of satellite enterprises in high-tech and renewable energy sectors moving into Vietnam. Between 2026 and 2030, Korean businesses are anticipated to transition from export processing to deeper manufacturing and technology development to capitalise on Vietnam’s expanding economy.

Echoing this view, Ko Tae-yeon, chairman of the Korean Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam and general director of Heesung Electronics Vietnam, stated that Korean investment would increasingly expand into infrastructure, green growth, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence. He emphasised that Korean businesses aim to become long-term, reliable partners in Vietnam’s journey toward comprehensive and sustainable development.

Source: VOV