Total foreign direct investment (FDI) in Viet Nam surged 67.1% to 664 million USD in January, up from a year ago, the Foreign Investment Agency reported on January 26.

Workers put the final touches on clothes at French-owned Scavi Hue Garment Company in Hue

Of the total, 505 million USD has been disbursed, reflecting an 8.6% year-on-year growth.

During this period, the country also licensed 44 new FDI projects worth a registered capital of 392.18 million USD, up 85.5 % against the same period last year. Another 19 existing projects were also licensed to add a registered capital of 271.26 million USD, up 45.8 %.

Foreign investors in January poured capital into 11 industries, of which processing and manufacturing were considered the most attractive, with 18 projects drawing a total of 605.69 million USD. The industry accounted for up to 91.3 % of the country's total FDI in January.

Retail and repairing; and water and power production and distribution industries followed with 30.79 million USD and 10.44 million USD, respectively.

In January, 15 countries and territories channelised capital into Viet Nam, of which the British Virgin Islands topped the list with $331.32 million, accounting for 49.9 %.

The Republic of Korea (RoK) and Hong Kong ranked second and third, with 110.25 million USD and 105.5 million USD, respectively, representing a 16.6 % and 15.9 % share.

Among the 13 cities and provinces receiving FDI in January, Ho Chi Minh City was the most attractive destination, with its 24 projects worth 347.2 million USD, representing a 52.3 % share. Binh Duong Province and Hai Phong City also reported FDI of 100 million USD and 96.72 million USD, respectively.