NDO – The total retail sales of goods and services in April was estimated at VND 409.4 trillion, up 2.3% over the previous month and up 30.92% year on year, as in April 2020, the whole country had implemented social distancing to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 epidemic.

This information was announced by the Ministry of Industry and Trade on May 5.

Of which, retail sales of goods in April was estimated at VND324.2 trillion, up 1.91% month-on-month and up 22.21% year on year.

Similarly, total retail sales of accommodation, catering services reached VND41.5 trillion, up 5.8% and 92.34% compared to the previous month and the same period last year, respectively; total retail sales of travel and tourism services reached VND900 billion, up 9.6% and 17.5 times the previous year; while revenue from other services reached VND42.8 trillion, up 1.85% and up 65.98% respectively.

In the first four months of 2021, total retail sales of goods and services reached VND 1.6 quadrillion, up 10.02% over the same period last year (the same period in 2020 had decreased by 2.8%).

The revenue from accommodation and catering services in the first four months of the year reached VND164.5 trillion, accounting for 9.7% of the total retail sales of goods and services in the first four months and increasing 10.1% year on year as accommodation and food service establishments have since resumed their operation as the Covid-19 epidemic has been controlled and demand for accommodation and food has increased again.

Total retail sales of travel and tourism services in the first four months of the year were estimated at VND3.98 trillion, accounting for 0.23% of the total retail sales of goods and services in the first four months and down 49.2% as compared to the same period last year as Vietnam continued to implement COVID-19 prevention measures.

According to a representative from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, in general, the growth rate of trade activities in the first four months of the year has reflected an ongoing recovery in the economy, but not equally across all areas. In particular, the recovery is still facing the complicated developments of the pandemic in neighboring countries as well as within the country. Therefore, in order to achieve plans and goals, Vietnam should continue to make great efforts in strictly implementing solutions in both preventing and fighting the epidemis and removing difficulties for production and business activities.