Promote domestic trade development policy

In the context of Vietnam's economy being on the path of strong recovery, along with the process of deep international integration, domestic trade plays a particularly important role - not only as a growth driver, but also as a foundation to ensure the autonomy, stability and sustainability of the national economy.

On the afternoon of October 28, within the framework of the first Autumn Fair - 2025 at the Vietnam Exhibition Center (VEC), the Department of Domestic Market Management and Development, Ministry of Industry and Trade coordinated with relevant units to organize the Forum "Domestic trade development policy".

Speaking at the opening of the forum, Mr. Bui Nguyen Anh Tuan, Deputy Director of the Department of Domestic Market Management and Development (Ministry of Industry and Trade) said that the Forum on domestic trade development policies in 2025, within the framework of the First Autumn Fair in 2025. This is a meaningful event to review, evaluate and shape domestic trade development policies in the new era - the era of deep integration, technology explosion and intertwined challenges and opportunities.

Mr. Bui Nguyen Anh Tuan, Deputy Director of the Department of Domestic Market Management and Development (Ministry of Industry and Trade) spoke at the forum.

In the context of a volatile global economy and strong shifts in the digital age, the domestic market has been playing an important role as a pillar, a solid launching pad for the sustainable development of the Vietnamese economy. Deeply aware of that, the Party, the National Assembly and the Government have issued many important resolutions, creating a solid legal corridor for the development of the domestic market. The domestic market is not only the foundation of the economy but also an important space to realize the goals of sustainable development and improve the quality of life for the people.

According to the representative of the Department of Domestic Market Management and Development, the new era brings us outstanding features such as: Industrial Revolution 4.0 and digital transformation; Deep international integration with new generation free trade agreements (FTAs) opening up export opportunities, but at the same time posing challenges of fierce competition from imported goods; Changes in consumer behavior; Challenges from climate change and sustainable development, requirements for green production, sustainable consumption, and circular economy are becoming increasingly urgent.

In that context, the domestic market needs to transform strongly, not only as a place to consume products but also as an important driving force to promote production, create jobs and ensure social security.
With the strategic vision and concretization in the above documents, the Department of Domestic Market Management and Development proposes a number of policy orientations for domestic trade development. Specifically, developing a system of retail trade infrastructure, green logistics infrastructure, ensuring modernity and synchronization, and balance between regions and areas to increase the attractiveness of the investment and business environment, increase industry and economic zone connectivity, regional and international connectivity.

Along with that, strengthen the management of goods transactions through e-commerce platforms. Complete legal policies for e-commerce, including urgently completing and submitting to the National Assembly the draft Law on E-commerce to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of state management of e-commerce, creating conditions for e-commerce to develop sustainably and orderly, and driving the development of the digital economy.

Build national e-commerce platforms connected to existing trading floors... to provide the best shopping experience for customers, integrating payment services, operations and logistics services, product traceability tools using blockchain technology to ensure transparency and accuracy, and at the same time, require sellers to publicly disclose the origin of products and use QR codes so that customers can access product information...

In particular, it is necessary to develop a sustainable market, innovation and a digital transformation ecosystem. Promote innovation, create new growth drivers for the Industry and Trade sector in science and technology, high-quality human resources, and digital transformation in the trade sector to improve productivity, quality, efficiency and competitiveness of the industry and businesses.

Forum view.

In addition, Mr. Tuan said that it is necessary to perfect mechanisms and policies, improve the business environment in accordance with international commitments. Focus on reviewing and perfecting policies on retail market management, including studying, amending, supplementing and promulgating state management regulations in the retail sector to meet management requirements in the current situation of the retail market constantly fluctuating and developing rapidly, especially regulations and conditions related to participation in the retail market, standards and norms for commercial infrastructure, including retail infrastructure. The amendment of standards and norms must ensure the principles of inheritance, diversity and modernity, while the national standards and norms system must approach the international standards system and comply with international commitments.

Continue to improve the legal framework for managing e-commerce activities. Strengthen online control of information and e-commerce transactions; strengthen the mechanism for managing and monitoring payment transactions for cross-border e-commerce activities...

“Orienting domestic trade development policies in the new era of development” is not a task of the Department of Domestic Market Management and Development or the Ministry of Industry and Trade alone, but a common journey, requiring the cooperation and consensus from the central to local levels, from state management agencies to the business community, industry associations and all people. We believe that with relentless efforts, innovation and a spirit of close cooperation, Vietnam's domestic market will increasingly develop strongly, modernly and sustainably, making a worthy contribution to the country's socio-economic development,” Mr. Tuan believes.

Representing the business, Ms. Tran Thi Phuong Lan, Vice President of the Vietnam Retailers Association, said that in recent years, modern commercial infrastructure has developed strongly across the country, currently there are about 1,270 supermarkets, 270 shopping malls, nearly 250,000 convenience stores (WinCommerce, Coopmart...), 7,525 stores of FDI enterprises (MM Mega Market of MM Mega Market Vietnam Co., Ltd.; Aeon of Aeon Vietnam Co., Ltd.; Lotte Mart of Lotte Vietnam Commercial Center Co., Ltd.; Go Market, Tops Market of Central Group Vietnam (General Household Goods Trading Company Limited...), not to mention e-commerce platforms, business chains...; the proportion of retail sales in modern distribution channels accounts for over 40%, traditional channels account for nearly 60%; The proportion of retail sales in modern distribution channels is increasing gradually in recent years. That affirms the support and orientation for products Vietnam's dominance in the retail channel is now an inevitable trend that benefits the whole society.

“According to economic experts, the Vietnamese retail market is still in the development stage and has a breakthrough after the pandemic. In the period 2025 - 2030, the market is expected to achieve stronger growth, enough to compete with leading countries in the region,” Ms. Phuong Lan commented.

However, Ms. Lan said that although the market picture has many bright spots, the reality is not easy for businesses, businesses are facing many challenges. Therefore, the Vietnamese retail market needs to innovate for 2026 and the following years. Businesses need to comprehensively transform digitally from stores to platforms; Develop commercial infrastructure, upgrade cold-speed logistics, remote areas; Experience store model (phygital) and optimize space; Support SMEs and domestic products on digital platforms; Payment and fintech: seamless, safe, multi-channel; Apply AI, analyze data from demand to supply chain; Digitize goods management and standardize product data...

Ms. Lan recommended the need to perfect policies, improve the investment and business environment and reform administrative procedures, enhance the effectiveness of law enforcement on domestic trade development, ensure fair competition and sustainable development. There should be specific policies for businesses developing trade infrastructure in remote, mountainous and island areas...

Along with that, develop the retail infrastructure system; attract FDI investment to develop a modern retail distribution system, especially information technology infrastructure for e-commerce activities; encourage investment in developing logistics services, transportation and preservation, and payment services. Improve the competitiveness of Vietnamese retail enterprises; diversify economic entities and types of enterprises participating in the development of the retail market in terms of financial support policies, human resource development, etc.

From a local perspective, Mr. Bui The Hiep, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade, said that Hanoi has a commercial infrastructure system that fully serves the shopping and consumption needs of essential products and specialties of the people, and there is no shortage of goods in any case. At the same time, Hanoi always prioritizes allocating resources and removing difficulties for the development of a widespread commercial infrastructure network in the capital.

In addition, development programs, trade promotion, and consumer stimulus programs in Hanoi have been continuously implemented in recent times, with diverse contents and forms suitable for businesses and units such as: Vietnamese goods fair loved by consumers; Regional specialty fair; Fruit and agricultural products week; Promotional days in the months, Hanoi sleepless night event, etc. have contributed to promoting brands and products of Hanoi and other provinces and cities; helping large distribution systems of Hanoi meet, research consumer needs, directly connect with quality goods sources, suitable prices to serve consumer needs, highly appreciated by businesses and consumers and expected that Hanoi will regularly implement activities in the capital.

To continue to effectively and creatively carry out assigned tasks on trade development programs and stimulate consumption in Hanoi. The Department of Industry and Trade continues to advise on the development and effective implementation of program contents and plans according to the City People's Committee's Work Program on stimulating consumption, increasing total retail sales; ensuring supply-demand balance and linkage and connection activities; Food safety; developing e-commerce and logistics services... to contribute to promoting, connecting, and circulating quality and safe goods in the capital in 2025 and the following years.

At the same time, effectively deploy solutions to connect production with distribution of goods, strengthen links in the value chain of goods associated with good implementation of regulations on quality and food safety. Continue to deploy activities to connect supply and demand of goods to promote the consumption of domestically produced goods in traditional and modern distribution channels.

“Hanoi will strengthen and promote the organization of linkage and trade promotion activities between Hanoi and other provinces and cities across the country. Encourage e-commerce platforms in Hanoi to implement programs to consume domestically produced products and goods; organize activities to promote regional linkages in e-commerce…”, Mr. Hiep said.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/kinh-te/thuc-day-chinh-sach-phat-trien-thuong-mai-trong-nuoc-20251028150204843.htm