The total retail sales of goods and services in Vietnam during the first quarter of the year posted year-on-year growth of 13.9 per cent to over VND1.5 quadrillion ($62.7 billion), figures from the General Statistics Office (GSO) show.

Revenue from lodging and catering services rose 24.8 per cent and turnover from tourism services an amazing 119.8 per cent.

The results demonstrate the efficiency of the re-opening policy the country adopted from March 15, 2022 after Covid-19 as well as the launch of tourism promotion programs, the GSO said.

During the first quarter, retail sales of goods were estimated at VND1.18 quadrillion ($49.3 billion), up 11.4 per cent year-on-year.

The group of food and foodstuffs rose 14.6 per cent year-on-year, garments and textiles 12.3 per cent, means of transport 4.5 per cent, and household appliances and equipment 3.9 per cent. Cultural and educational items, meanwhile, fell 2.7 per cent.