Foreign Investors Net Buy 2,166B VND in Vietnam Stocks; FPT Leads

Overview

Foreign investors turned net buyers of Vietnamese equities in the week of August 3-7, purchasing a total of 2,166 billion VND (~86.6 million USD) across all three exchanges. The buying was led by FPT, VIC, and CTG, while VPB experienced the heaviest net selling. This shift contributed to a 1.86% weekly gain in the VN-Index, which closed at 1,768.06 points.

Key Facts

• Foreign net buying reached 2,166 billion VND (~86.6 million USD) over five sessions.
• On HoSE, foreign investors net bought 2,266 billion VND; on HNX they net sold 88 billion VND; on UPCoM they net sold 12 billion VND.
• FPT led net buying with 667 billion VND, followed by VIC (617 billion VND) and CTG (438 billion VND).
• Other notable net buys: HPG (431 billion VND), MBB (415 billion VND), PNJ (260 billion VND), FRT (214 billion VND), VCB (200 billion VND), and VHM (141 billion VND).
• VPB was the most net sold stock at 572 billion VND, followed by TCB (-394 billion VND), NLG (-196 billion VND), TCX (-177 billion VND), NVL (-130 billion VND), and STB (-123 billion VND).
• The VN-Index rose 32.28 points (+1.86%) week-on-week to close at 1,768.06 points.

What Happened

In the first week of August, foreign investors unexpectedly reversed to net buying, with the first session of the week seeing aggressive disbursement of over a trillion VND. However, the trend did not persist, as net selling resumed in the last two sessions of the week. According to data from the stock exchanges, the cumulative net buying over the five sessions reached 2,166 billion VND.

On a per-exchange basis, foreign investors net bought 2,266 billion VND on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE), while net selling 88 billion VND on the Hanoi Stock Exchange (HNX) and 12 billion VND on the UPCoM market. The buying was concentrated in large-cap technology, real estate, and banking stocks, with FPT, VIC, and CTG leading the way. Conversely, VPB saw the largest net selling, followed by TCB, NLG, TCX, NVL, and STB.

Market Context

FPT, the leading net-bought stock, closed at 70,800 VND on August 7, 2026, on the HoSE. The stock has been a consistent favorite among foreign investors due to its strong technology and digital transformation exposure. VIC closed at 215,000 VND, CTG at 32,500 VND, and HPG at 22,000 VND, all on the HoSE. The VN-Index’s recovery to 1,768 points reflects improving sentiment, though the late-week selling suggests caution. The foreign flow reversal is notable after a period of net selling, and the concentration in blue-chip names indicates a preference for liquidity and quality.

Strategic Significance

For long-term investors, the return of foreign net buying in key sectors such as technology, real estate, and banking signals renewed confidence in Vietnam’s growth story. FPT’s leading position underscores its role as a proxy for the country’s digital economy, while VIC’s strong buying suggests interest in conglomerate restructuring and real estate recovery. However, the persistent selling in VPB and other banks like TCB may reflect concerns about asset quality or sector-specific headwinds. The mixed flows highlight the importance of stock selection and the need to monitor foreign ownership trends as a gauge of market sentiment.

What to Watch

• Whether foreign net buying continues in the following weeks, especially in FPT and VIC.
• Any regulatory or macroeconomic announcements that could affect foreign investor sentiment.
• Q2 earnings reports from key net-bought and net-sold stocks, particularly FPT and VPB.
• Changes in foreign ownership limits or new listings that could attract or deter foreign capital.
• The VN-Index’s ability to hold above 1,760 points and break higher, which could sustain foreign inflows.