Ho Chi Minh City recorded a year-on-year rise of 11.4% in total retail sales of goods revenue in January, according to its Department of Industry and Trade.

The retail sale turnover reached over VND53.7 trillion ($2.1 billion).

Main groups of commodities posting high growth in revenue included garments and textiles and household appliances (20%); food and foodstuff (6.6%); and tourism and entertainment (17%).

Consumption demand surged as January due to the year-end shopping season and the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday, the department remarked.

The purchasing power via modern distribution channels remarkably increased compared to normal days. Particularly, e-commerce surged 45-50%.