In April 2025, Vietnam's business landscape showed a mix of resilience and challenges, with over 15,200 new businesses established, marking a slight decrease of 2.5% from March but an increase of 7.4% compared to the same month in 2024. Despite this fluctuation, the total number of newly registered and re-operating businesses in the first four months of 2025 reached nearly 90,000, reflecting a nearly 10% increase year-on-year, according to the General Statistics Office.
The registered capital in April 2025 was recorded at over 133.6 trillion VND, which is a 5.8% rise from the previous month but a significant 23.5% drop compared to April 2024. The average registered capital per new enterprise was 8.8 billion VND, down 28.8% from the same month last year. This decline in average capital raises questions about the financial health and expectations of new businesses entering the market.
Interestingly, the number of registered workers surged by 45.8% compared to March 2025 and 51.5% compared to April 2024, reaching a total of 127,600 people. This increase indicates a growing demand for labor, potentially driven by the returning businesses and those expanding their operations.
Looking at the broader picture over the first four months of 2025, Vietnam saw a total of 51,600 new business registrations, reflecting a slight decrease of 0.9% compared to the same period in 2024. The total registered capital during this period amounted to 490.4 trillion VND, which is down 6.9% from last year, while the overall labor force registered was 355,800, an increase of 1.2% year-on-year.
One of the most encouraging signs in the business landscape was the notable return of companies to the market. A total of 38,300 businesses resumed operations in the first four months of 2025, marking a 29% increase compared to the same period last year. This resurgence brought the total number of businesses that either newly established or resumed operations to over 89,900, averaging nearly 22,500 businesses re-entering the market each month.
However, the market is not without its challenges. In the same period, more than 68,700 businesses registered for temporary business suspension, which is a 12.9% increase compared to the first four months of 2024. Additionally, nearly 20,200 businesses temporarily halted operations while awaiting dissolution procedures, which is up 5.7% compared to last year. Furthermore, over 7,600 businesses completed their dissolution processes, reflecting a 26.1% increase from the previous year.
Overall, the number of businesses withdrawing from the market reached 96,500 in the first four months, a 12.2% increase from the same period last year. This translates to an average of over 24,100 businesses exiting the market each month, raising concerns about the sustainability of new enterprises in an increasingly competitive environment.
On the foreign investment front, Vietnam attracted considerable interest, with total registered foreign investment reaching 13.82 billion USD in the first four months of 2025. This figure represents a remarkable 39.9% increase compared to the same period in 2024. The foreign direct investment (FDI) during this timeframe was estimated at 6.74 billion USD, up 7.3% from the previous year.
Vietnam's outbound investment also saw significant growth. In the first four months of 2025, Vietnamese investors were granted certificates for 43 new projects abroad, with a total capital of 269.2 million USD, which is 2.7 times higher than the same period last year. Additionally, there were 12 projects that adjusted their capital, with an increase of 40.1 million USD, a staggering 69.1 times higher than the previous year. Overall, Vietnam's total investment abroad, including new and adjusted capital, amounted to 309.3 million USD, which is three times higher than the first four months of 2024.
As Vietnam navigates through these economic fluctuations, the interplay between new business formations, labor market dynamics, and foreign investments will be crucial in determining the overall health of the economy. The ongoing challenges of business withdrawals and suspensions highlight the necessity for continued support and strategic initiatives to bolster the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
