Trade and services grow steadily

In the first 9 months of 2025, the socio-economic picture of Lao Cai province recorded many positive signals. The trade - service and tourism sectors all grew strongly, contributing positively to the socio-economic development goals of the province.

According to the Department of Industry and Trade, since the beginning of the year, trade and service activities in the province have been stable, goods have met the production needs of businesses and the consumption needs of the people. Prices of items such as food, foodstuffs and essential goods have not fluctuated much.

Goods are rich and abundant, meeting the consumption needs of the people.

Through market inspection and supervision, irregularities were promptly detected and violations were strictly handled, contributing to maintaining market stability, preventing speculation, hoarding or unreasonable price increases. Authorities and localities have created favorable conditions, actively removed difficulties and obstacles in production and business for enterprises, focused on trade promotion, supported enterprises in finding new orders, and expanded markets.

As a result, in September, the province's total retail sales of goods and service revenue reached VND 8,000 billion, up 16% over the previous month, up 10% over the same period, and accumulated in the first 9 months of 2025 reached VND 56,095 billion, up 4% over the same period, reaching 66% of the yearly plan (VND 85,000 billion).

One of the bright spots of domestic trade is the modern retail system. GO! Lao Cai shopping mall recorded a revenue growth of nearly 20%, with about 1.7 million customers coming to shop, an increase of 19% over the same period in 2024.

Also in early September 2025, GO! Yen Bai Commercial Center was officially opened, the event attracted a large number of people to visit and shop. With an area of ​​over 4,600m², providing more than 40,000 essential products, contributing to stimulating consumption, promoting the circulation of goods, increasing service revenue and creating jobs for local workers.

Tourists and people entering and exiting through Lao Cai International Border Gate.

Meanwhile, the province's tourism also recorded positive signs when welcoming over 8.7 million visitors in 9 months, of which international visitors reached over 1 million. Total revenue reached nearly 36 trillion VND.

The strong growth in both domestic and international visitors has affirmed that Lao Cai continues to be the leading attractive destination in the Northwest region - a convergence of majestic natural landscapes, unique cultural identity and many competitive experiential tourism products.

This achievement not only reflects the growing attraction of Lao Cai tourism but also shows that the locality is flexibly exploiting seasonal, cultural and landscape advantages to develop tourism in a sustainable direction, creating a distinct mark on the national and regional tourism map.

Import and export activities of goods through Kim Thanh International Road Border Gate No. II.

Import and export activities of goods and entry and exit through Lao Cai border gates remain bustling.

In the first 9 months of 2025, the total value of import-export, purchase and sale of goods through the province's border gates reached over 2.2 billion USD, in which the bright spot was the import value continuing to grow with an increase of 21.41% over the same period in 2024.

Main import items include: agricultural products, confectionery, iron and steel, iron and steel products, machinery, mechanical equipment, fertilizers, chemicals, coke...

The development of border gate economy has promoted logistics, warehousing, banking services and contributed positively to local budget revenue.

People buy essential goods.

Talking to reporters, Mr. Pham Quoc Vuong - Head of Trade Management Department, Department of Industry and Trade commented: The results of the past 9 months show that the province's trade and services have maintained a good growth momentum, exceeding a number of set targets. In particular, border trade activities have been maintained; tourism continues to flourish, making an important contribution to the province's socio-economic development goals.

In the coming time, the industry and trade sector will focus on implementing the Ministry of Industry and Trade's projects on supporting OCOP points of sale and two-way trade models; continue to complete the submission of the Cross-Border Economic Cooperation Zone Project; carry out related tasks in the Provincial People's Committee's plans on implementing the minutes of talks and agreements on economic and trade cooperation with Yunnan province (China); complete trade infrastructure, develop logistics services and promote e-commerce to support businesses.

Trade and service activities in the province are stable.

It is forecasted that in the last months of 2025, Lao Cai's trade and services will have a lot of room for growth. This is because this is the peak period of domestic consumption, especially during the New Year and Lunar New Year 2026. Supermarkets, shopping malls, and traditional markets will be more vibrant with many promotional programs to stimulate shopping. Tourism and import-export activities will increase due to the year-end demand for goods from the Chinese market and domestic provinces and cities.

With the above bright spots, the trade and service sector is expected to create a breakthrough, contributing to Lao Cai completing and exceeding the province's socio-economic development goals in 2025, continuing to affirm its position as an important trade and service center of the Northern Midlands and Mountains region.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/thuong-mai-dich-vu-vung-da-tang-truong-post883529.html