Of the above figure, nearly US$8.5 billion was poured into 451 new projects, up 24.5 percent in value and down 54.2 percent in project number, the Foreign Investment Agency said Wednesday.

The total includes more than US$2.7 billion added to 263 existing projects and over US$1 billion of capital contribution and share purchases by foreign investors in 1,151 transactions.

Foreign capital was channeled to 17 economic sectors, in which processing and manufacturing took the lead with US$5.2 billion, accounting for 42.4 percent. 

In the reviewed period, Singapore ranked first among 67 nations and territories, with more than US$4.8 billion, making up 39.6 percent. It was followed by Japan and the Republic of Korea, with US$2.5 billion and US$1.5 billion, respectively. 

The Southern province of Long An was the most attractive destination for foreign investors with nearly US$3.3 billion, followed by Can Tho City (US$1.3 billion) and Ho Chi Minh City (US$1.1 billion). 

Meanwhile, the realized FDI volume saw a year-on-year increase of 6.8 percent to US$5.5 billion. 

Also in the first four months of 2021, Viet Nam enjoyed a trade surplus of US$1.9 billion, of which the foreign-invested sector reported trade surplus of US$14.4 billion (including crude oil)./.