Total revenue from retail sales of consumer goods and services increased 10.9 per cent year-on-year in the first six month of this year to more than VND3 quadrillion (US$127 million), according to the General Statistics Office (GSO).

Specifically, retail sales of goods stood at VND2.3 quadrillion, up 9.3 per cent, with the sales of food and foodstuff growing by 13.5 per cent and those of cultural and educational products increasing by 9.3 per cent.

Retail sales of goods in January-June period in some localities rose sharply such as Binh Duong (15.6 per cent), Quang Ninh (14.5 per cent), Hai Phong (14 per cent), Dong Nai (12.3 per cent) and Khanh Hoa (9.7 per cent) compared with the same period last year.

Accommodation and food services generated about VND321.7 trillion in the reviewed period, up 18.7 per cent from a year earlier.

Tourism revenue surged 65.9 per cent year-on-year to around VND14.5 trillion. Localities seeing a sharp increase in revenue include Da Nang (174 per cent), Ha Noi (106.9 per cent), Hai Phong (93.2 per cent), and HCM City (78.5 per cent).

Revenue from other services was estimated at VND303.4 trillion, up 14.4 per cent over the same period last year.

In June alone, revenue of retail sales of consumer goods and service totaled VND505.7 trillion, an increase of 0.5 per cent month on month and 6.5 per cent year on year.

The total retail sales of consumer goods and services in the second quarter of this year were estimated at VND1.520 quadrillion, a year-on-year rise of 1.6 per cent, the GSO reported.

Defining the domestic market as one of the important factors that promote GDP growth of the whole country, the Ministry of Industry and Trade will focus on effectively carrying out programmes on promoting trade in the domestic market, while pushing up the distribution of goods through digital and e-commerce platforms to expand domestic consumption.

The ministry will enhance the implementation of a strategy on domestic trade development to 2030, with a vision to 2045 and other projects on domestic trade development.

It will support businesses in trade promotion activities, build trademarks and popularise regional specialties and typical products of Viet Nam.

The ministry will also focus on modernising the distribution system in rural and mountainous areas to bring more Vietnamese goods to the countryside, combining traditional trade with modern ones and closely monitoring the prices of essential commodities as well as ensuring the supply of electricity and petrol for the market in all situations. — VNS