Hanoi, May 11 -- The total outbound volume included US$691.1 million pledged for 74 newly licensed projects, representing a 2.6-fold increase compared to the same period last year, along with US$22.8 million added to four existing projects through capital expansion.

The electricity, gas, steam, hot water and air-conditioning production and distribution were the top outbound investment sectors with total registered capital of US$163.8 million or 22.9 percent of the total. Construction ranked second with US$153 million (21.4 percent), followed by transportation and warehousing with US$149.2 million (20.9 percent).

Vietnamese investors expanded investments into 32 countries and territories during the period. Laos remained the top destinati...