Cross-border e-commerce opens up additional export channels for Vietnamese goods.
New exports accounted for 0.48%
According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade , by 2025, the size of Vietnam’s e-commerce market will reach approximately 31 billion USD, placing it among the top 10 largest markets in the world and third in ASEAN.
Exportsfor 0.48% of the country’s total export turnover. Import and export turnover through e-commerce platforms reached approximately $4.45 billion, while total import and export turnover reached approximately $930 billion
With significant potential, the challenge lies in how businesses can translate their digital presence into stable orders, revenue, and substantial market share overseas.
According to Ms. Lai Viet Anh, Deputy Director of the Department of E-commerce and Digital Economy (Ministry of Industry and Trade), selling goods through digital platforms is becoming part of the new trade infrastructure, creating additional impetus for import and export in the context of restructuring global supply chains.
Compared to traditional export channels with multiple layers of intermediaries, e-commerce can shorten the journey to the end consumer.
This presents a significant opportunity for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) that often struggle to build their own overseas distribution networks. Direct access to customers also helps businesses better understand needs, assess feedback, and adjust products accordingly.
Some product categories, such as textiles, footwear, and personal care products, are estimated to have 80% to 99% remaining room for online growth.
However, exportsoups and have not expanded proportionally to processed industrial goods and deeply processed agricultural products
The target market is also primarily neighboring countries, due to geographical distances which lead to more complex requirements regarding transportation, logistics, customs clearance, and import regulations.
According to Ms. Trinh Thi Thu Hien, Deputy Director of the Import-Export Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade), import and export through e-commerce platforms still account for a modest proportion. The further the target market is, the more carefully businesses must calculate transportation costs, procedures, and business conditions in the importing country.
From a business perspective, Mr. Tran Dinh Toan, Head of the Cross-Border E-commerce Committee of the Vietnam E-commerce Association (VECOM), believes that the major bottleneck lies in digital capabilities and a lack of confidence in long-term investment. Many businesses recognize the opportunities but lack systematic plans, resources, and dedicated personnel, resulting in less-than-expected business results and continued hesitation regarding this export channel.
In reality, launching a product online is just the beginning. Businesses still need to survey demand, build brand and digital content, standardize quality, packaging, and labeling, organize payment systems, provide customer service, and process data.
Goods must also comply with regulations in both Vietnam and the importing market. If even one link is missing, opportunities to reach customers may not necessarily translate into effective transactions.
Removing bottlenecks from customs to logistics.
For online exports to develop, a robust and synchronized support ecosystem needs to be formed, rather than simply encouraging businesses to open storefronts on platforms. According to Ms. Lai Viet Anh, regulatory agencies need to improve institutions and infrastructure; trade promotion agencies need to expand markets; customs should facilitate the flow of goods; digital platforms should support connections with buyers; and logistics, payment, and insurance companies should ensure smooth transactions.
According to experts, to accelerate digital transformation in the customs sector, customs clearance procedures, export documents, and data requirements need to be processed more efficiently to suit the specifics of online transactions.
The government and the Ministry of Industry and Trade have paid increasing attention to the development of e-commerce and exports through the digital environment.
Accordingly, the National E-commerce Development Master Plan for the period 2026-2030 and the Go Global Program for the period 2026-2030 create a foundation to support businesses in expanding into international markets through the digital environment. Promotional activities should be linked to practical guidance, platform connections, and support services, rather than simply providing information.
Logistics is a crucial link determining costs and delivery capabilities. According to the Vietnam Logistics Report 2025, Vietnam’s logistics costs are estimated to be equivalent to 16-17% of GDP, significantly higher than many countries in the region. For cross-border orders, freight, warehousing, insurance, and procedures can erode the price advantage of Vietnamese goods, especially for small shipments and distant markets.
According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the draft Strategy for the Development of Logistics Services aims to connect industrial parks and production centers with seaports, inland ports, warehouses, logistics centers, and distribution networks.
The application of automated warehouse management technology, real-time inventory tracking, big data, and artificial intelligence is expected to help optimize transportation, forecast demand, and reduce costs.
The logistics development plan also aims to reduce costs to below 12% of GDP by 2030 and establish 5-6 modern logistics centers.
Experts also suggest that for businesses exporting digital products, it should be considered a long-term investment strategy. Before entering a new market, businesses need to clarify their target customers, unmet needs, advantages that make buyers choose Vietnamese products, and the appropriate platform.
Standardizing products, labels, legal documentation, order processing procedures, and customer service must go hand in hand with selecting logistics, payment, and insurance partners.
In addition, e-commerce platforms and solution providers can support businesses with fee packages, technical consulting, and consumer trend data; banks, payment processors, and logistics companies need to develop integrated services to optimize costs, manage cash flow, transportation, and insurance…
When business capabilities, customs procedures, payments, and logistics are seamlessly integrated, online exporting can become a genuine growth channel, helping Vietnamese businesses get closer to global consumers.
Original article
https://hanoimoi.vn/thuong-mai-dien-tu-mo-rong-du-dia-xuat-khau-so-1761109.html
Tag:e-commerceonline exportslogisticsexport turnover#DigitalExport
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