Retail sales rose 13 per cent in Vietnam in January.

Vietnam’s General Statistics Office said retail sales in January rose to VND273.49 trillion ($13 billion), describing it as encouraging since it is higher than the 12 per cent sales growth during the later half of 2013.

The growth was primarily driven by increased demand during Lunar New Year, said General Statistics Office senior expert Vu Manh Ha.

The past year has seen the retail industry record a sales growth of 12.6 per cent to VND2.6 quadrillion ($124.7 billion). That’s low, however, compared to sales growth of 24.5 per cent in 2010, 14.2 per cent in 2011 and 16 per cent in 2012.