The business circle in Ho Chi Minh City has actively expanded its retail network across Vietnam in recent years, which is believed to be the right development direction amid increasing competition from both domestic and foreign enterprises.

As of the end of 2013, Vissan Co. Ltd. has over 100 showrooms and hundreds of outlets and provided fresh meat and vegetables for nearly 1,000 schools, organisations and hotels across the country.

Thegioididong.com, a mobile device retailer, is also present in all 63 provinces and cities. From 38 shops in 2009, this retailer has increased the number to 220.

Meanwhile, the Saigon Union of Trading Cooperatives (Saigon Co.op) places importance on developing various forms of retail to satisfy market demand.

At present, it owns 69 Co.opmart supermarkets, 72 Co.opFood convenience stores, 170 Co.op stores, along with Co.opXtra hypermarkets and Sense City trade centres from the north to the south of Vietnam.

In 2014, Thegioididong.com will upgrade and expand its retail network along with piloting outlets in rural areas, whilst Vissan will put into operation a factory in Hanoi and build an industrial cluster in the Mekong Delta province of Long An.

From now to 2020, Saigon Co.op will conduct its business in a sustainable and flexible way, its chairman of the board of directors Nguyen Ngoc Hoa said.

Vice Chairwoman of the HCM City People’s Committee Nguyen Thi Hong said over the past decade, the city has zoned land and provided finance for developing wholesale and retail systems. It has also proactively cooperated with other provinces to extend the retail network, helping fuel the sector’s development in Vietnam.

She added that diversifying business and retail forms is practical and in line with the current consumption trend. The expansion of retail facilities is also a necessary factor for the growth of the domestic market and the national economy as a whole.-VNA