The General Statistics Office of Vietnam (GSO) reported 122 new projects were licensed in the reviewed period with a total registered capitalization of US$830.9 million, down 33% in project numbers and 19.3% in value.

Forty-one existing projects were authorised to increase additional capital by US$708.8 million.

On the contrary, disbursed FDI rose 6.7% to approximately US$1.12 billion, the GSO said. 

The processing and manufacturing industry topped the list of economic sectors, attracting US$1.178 billion, or 76.5% of the total.

Eighteen provinces and cities licensed new FDI projects, with the southern province of Binh Duong luring US$197.1 million or 23.7% of the total newly-registered capital.

It was followed by Ho Chi Minh City (US$125.8 million and 15.1%), Bac Giang (US$108.1 million and 13%) and Thai Nguyen (US$73.3 million and 8.8%).

The Republic of Korea came first among 25 countries and territories investing in Vietnam so far this year.