Hanoi:The 2026 nationwide conference focused on expanding e-commerce to communes was held in Hanoi on November 11. The event was co-hosted by the Industry and Trade newspaper, the Ministry of Industry and Trade's Vietnam E-Commerce and Digital Economy Agency (iDEA), TikTok Shop, and other relevant units, connecting departments of industry and trade with communal and ward authorities across 34 cities and provinces.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Viet Son emphasized the importance of e-commerce as a new growth engine, aligning with the 14th National Party Congress's target of achieving at least 10% average growth from 2026 to 2030. The digital economy is expected to contribute approximately 30% of GDP by 2030, supported by various resolutions and government plans that provide a strong foundation for e-commerce expansion.
The national e-commerce development plan for 2026-2030, approved on June 3, 2025, includes specific targets such as integrating 60% of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) into e-commerce platforms and ensuring 60% of communes, wards, and equivalent units engage in online trade. Additionally, the plan calls for one million training sessions to support enterprises, cooperatives, business households, and individuals in developing their digital skills.
The Vietnamese e-commerce market has shown significant growth, reaching nearly 31 billion USD in 2025, which accounted for about 11% of total retail sales and consumer service revenue. However, the growth is largely concentrated in urban areas, with a notable disparity between cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and other localities.
iDEA Deputy Director Nguyen Thi Minh Huyen highlighted successful initiatives such as Dong Thap's e-commerce platform, which facilitated the sale of 3.5 tonnes of pineapple online in just 90 minutes. The conference also showcased TikTok Shop's efforts to enhance e-commerce through its discovery-commerce model, which has led to a 30.5% increase in average sales for Vietnamese sellers.
Looking ahead to 2027, TikTok Shop aims to establish exemplary e-commerce communes in every locality and expand its presence in areas like Lai Chau's Than Uyen and Hanoi's Bat Trang and Thu Lam.