A total number of 2,926 new projects, worth US$12.39 billion, were registered in the first nine months, a 17.4 percent increase in the number of projects and down 8.6 percent in terms of registered capital compared to the same period last year.

Among new projects, the processing and manufacturing sector continued to dominate, attracting US$7.27 billion (accounting for 58.7 percent of total new capital). The real estate business followed with US$2.57 billion (making up 20.7 percent).

During the reviewed period, there were 1,092 projects added with capital valued at US$11.32 billion, up 48 percent.

There were 2,527 capital contributions and share purchases by foreign investors, totaling US$4.84 billion, up 35 percent, showing maturity in Viet Nam's M&A market.

The nine-month FDI disbursement reached US$18.8 billion, up 8.5 percent year-on-year, marking the highest 9-month disbursement level over the past 5 years.

The processing & manufacturing sector led in disbursement with US$15.56 billion while real estate received US$1.37 billion, and electricity production & distribution got about US$598.7 million.

Meanwhile, Viet Nam's overseas investment was estimated at US$846.8 million, 4.5 times higher than the same period last year.

As many as 134 new overseas projects were licensed, with total capital of US$709.3 million, nearly 4 times higher than the same period last year.

Laos remained the largest recipient of Vietnamese investment with US$397.2 million (nearly half of total outward investment). Other targeted markets in the region included the Philippines (US$92 million) and Indonesia (US$64.6 million)./.