HCM City (VNA) – The digitalised food value chain and cross-border e-commerce are becoming the new “expressway” to bring Vietnamese products directly to high-value importers and global consumers, experts said at the 2025 Vietnam Food Forum held in Ho Chi Minh City on November 12.
The event was jointly organised by the Trade Promotion Agency (VIETRADE) under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Alibaba.com, and related partners.
Nguyen Viet An, Deputy Director in charge of the Innovation Support Centre (ISC) under the Ministry of Science and Technology, noted that global online food consumers now prioritise convenience, speed, safety, transparency, trust, price, health, and sustainability. Meanwhile, Vietnam already has solid foundations to expand its online exports, including strong supply sources, supportive policies, and links with global e-commerce platforms.
Vietnam’s key agro-food exports with strong potential in online markets include coffee, cashew nuts, beverages, dried fruits, spices, and regional specialties. International buyers are increasingly drawn to Vietnamese products for their distinctive flavors, certified origins, traceability, regional stories, and positive digital presence.
Nguyen Thanh Duong, Deputy Head of the Trade Promotion Capacity Development Division under VIETRADE, said the Government has been investing in developing a digital trade promotion ecosystem - a “soft infrastructure” to expand domestic and international distribution channels. The ecosystem includes shared platforms such as digital fairs and exhibitions, smart trade matchmaking, specialised trade databases, and online training services.
Notably, digital fair platforms now apply virtual reality technology, allowing exhibitions and trade events to be held online, while the blockchain-based iTrace247 system, developed by VIETRADE and German development agency GIZ, enhances product traceability and transparency.
The Vietnam Pavilion on Alibaba.com also serves as an online space showcasing trusted Vietnamese enterprises and high-quality “Made-in-Vietnam” products, helping promote the country’s brands and facilitate trade connections.
Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Phan Thi Thang said that in the 2026–2030 period, the ministry will prioritise implementing a national programme on promoting science and technology in sustainable production and consumption, aiming to develop more green products and strengthen the circular economy.
She emphasised that the goal is to help enterprises reduce input materials, improve efficiency, and access green finance, especially small and micro businesses transitioning to sustainable models.
However, experts noted that Vietnam still lacks a comprehensive innovation strategy for its export value chains.
State agencies were also urged to accelerate standardisation and digitalisation of traceability systems using plantation codes and blockchain or IoT technologies, and to pilot digital traceability sandboxes, e-contracts, and e-certificates for online food exports./.
