Passenger vehicles dominated sales at 71 percent, according to the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers Association.

Local company Truong Hai Auto (Thaco) led the market with 14,964 units representing a 39 percent year-on-year increase.

It was followed by Toyota (6,848), and Mitsubishi (4,605).

Honda and Ford rounded off the top five.

Last year sales had fallen by 8 percent to 296,634 units as the Covid-19 pandemic badly affected the economy, hitting people’s incomes and discretionary spending.