Vietnam’s e-commerce boom: a 5.8 bln USD opportunity by 2028
Vietnam’s business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce export value is estimated at 145.2 trillion VND (5.8 billion USD) by 2028, with micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) projected to contribute 25%.
At the seminar co-hosted by the Vietnam E-Commerce Association (VECOM) and Access Partnership in Hanoi on December 16. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi VNA) –💖 Vietnam’s business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce export value is estimated at 145.2 trillion VND (5.8 billion USD) by 2028, with micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) projected to contribute 25%.
This promising outlook was unveiled during a seminar co-hosted by the Vietnam E-Commerce Association (VECOM) and Access Partnership, an international research organisation specialising in e-commerce, in Hanoi on December 16.
Megan Lim, Director of Economic Strategy at Access Partnership, reported that Vietnam's B2C e-commerce export value already hit 86 trillion VND in 2023.
Among the MSMEs engaged in cross-border e-commerce, a staggering 93% affirmed that they could not proceed with exports without leveraging platforms like Amazon Global Selling, Alibaba or eBay. Furthermore, 65% of the surveyed firms reported that more than half of their B2C e-commerce sales came from foreign markets, and 50% anticipated a growth rate of over 20% in their total retail sales over the next five years.
However, Lim also highlighted several major barriers that hinder MSMEs from expanding their investment in this burgeoning field, including high logistics costs, a shortage of talent, and limited knowledge of foreign markets.
VECOM Secretary General Tran Van Trong said since 2017, VECOM has held several cross-border e-commerce forums with up-to-date topics that have made a significant impact. It also established the Online Export Support Alliance aimed at creating a supportive ecosystem for businesses engaged in online export activities.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade is also accelerating the building of a draft master plan on national e-commerce development from 2026 to 2030. This plan underscores online export as a crucial component of e-commerce development, outlining specific goals, policies and solutions to support MSMEs.
The Vietnam e-commerce index report 2024 by VECOM revealed that the sector's growth rate in 2023 increased by over 25% compared to 2022, reaching 25 billion USD. Of this, the online retail sector amounted to 17.3 billion USD, with e-commerce accounting for around 10% of the total retail sales of goods and consumer services.
Addressing environmental issues in e-commerce, a recent survey found that 79% of online customers believe the State should quickly enact and disseminate policies and laws on environmental protection in e-commerce. Additionally, 71% suggested that businesses and online sellers should disclose eco-friendly options to help customers make informed decisions, and 61% of consumers underlined the need for awareness campaigns to promote environmental protection among online shoppers./.
The 2023 Cross-border E-commerce Expo Vietnam, the first of its kind, will take place in the southern largest economic hub of Ho Chi Minh City from August 10-12.
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.
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.
