Retail sales of consumer goods and services totalled VND573.3 trillion (US$22.6 billion) in the month, up 2.7% month-on-month and 9.5% year-on-year, according the General Statistics Office.
Of the sum, revenue from retail sales of goods were estimated at VND441.4 trillion, an 8.3% increase compared to the same period last year. Key categories saw notable growth, with other fuels (excluding petrol and oil) up 31.1%; gems, precious metals and related products 15.5%; automobiles of all kinds 11.6%; cultural and educational items 8.9%; garments 8.3%; and food and foodstuffs 7.8%.
Localities that reported high growth in the revenue included Hai Phong (9.2%), Hanoi (9%), Quang Ninh (8.5%), Ho Chi Minh City (8.4%), and Da Nang (7.9%).
Meanwhile, revenue from accommodation and catering services was estimated at VND67.3 trillion, up 14.8% from a year earlier. Tourism services generated VND5.1 trillion in earnings, a 17.3% increase.
In addition, revenue from other services last month reached some VND59.5 trillion, a rise of 9.8% compared to the same month last year, statistics show.
