Inflation rises in January due to Tet effect

The effect was exaggerated by the fact last year Tet fell on February 1 and not in January, meaning prices remained low during the latter month.

Another reason is that fuel prices have been rising to catch up with global rates, and a doubling of environmental tax on fuel to VND2,000 ($0.085) this year also pushed up the CPI, the General Statistics Office said.

Eight items in the basket of goods and services that makes up the CPI saw prices increase including transportation, beverages, cigarettes and food-food services.

Education and property-construction prices moved in the opposite direction, however.

Trade declined by 25% year-on-year to $46.56 billion as the economy mostly shut down for the seven-day holiday.