According to greenfield investment monitor fDi Markets, total inward FDI into Vietnam decreased in the period between January 2008 and December 2013. However, an increase between 2013 and 2014 could signal the start of a recovery in investment levels.

Excluding retail FDI, in 2008 some 350 projects were recorded, 152,186 jobs created and 312 companies invested in Vietnam, a high point for the country. The total capital expenditure for that year stood at $62.17bn. In 2009, 247 projects were recorded, with 73,174 jobs created by 214 companies. The year's total capital expenditure was $35.33bn. This represented a 29.4% decrease in projects recorded, a 51.9% drop in jobs created and a 31.4% decline in companies investing. Total capital expenditure fell by 43.2%.

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In 2010 and 2011, total investment into Vietnam continued to decline, but to a lesser extent than between 2008 and 2009, with a respective 172 and 166 projects recorded, 72,856 and 70,531 jobs created and 143 and 137 companies investing. Despite the relatively small decline in jobs created, the total capital expenditure decreased from $21.5bn in 2010 to $9.19bn in 2011, a 57.2% drop.

Investment in 2012 experienced a more significant decline than in the two preceding years, with 2013 representing an even larger drop. In 2013, 109 projects were recorded with 36,012 jobs created by 103 investing companies. Despite fewer jobs being created compared with 2012, the total capital expenditure for 2013 increased to $15.24bn. In 2012 it was $5.72bn.

With one month of data to be published for 2014, Vietnam's investment levels have already surpassed those of 2013, with the country on track to put in its best FDI performance since 2009. 

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