Economy

Vietnam Is Not Just an FDI Magnet — It's Also Investing Abroad

Vietnam's outbound investment hit USD 660 million in 2024, up 60%. Tech firms Viettel and FPT now lead the push abroad.

[Vietnam Is Not Just an FDI Magnet — It's Also Investing Abroad]

In 2024, Vietnam's outbound investment reached USD 660 million, up nearly 60% from 2023. The top destinations were neighboring Laos and Cambodia, along with Venezuela in South America.

▍ Tech Takes the Lead

What stood out this year was the rise of technology as a leading outbound investment category, driven mainly by state-owned telecom giant Viettel and software company FPT.

In the past, overseas investments focused on mining, logging, and other primary industries. As Vietnamese companies build stronger technical capabilities, they are now exporting expertise. Laos's largest telecom operator, Unitel, is a joint venture between Viettel (owned by Vietnam's Ministry of Defense) and the Lao Ministry of Defense.

▍ FPT's Global Ambitions

FPT, Vietnam's largest software company, earns roughly half its revenue overseas. It operates in more than 30 countries. Its appetite for international expansion is hard to ignore.

▍ Scale in Perspective

Vietnam's USD 660 million in outbound investment is still modest compared to larger economies. But the trajectory is clear: Vietnamese companies are going global, and the ambition is growing fast.

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