Ho Chi Minh City (VNA) – E-commerce is becoming an essential pillar of the digital economy as Vietnamese businesses are shifting from online sales to building digital commerce ecosystems, connecting production, logistics, and distribution to expand their markets and participate more deeply in the global value chain.
Speaking at a recent seminar on e-commerce development in the fashion industry, jointly organised by Ho Chi Minh City's Department of Industry and Trade, and the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), officials said digital transformation is no longer limited to online sales but has become a prerequisite for maintaining competitiveness.
Do Thi Minh Tram, Deputy Director of the MoIT's Department of Innovation, Green Transition and Industrial Promotion, said growing requirements for supply chain transparency, traceability and sustainable production in export markets have made digital transformation and e-commerce increasingly important. Beyond expanding customer reach, digital platforms have also helped businesses standardise operations, improve data management and enhance competitiveness.
According to Nguyen Cao Duc, Deputy Director of the Institute for European and American Studies, the restructuring of global supply chains under the "China+1" strategy is creating new opportunities for Vietnam to attract investment and integrate more deeply into international production networks.
Vuong Thi Oanh, a representative of the MoIT's Agency of Foreign Trade, noted that international buyers now require not only competitive prices but also product quality, on-time delivery, traceability, carbon emission management and digital connectivity. Enterprises that lag behind in digital transformation risk losing their place in global supply chains, she said.
Many Vietnamese companies have responded by investing in integrated digital commerce ecosystems. Retailer Saigon Co.op, for example, has been expanding its Co.op Online platform and centralised data management system to connect sourcing, warehousing, distribution and customer services across nearly 800 outlets nationwide.
Saigon Co.op Deputy General Director Nguyen Ngoc Thang said the model helps optimise inventories, shorten delivery time and improve demand forecasting while providing consumers with a seamless omnichannel shopping experience. He added that the company aims to build a modern commercial infrastructure that better connects manufacturers, logistics providers and consumers, enabling Vietnamese products to reach the market more efficiently.
Manufacturers are also expanding their presence on e-commerce platforms through official online stores, livestream sales and digital marketing to strengthen brand recognition, access customer data and reduce reliance on intermediaries.
Industry experts said cross-border e-commerce is opening up new opportunities for Vietnamese products, but long-term success will depend on meeting international standards for product quality, traceability, data management and supply chain integration.
Mirash Basheer, Director of Garment Exports Vietnam Company under Lulu Group, said demand for Vietnamese food, agricultural products, seafood, consumer goods and garments remains strong in the Middle East. He noted that suppliers must comply with international standards on food safety, traceability, packaging and delivery reliability to join Lulu's retail and e-commerce network across the Gulf region and other international markets.
Similarly, Veronica Alcaraz Silva, Chief Representative in Vietnam of Mexican retail group Coppel, said Latin America offers growing opportunities for Vietnamese exports. However, she stressed that businesses must go beyond price competitiveness by ensuring consistent product quality, reliable supply, transparent traceability and stronger digital capabilities to become long-term suppliers for global retailers./.
