Demand amounted to RON952.7 million.
The issue will be reopened Friday to a non-competitive tender where the ministry seeks to raise an additional RON75 million.
Romania last sold October 2020 bonds in August at an average yield of 1.88%.
Romania's finance ministry on Thursday raised a planned 500 million lei (EUR108.74 million) selling bonds maturing in October 2020 at an average yield of 1.91%, central bank data showed.