
Hanoi (VNA) – Despite the robust development of e-commerce, traditionaltrade channels have maintained their domination in Vietnam as they satisfyshopping habits of local consumers.
According to a survey recently released by Vietnam Report, up to 98 percent ofretailers said most of their turnover comes from brick-and-mortar stores anddistributors, while only 2 percent are generated by e-commerce channels.
Experts said the situation could encourage foreign consumer goods distributorsto penetrate the Vietnamese market.
Hundreds of convenience stores and supermarkets were opened in 2018 and thefirst half of 2019 to meet the increasing consumer demands in major urban areasnationwide.
Statistics reveal that Vietnam now houses more than 3,000 convenience stores,doubling the figure recorded two years ago, over 8,000 markets and 2.2 millionhousehold retailers.
Many businesses are expected to continue expanding their retail networks in thelast quarter of 2019 and the next year.
Since the beginning of this year, the Saigon Union of Trading Co-operatives(Saigon Co.op) has continuously opened more supermarkets and conveniencestores, raising the total number of its supermarkets and commercial centres toover 800, serving more than one million customers each day.
On October 14, it signed a cooperation agreement with East Saigon DSC JSC tobuild a 50,000 sq.m commercial centre - Sense City - at the high-tech park indistrict 9, Ho Chi Minh City, which is projected to be operational in the thirdquarter of 2020.
The centre is expected to help complete trade infrastructure and improve livingstandards of residents in district 9 and adjacent localities, matching thecity’s plan to turn the district into a modern and smart urban area./.