Vietnam recorded a mild increase of 2.79% in consumer price index last year, the lowest level in the past 3 years.  The official at General Statistics Office claimed that 2019 was a successful year in terms of inflation control as the growth rate stayed well below 4%.  It was partly contributed by the efforts in managing the price hikes by the State in electricity, medical services and school tuition fees even though education and healthcare were still the highest growth components in the CPI basket.  Food, as a result of the high pork prices on African swine fever, climbed up steeply at 4% on a yearly basis.  On the contrary, both transportation and telecom saw price reduction in the past 12 months.  The overall low CPI would give more room for the authority to utilize the monetary policy in stimulating the economy if necessary.