Retail sales, consumer services up nearly 13% in first half
Vietnam's retail and consumer service sector maintained strong momentum in the first half of 2026, with total retail sales of goods and consumer service revenue rising 12.9% year-on-year, reinforcing domestic consumption as one of the economy's key growth drivers.
The figures were released on July 3 by the National Statistics Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Finance in its socio-economic report for the second quarter and the first six months of 2026.
In June alone, total retail sales of goods and consumer service revenue were estimated at VND665.6 trillion (US$25.31 billion), up 1.1% from the previous month and 14.8% year-on-year.
For the second quarter, the figure reached an estimated VND1,977.6 trillion, representing a 3.4% increase from the first quarter and a 13.9% rise compared to the same period last year.
In the first six months, total retail sales and consumer service revenue amounted to an estimated VND3,889.5 trillion, up 12.9% year-on-year. After excluding price factors, real growth stood at 7.3%, reflecting a solid recovery in domestic purchasing power and consumer demand.
Nguyen Thu Oanh, Director of the NSO's Price and Services Statistics Department, said the trade and service sector continued to play a vital role in supporting economic growth during the first half of the year.
She attributed the positive performance to robust retail activities, a strong recovery in tourism and vibrant passenger and freight transport, all of which contributed to a brighter economic outlook.
Retail sales of goods remained the largest contributor, reaching VND2,941.8 trillion, accounting for 75.6% of total revenue and increasing 12.5% from a year earlier.
Several product categories saw impressive growth, with jewellery and precious metals up 31.3%, petrol products rising 15.3%, timber and construction materials increasing 13.2%, and garments climbing 12.5%.
Among localities, Quang Ninh posted the highest retail growth at 14.1%, followed by Da Nang with 13.9%, Can Tho 12.9%, Hanoi and Hai Phong, both 12.7%, and Ho Chi Minh City 12.1%.
Accommodation and food services generated VND493 trillion in revenue, up 15.6%, supported by booming tourism in major destinations such as Da Nang, Quang Ninh, Khanh Hoa and Hue. Other service activities earned VND404.9 trillion, rising 12.5%.
Travel and tourism services also performed strongly, with revenue reaching VND49.8 trillion, up 15% year-on-year. Khanh Hoa led the growth with a 32.2% increase, followed by Hue at 27.7% and Quang Ninh at 27.1%.
International tourism remained another bright spot. Vietnam welcomed an estimated 12.3 million foreign visitors in the first six months of 2026, a 14.9% increase from a year earlier, thanks to favourable visa policies, expanded tourism promotion campaigns and more diverse tourism products.
Air travel remained the dominant mode of entry, accounting for 10.1 million arrivals, or 82.6% of the total. Meanwhile, arrivals by land surged 37.5% to 1.9 million, reflecting stronger cross-border travel.
Asia remained Vietnam's largest source market with more than 9.06 million visitors. Europe, however, recorded the fastest growth, with arrivals soaring 56.1% year-on-year to nearly 2.1 million.
The strong performance of retail trade and the continued recovery of services, particularly tourism, accommodation and food services, highlight the increasingly important role of domestic consumption in sustaining Vietnam's economic growth in the first half of 2026.
Source: VNA
