Hai Phong: Infrastructure all set but few firms ready for e-business
The northern port city of Hai Phong ranked third in the 2017 e-Business Index (EBI), and though local infrastructure is all set for e-commerce, few companies are ready to trade online.
Hai Phong (VNA) – The northern port city of Hai Phong rankedthird in the 2017 e-Business Index (EBI), and though local infrastructure is allset for e-commerce, few companies are ready to trade online.
According to Deputy Director of the e-Commerce Centre at the municipalDepartment of Industry and Trade Le Duc Truong, some 22,000 businesses haveregistered to operate in the city but only 320 have e-commerce websitesregistered with the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
A recent survey in Hai Phong shows that 100 percent of local firms useemail and search for information on the internet, however, only 4.4 percent ofthem are on electronic trading platforms and 14.8 percent have e-commercewebsites, Truong said.
While there is a growing trend of mobile shopping, up to 89 percent ofthe companies have yet to develop a mobile commerce website and 95.2 percenthave yet to take part in mobile-based trading, he added.
Though smartphones are the most popular tool to make online purchasesin the city and more and more businesses accept card payments, most customersprefer cash.
To fully tap local e-commerce potential, Truong advised firms to bemore active in applying e-commerce and provide more solutions to help customersshop online, particularly in transportation and e-payment.
He also suggested local authorities help the firms solve difficultiesin this matter and play a greater role in promoting e-business.
Hai Phong is a high potential market with more than 2.1 million people,not to mention those living in neighbouring provinces of Thai Binh, Quang Ninhand Hai Duong who come to the city.
The city produced the most impressive growth in the overall e-businessdevelopment as the city’s EBT jumped from fifth to third place last year, behindonly HCM City and Hanoi, the Vietnam E-commerce Association (VECOM) announced atthe recent Vietnam Online Business Forum.
The EBI was firstpublished in 2012, aiming to evaluate the use of e-commerce and comparedevelopment among localities. The index is based on four criteria: informationtechnology infrastructure and human resources, transactions between businessesand customers (B2C), transactions between businesses and businesses (B2B) andtransactions between businesses and state agencies (G2B).-VNA
Vietnam’s electronics enterprises should enhance linkages and increase productivity if they want to grow sustainably and integrate more deeply into the global supply chain, experts said.
The Vietnam Online Business Forum (VOBF) 2018, the second of its kind, opened in Hanoi on March 14 to the welcome of investors following the 2017 success.
Since the Internet came to Vietnam 20 years ago, the country’s e-commerce is among the fastest growing globally and has become popular, especially among businesses.
The North-South Expressway project is scheduled for completion by 2030, aiming to establish the groundwork for Vietnam’s modern railway industry and stimulate regional economic development, positioning the country for a significant economic leap in the era of national rise.
The probe, initiated on June 11 following a petition by the US Coalition for Fair Trade in Hardwood Plywood, targets products classified under HS Code 4412 and 9403 imported from China, Indonesia and Vietnam.
Sun PhuQuoc Airways was born as a perfect piece in Sun Group’s strategic vision to build a premium ecosystem of tourism, entertainment, real estate, and aviation. With a pioneering ambition, Sun PhuQuoc Airways is not just an airline, but a symbol of connection – bringing the world to Phu Quoc and taking Phu Quoc to the world.
A key change in the draft decree is a provision requiring bank transfers for gold transactions valued at 20 million VND (765 USD) and above, to enhance transparency and verify customer identities.
In the first four months of 2025, trade turnover between Vietnam and Cambodia surpassed 3 billion USD, marking a 7% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
On June 19 alone, a total of 2,005 trucks completed customs clearance at Lang Son’s border gates — the highest single-day figure ever recorded in the province. Of these, 634 carried exports and 1,371 imports.
The OECD Economic Surveys: Vietnam 2025 report focuses on analysing the country’s macroeconomic fundamentals, the impact of international integration on attracting foreign investment and trade, and the country’s prospects for developing a low-carbon economy.
Antoine Colin, Senior Vice President for Global Supply Chain Digital Transformation & Resilience at HP Inc., affirmed HP’s strategic commitment to building a supply chain and ecosystem in Vietnam and the region.
Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT)’s Trade Promotion Agency Bui Quang Hung emphasised that logistics has evolved from a technical function into a core capability for Vietnamese exporters to maintain their competitive advantage in the US market.
A trade official has suggested companies work closely with shipping lines, airlines, and freight forwarders to monitor routes, transit times, and potential surcharges while exploring broader cargo insurance to cover risks like war and terrorism.
In addition to institutional reform, the agency is also rolling out key solution groups to combat counterfeit goods, imitations, and intellectual property infringements in the digital environment.
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.
Illustrative image. (Photo: mmbiztoday.com) 
