Vietnam’s total retail sales of consumer goods and services in the first half of the year reached over VND3.4 quadrillion ($129.7 billion), increasing 9.3% compared to the same period last year, figures from the National Statistics Office show.

Retail sales of goods were estimated at more than VND2.6 trillion ($99.2 billion), accounting for 76.5% of the total and soaring 7.9% year-on-year.

Revenue from accommodation and catering services rose 14.7% year-on-year to VND409.5 trillion ($15.62 billion), and from tourism and travel services surged 23.2% to VND46 trillion ($1.75 billion).

In June alone, retail sales of consumer goods and services totaled VND570.2 trillion ($21.76 billion), slightly down 0.2% compared to the previous month but rose 8.3% year-on-year.

High demand for goods and travelling during holidays, particularly Lunar New Year holidays, and increasing number of foreign tourists to Vietnam in the first half of the year have contributed to the growth of the trade and services sector.