Trade and services growth driver

Residents use digital payment methods at Lotte Mart Dong Nai (Long Binh Ward).

Developing a modern, integrated trade and services sector is an inevitable trend and a necessary condition to meet local development needs in the context of international integration, accelerated digital transformation, and the application of science and technology…

Diversifying retail channels and modern services

In addition to 186 traditional markets and tens of thousands of household businesses supplying essential goods, Dong Nai Province is now home to 9 shopping centers and 19 supermarkets, along with an expanding network of convenience stores and mini-marts reaching even remote areas. The province has also seen rapid growth of major convenience store chains such as Bach Hoa Xanh, WinMart, Co.op Food, GS25, and FamilyMart … as well as mini-supermarkets and self-service shops.

According to Le Duc Thuan, Director of Lotte Mart Dong Nai (Long Binh Ward, Dong Nai Province), Lotte Mart aims to become a pioneering retailer in adopting an omnichannel retail model. He emphasized that omnichannel retailing is seen as the future of Vietnam’s retail industry in general and of Dong Nai in particular, offering the most convenient shopping experience for consumers in the digital era.

Nguyen Duong The Kiet, Store Manager of Kohnan Bien Hoa at Vincom Bien Hoa Shopping Center (Tam Hiep Ward, Dong Nai Province), shared that modern consumer demand is shifting in terms of preferences. Kohnan Bien Hoa offers a wide range of Japanese domestic products, Japanese-branded goods, as well as items sourced from Vietnam, covering categories such as household appliances, furniture, kitchenware, pet products, and eco-friendly consumer goods. The store focuses on diversifying its product lines to meet modern consumption trends and enhance convenience for urban consumers, particularly young individuals and young families.

Supermarkets and convenience store chains represent an expanding retail model for major retailers with diverse distribution and sales systems. As a result, when shopping at supermarkets or convenience stores, customers not only enjoy the benefits of specific products and services but also gain access to unified promotions across the retailer’s entire distribution network and brand system…

Tuan Dat, a resident of Binh Phuoc Ward, Dong Nai Province, shared: “The growing network of supermarkets and convenience stores has diversified modern shopping and consumption channels for local residents. Goods and services have improved in quality, design, and variety. The expansion of convenience stores also creates more spaces for young customers to shop and dine, enriching the range of trade and services in urban areas.”

At the same time, e-commerce has been expanding rapidly in Dong Nai. The province’s e-commerce market continues to grow, supported by proactive initiatives and concrete action plans aimed at promoting the digital economy, with e-commerce playing a key role in this development.

Promoting Digital Payments

To keep pace with the technological transformation of the trade and services sector, digital payments play a vital role in bringing the benefits of modern payment methods to the community, thereby improving the quality of life for residents….

Le Duc Thuan, Director of Lotte Mart Dong Nai, shared: “We are focusing on developing target customer segments based on shopping behavior, residential location, and frequency of interaction. At the same time, we continue to expand our multi-platform sales channels, from our website and mobile app to platforms like GrabMart, ShopeeFood Mart, and livestreaming, in order to increase customer touchpoints and meet the growing demands of consumers.”

In recent times, the commercial banking system in the province has performed well in payment operations, actively promoting non-cash transactions. At the same time, it has promptly and adequately supplied cash and ensured the appropriate currency structure to support production and the circulation of goods.

According to the State Bank of Vietnam, Region 2 Branch (which oversees banking, monetary, and foreign exchange operations in Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai Province), Dong Nai currently has 132 banking units, including 88 bank branches. Local credit institutions have been focusing on developing modern payment services and accelerating digital transformation in banking operations. This undertaking has enabled the provision of safe, convenient, and practical digital banking services for both residents and businesses. Notably, the banking sector has been actively implementing solutions to effectively carry out the Government’s Project 06/CP, thereby promoting non-cash payments across the province.

Nguyen Duc Lenh, Deputy Director of the State Bank of Vietnam, Region 2 Branch, emphasized the importance of connecting, exploiting, and utilizing the national population database to support the development of account services (including opening payment accounts, payment authentication, customer information verification, and account cleansing). This initiative brings significant meaning and benefits to the expansion and advancement of cashless payments in the economy. At the same time, it drives economic growth activities aligned with the requirements of the digital economy, such as e-commerce, technology-based transportation, tourism services, and consumer credit. These sectors are developing in line with modern trends, applying technology to create practical products and services that contribute to socio-economic development and improve the quality of life for people across Dong Nai Province.

With a wide range of payment options, including Internet Banking, Mobile Banking, QR code, e-wallets, and credit or debit cards, most people can easily pay for everyday essentials such as electricity, water, phone bills, transportation tickets, tuition fees, groceries at supermarkets or convenience stores, and online purchases quickly and conveniently.

By: Hai Quan

Translated by: Thu Cuc - Minho