Consumers at a Big C supermarrket in Ninh Binh (Source:VNA)
Hanoi (VNA)ꦜ – As more and more giant retailers do business in Vietnam, domestic firms are struggling to adapt to the heated competition.
Besides Big C by France’s Casino Group and Germany’s Metro Cash & Carry, other big names include Lotte and E-mart from the Republic of Korea, Aeon from Japan, Berli Jucker and Central Group from Thailand.
According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, foreign retailers own more than 100 supermarkets and shopping malls out 800 total nationwide. However, their operations account for as much as 40 percent of the retail sector’s total revenue, leading to concerns over the future for local competitors.
Vu Vinh Phu, Chairman of the Hanoi Supermarket Association, said foreign retailers not only offer better and affordable products but also attractive promotions and post-sale services.
They also supply products under their own brands at competitive prices, ranging from cosmetics to daily necessities such as food and beverages, he added.
Locally-made products are struggling to enter foreign supermarkets which prefer merchandise made in their own countries, not to mention other requirements such as origin or quality certificates and compulsory periodic promotions.
Phu suggested authorised agencies carefully consider licensing new foreign retailers based on the Economic Needs Test - an administrative review that a wholly foreign-owned retailer has to undergo when it wants to open an additional outlet.
In his view, domestic retailers and manufacturers should work together to generate collective power.
Former Minister of Commerce Truong Dinh Tuyen called for adopting trade some defence tools to protect local sellers.
Tran Vinh Nhung, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade, requested stricter regulations when it comes to mergers and acquisitions, such as capping controlling stakes, publicising tax and financial reports to prevent transfer pricing and increasing the amount of Vietnamese goods on display in supermarkets.-VNA
A lack of a master retail plan has caused insecurity and confusion in the local retail sector, leaving many of them losing market share to their foreign rivals, independent market analysts have said.
Vietnam has become more attractive to foreign retailers, particularly those from the region, as the country ranked second this year among the 10 top locations for retailers in Asia.
The Association of Foreign Investment Enterprises in Vietnam and Samsung Vietnam organised a workshop on Vietnamese products and supply chain management from factories to supermarkets on July 31.
One-third of the Vietnamese consumers (34 percent) love shopping at hypermarkets, supermarkets, and other modern channels, according to the latest Future of Grocery Report prepared by Nielsen.
It is increasingly common to find products labelled under supermarket brands, offering less expensive prices on shelves of supermarkets in major cities.
Domestic enterprises in the retail industry should strengthen their connections to take better advantages of resources and increase their competitiveness over foreign investors.
The event, co-organised by the Vietnam Trade Office in the UK and TT Meridian, a local importer of Vietnamese fresh produce, aims to build a national lychee brand and encourage broader recognition of Vietnamese fruits in a competitive, high-end market.
The industry's performance has been powered by bold investments in modern production lines, enabling Vietnamese firms to produce complicated products which were exclusive to advanced economies.
Outcomes of ABAC III will shape ABAC’s final policy recommendations to be submitted to the ABAC-APEC leaders’ dialogue, scheduled to take place in the Republic of Korea this November.
This is the second year the magazine has released the ranking, which is based on total revenue and key financial indicators of enterprises from seven countries in the region: Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, and Cambodia.
At the summit, publishing, tech, and media sectors will discuss emerging trends, business models, and sustainable solutions for digital publishing development in Vietnam.
This year’s “Vietnam Goods Week” marks a significant milestone as it is being held simultaneously for the first time in four locations across Asia: Japan, Hong Kong (China), Cambodia, and Malaysia, from June 19 - 22.
According to NordCham Vietnam Chairman Thue Quist Thomasen, the Vietnamese Government’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 is both a challenge and an opportunity for businesses to contribute to green and sustainable growth.
The analysis from an investment perspective shows that the economy’s growth has been heavily capital‑driven, yet efficiency remains low as reflected by Vietnam’s Incremental Capital-Output Ratio (ICOR) being significantly higher than global and regional averages. This underscores the imperative to enhance capital‑use efficiency.
Deputy PM Tran Hong Ha urged countries to work together to remove supply chain bottlenecks, expand market access, strengthen cooperation in smart customs procedures, mutually recognise technical standards, and eliminate unnecessary protectionist barriers to boost trade and investment.
The event has gathered over 400 exhibitors from 16 countries and territories, with more than 980 booths showcasing a wide range of products and technologies in automotive components, electronics, repair and maintenance, bodywork, accessories, and customisation.
The latest order follows Vietjet’s commitment for 20 additional A330neo aircraft last month, bringing the airline’s total widebody aircraft on order to 40.
Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang acknowledged the target represents an important milestone for socio-economic development as well as a demonstration of the country’s aspiration for robust economic growth.
The price of E5 RON92 petrol is now capped at 20,631 VND (0.79 USD) per litre, up 1,169 VND from the previous adjustment, while RON95-III costs no more than 21,244 VND per litre, up 1,277 VND.
While German consumers are familiar with Vietnamese products such as coffee, seafood, tea, and spices, many other quality items remain relatively unknown in the market. The Selgros event not only helped introduce Bac Giang lychee to German consumers but also provided them with the opportunity to experience other Vietnamese agricultural products.
The article by Cuba’s Inter Press Service detailed how Vietnamese private enterprise Agri VMA leased 1,000 ha of land in Los Palacios district, Cuba’s westernmost province of Pinar del Río, for rice cultivation over a three-year period. The project’s first harvest in 2025 recorded an impressive yield of 7.2 tonnes per hectare, far exceeding the local average of 1.6 tonnes.
During the visit, office representatives held a working session with the Tipaza Chamber of Commerce and Industry and met with several prominent local businesses operating in key sectors including industry, agriculture, fisheries, food processing, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and plastics.
Consumers at a Big C supermarrket in Ninh Binh (Source:VNA)
