Factors Affecting FDI Intentions of Investors: Empirical Evidence from Provincial-Level Data in Vietnam

This study aimed to explore the factors affecting the foreign direct investment (FDI) intentions of investors into Quang Ninh province, located in the north-eastern of Viet Nam. Researchers used two main methods, namely, Exploratory Factors Analysis (EFA) and the Structural Equation Model (SEM) based on partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS SEM) to explore and measure the impact of factors affecting the investors' FDI intentions into Quang Ninh province. The empirical analysis used data from the survey of 206 domestic and foreign investors into Quang Ninh province, including representatives of the Board of Directors, members, and management representatives at the department level, with reliable tools (SPSS 26 and SmartPLS 3.0 software). The research results identified the following factors affecting investment into Quang Ninh: FDI attraction policies have the strongest impact on the investors' FDI intentions; it is followed by infrastructure, public services and human capital with strong effects on intentions of investors' FDI; and finally the standards of living that affects the investors' FDI intentions. There is also a positive relationship between all the factors and the investors' FDI intentions. Several recommendations are further suggested to enhance attraction of foreign direct investment into Quang Ninh province.