Retail sales, service revenue up 11.3% in September

For the first nine months of 2025, total retail sales and service revenue recorded a solid increase of 9.5% year-on-year to over 5.17 quadrillion VND. Excluding the price factor, the growth rate was 7.2%, compared to a 5.8% rise in the same period last year.

Total retail sales of goods and consumer service revenue are estimated at 598.7 trillion VND in September. (Photo: VNA)
Total retail sales of goods and consumer service revenue are estimated at 598.7 trillion VND in September. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Increasing domestic demand for goods, services, and tourism, especially during major national holidays, and a surge in international tourist arrivals in Vietnam have substantially contributed to the trade and service sector's growth in September and the first nine months of this year, according to the National Statistics Office under the Ministry of Finance.

Specifically, total retail sales of goods and consumer service revenue were estimated at 598.7 trillion VND (22.7 billion USD) in September, up 2% month-on-month, and 11.3% from the same period last year.

Of the total, revenue from apparel rose by 15.2% year-on-year; food by 13.8%; cultural and educational products by 11.4%; household appliances, tools, and equipment by 10.0%; accommodation and catering services by 15.0%; and tourism services by 19.7%.

For the first nine months of 2025, total retail sales and service revenue recorded a solid increase of 9.5% year-on-year to over 5.17 quadrillion VND. Excluding the price factor, the growth rate was 7.2%, compared to a 5.8% rise in the same period last year.

Retail sales of goods in the period were estimated at nearly 3.95 quadrillion VND, up 8.3% from a year earlier. By category, sales of food increased by 10.3%; apparel by 8.2%; cultural and educational products by 8.1%; and household appliances, tools, and equipment by 6.7%.

Major cities recorded high year-on-year growth, including Da Nang (9.4%), Can Tho (8.8%), Hanoi (8.4%), and Ho Chi Minh City and Hai Phong (both 8.3%).

The nine-month tourism revenue stood at 69.6 trillion VND, representing a year-on-year increase of 20.5%, while that from accommodation and food services was estimated at 624.4 trillion VND, up 14.8%. Other services earned about 534.1 trillion VND, picking up 12.1%.

The results of the first nine months show that domestic consumer demand continues to be a key driver of economic growth. With the peak season for shopping, tourism, and year-end festivals approaching, total retail sales and service revenue in the fourth quarter are expected to continue rising strongly, helping to sustain the recovery momentum and boost GDP growth for the whole year, said the National Statistics Office./.

VNA

See more

Visitors savor freshly prepared dishes on-site at the “Discover US Agriculture” programme, held on July 19, 2025 in Ho Chi Minh City. (Illustrative photo: VNA)

Vietnam, US work to step up agricultural cooperation

Vietnam has strengths in tropical farm produce, seafood and wooden products, while the US is a major supplier of key inputs such as soybeans, corn, wheat and dairy products. This trade structure creates a balanced supply chain with little direct competition, delivering tangible benefits to businesses and consumers in both countries.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha speaks at the opening ceremony of the Vietbuild Hanoi International Exhibition 2026 on March 26. (Photo: VNA)

Vietbuild Hanoi 2026 International Exhibition opens

The five-day event, themed “Construction – Building Materials – Real Estate – Green Transport”, brings together more than 2,500 booths from domestic and international enterprises, reflecting the development momentum of Vietnam’s construction sector and the broader economy.

An overview of the International Coffee Conference 2026 (Photo: VNA)

Global Coffee Alliance launched to drive sustainable, inclusive growth

The Global Coffee Alliance is envisioned as a public–private partnership that bridges diplomatic efforts with business operations. Looking ahead to 2040, it aims to develop a global coffee ecosystem that is inclusive, technology-driven, and aligned with net-zero emissions goals.

At Dung Quat oil refinery (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam races to restart idle ethanol plants to meet surging demand

Do Van Tuan, Chairman of the Vietnam Biofuels Association, said that monthly ethanol demand for the E10 blend is projected at 92,000–100,000 cu.m. The country’s six ethanol plants have a combined design capacity of roughly 41,000 cu. m per month, but only three are now running, churning out about 25,000 cu.m, or just 25–27% of demand. Even if every plant hits full tilt, local supply would cover only around 41% of national needs.

At a supermarket in Ho Chi Minh City (Photo: VNA)

Ho Chi Minh City to pilot pork trading on Mercantile Exchange of Vietnam

Nguyen Nguyen Phuong, Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Industry and Trade, said listing pork on the MXV will finally give consumers and firms more stable prices, while slapping on stricter food safety rules and making it easier to track where the meat actually comes from. Farmers, meanwhile, stand to gain from more predictable margins and dodge fewer of the supply-demand imbalances that routinely distort prices.

Processing octopus for export to the Japanese market at Huy Nam Company in An Giang (Photo: VNA)

Squid, octopus exports pick up early in 2026

In terms of product structure, squid has emerged as the main growth driver. Export turnover of squid exceeded 64 million USD, rising nearly 30%, while octopus exports brought in more than 47 million USD, up over 16%. The development indicates that demand for squid products is recovering faster in the short term.

The world’s longest over-sea cable car to Hon Thom Island in the Phu Quoc special zone, An Giang province. (Photo: VNA)

An Giang steps up tourism development ahead of APEC 2027

Tourism in the province has recorded strong growth, affirming its position as one of the region’s leading destinations. Phu Quoc Island continues to attract the majority of international travellers, receiving more than 817,660 visitors, accounting for over 98.5% of total foreign arrivals to the province.

Import-export activities at Lach Huyen international port in Hai Phong (Photo: VNA)

Reducing risks, removing logistics bottlenecks amid Middle East volatility

According to Truong Xuan Trung, Trade Counsellor of Vietnam in the UAE, the Middle East serves not only as a consumption market but also as a key global transhipment hub, meaning instability in the region creates ripple effects across intercontinental transport networks. Shipping route adjustments and airspace restrictions have lengthened transit times, increased costs and disrupted delivery schedules, with some Vietnamese shipments forced to reroute or seek alternative markets.

Cargo is handled at container terminals No. 3 and No. 4 of Hai Phong International Gateway Port. (Photo: VNA)

Businesses seek “survival momentum” amid global geopolitical turbulence

This is an urgent move as the challenges of 2026 differ markedly from previous ones, shaped by overlapping external shocks ranging from geopolitical tensions disrupting supply chains to surging logistics and raw material costs, exchange-rate pressures, and increasingly complex tariff barriers in global markets.

At the 2025 trade connectivity week for mechanical, electrical and digital industries. (Photo: VNA)

Ho Chi Minh City gives boost to supporting industry firms

Supporting industry firms in Ho Chi Minh City are scrambling to embed themselves more deeply into both global and domestic supply chains, backed by a suite of local incentives that are speeding up their tech upgrades and market access.

Italy's national pavilion at the ongoing Food & Hospitality Vietnam 2026 exhibition at Ho Chi Minh City's Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre (SECC) draws visitors for hands-on experiences. (Photo: IVNA)

Italian food firms eye opportunities in Vietnam

Italy’s exports of food and beverages to Vietnam reached 105.1 million EUR in 2025, up 4% year-on-year, positioning the country among the leading EU suppliers to the Vietnamese market.

An overview of the working session (Photo: baoquangninh.vn)

Quang Ninh promotes all-round cooperation with Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region

Quang Ninh encourages Guangxi enterprises to invest in high-tech marine aquaculture and expand aquatic product exports in China. At the same time, the province aims to develop livestock farming in line with international standards and attract investment in deep-processing plants for agricultural products such as cinnamon, star anise and tea, linked with traceability systems at border gates.

Illustrative image (Source: VNA)

Vietnam becomes fastest growing market for Norwegian salmon in Southeast Asia

The Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC) reported at the “Norwegian seafood industry in Vietnam market 2026” event held in Ho Chi Minh City on March 25 that fresh Norwegian salmon exports to Vietnam jumped 16% in volume in the first two months of 2026 compared with a year earlier, while frozen salmon shipments surged about 37%.