Trade and service industry has prospered

According to the Department of Industry and Trade, in the first 6 months of 2022, the total retail sales of goods and services in the province was estimated at VND110.5 trillion, up nearly 13.9% over the same period last year. In which, the retail trade is estimated at VND85.3 trillion in revenue, up 10.5% over the same period last year. The reason for the relatively high increase was the market's and consumer's consumption tended to increase again. On the other hand, production demand and business units promote stimulus packages to attract consumers for shopping.

People buying products at a supermarket in Bien Hoa City.

Ms. Hoang Thi To Uyen, Deputy Director of Co.opmart Bien Hoa said that in the first half of this year, revenue and the number of visitors shopping at supermarkets increased by about 25% compared to the same period last year. In which, there are many groups and industries with good recovery, high purchasing power compared to the time before the Covid-19 epidemic such as consumer goods, fashion, etc. To attract consumers, stimulate shopping demand, in the past time, the supermarket has regularly organized and responded to promotions and stimulated Vietnamese goods. Mr. Pham Duc Nam, Head of the Management Board of Long Thanh Market, Long Thanh District said that in the first months of the year, the market's activities gradually recovered after the Covid-19 epidemic, the main market area of daytime and the nighttime all are back to normal operation. The average number of stalls and kiosks operating at the market is over 80%.

In addition, according to Dong Nai Statistics Department, revenue from service activities in the province in the first half of 2022 is estimated at more than VND25 trillion. In which, revenue from catering, accommodation and travel services was estimated at nearly VND9.5 trillion, up about 28.7% over the same period last year. Mr. Pham Chau An, Deputy General Director of Suoi Mo Tourism Investment Company Limited - the management unit of Suoi Mo Ecological Park, Tan Phu District said that recently, especially this summer, the number of tourists coming to visit and relax at Suoi Mo has many positive signs of recovery. Compared to the average growth rate before the Covid-19 epidemic, the revenue and number of visitors is about 80-90% now.

Similarly, Ms. Ngoc Lan, owner of a restaurant in Hoa An Ward, Bien Hoa City said that after the epidemic was well controlled, in the first half of this year, her shop had gradually "catching up" again as before the outbreak. Especially when people gradually adapt to the new pace of life, students go back to school, on average, the shop sells more than 100 breakfast and soft drinks every day.

"Currently, in addition to traditional restaurants, my shop also has to compete with online businesses and access to digital technology. In order to retain customers, I try to keep the same level of sales as before despite the situation. Therefore, although the profit is not much, the number of customers has increased and the revenue has improved, so I am also excited because the number of customers has stabilized and prospered compared to the gloomy time before," said Ms. Lan.

According to Dong Nai Statistics Department, revenue from other service sectors such as real estate business services, administrative and support services, medical services, entertainment services, education, and training services, etc. were estimated at more than VND15.6 trillion, increasing more than 25.4% over the same period in 2021.

Mr. Nguyen Quang Tuyen, Director of the Japanese Language Study Abroad Consultant Co., Ltd, Bien Hoa City said that over the past time, the number of students and revenue from the company's Japanese training courses increased by 35-40% compared to that of the time to reopen after the Covid-19 epidemic. When economic, production and business activities are restored, the demand for learning Japanese increases accordingly. The number of Japanese companies and enterprises in Industrial Zones planning to train workers in Japanese is increasing day by day. In addition, the field of study abroad consulting has also prospered, many countries have reopened to welcome international students.