The number is only 14.3 percent of the same period last year, however, it is still considered a high level in the current global economic downturn.
In the first nine months of 2009, Vietnam had 168 FDI projects register to increase their investment capital by US$4.86 billion, up 7 percent year-on-year.
The business and service industry lured the largest volume of FDI, followed by the processing and manufacturing sector.
With 24 newly-licensed projects and 11 projects with increased capital, the US topped the list of 38 countries and territories investing in Vietnam this year.
During the reviewed period, the country's FDI disbursement was estimated at US$7.2 billion, equal to 88.9 percent against the same period last year.