Dong Nai supports household businesses in digital transformation

In June 2026, the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) and the Dong Nai City People's Committee signed a cooperation plan to support wholesale and retail stores as well as household businesses in implementing digital transformation across the city.

Leaders of the Ministry of Science and Technology and the People's Committee of Dong Nai city sign a cooperation plan to support wholesale and retail stores, and household businesses in implementing digital transformation in Dong Nai city. Photo: Hai Quan

The initiative is considered one of Dong Nai’s breakthrough solutions to achieve its goal of raising the digital economy’s share to 15–17 percent of the city’s GRDP in 2026. A distinctive feature of the program is the establishment of a close “three-party partnership” involving MoST, the City People's Committee, and digital technology enterprises.

Focusing on many digital skill training solutions

According to Nguyen Minh Quang, Deputy Director of the Dong Nai Department of Science and Technology, the cooperation plan focuses on launching several key support activities, including surveys and assessments of digital well-being, in-depth consultancy services, digital skills training, free access to digital infrastructure and management tools, provision of business websites, guidance on e-commerce operations, and support for product consumption.

Regarding the surveys and assessments of digital well-being, relevant agencies will evaluate the information technology capabilities of each business establishment. This will help store owners and household businesses better understand their current level of digital transformation preparedness. The program will also organize hands-on training courses designed to enhance the long-term competitiveness of business households. Core training topics include omnichannel sales skills, digital marketing, financial and cash-flow management, and other essential skills.

Leaders of the Department of Science and Technology added that the concerted campaign will be implemented on a pilot basis throughout 2026 over a 180-day period and divided into five distinct phases. Accordingly, June 2026 serves as the preparation stage, July 2026 marks the implementation of phase 1, August 2026 is designated for preliminary evaluation of phase 1, the acceleration phase runs from July through October, and the program will conclude with a comprehensive review during November and December.

The plan sets out several ambitious targets. These include ensuring that 100 percent of wholesale and retail household businesses across the city receive information about the concerted program and completing digital transformation assessments for 6,000 stores and household businesses through an online platform provided by MoST. The initiative also aims to provide all participating businesses with access to consultations, digital platforms and practical digital tools tailored to their operational needs, including sales management software, electronic invoicing systems and digital signature services. In addition, the city plans to establish a comprehensive database on the digital transformation status of the wholesale and retail sector across the city.

Putting household businesses at the center

Nguyen Phu Tien, Deputy Director General of the Department of Digital Economy and Society under the MoST, said the plan outlines a clear roadmap that guides businesses from awareness to action in adopting digital transformation solutions and achieving tangible results. The first step focuses on communication and awareness-raising activities conducted by local authorities and enterprises to help household businesses understand the urgency of digital transformation in maintaining competitiveness and sustaining growth in the digital era.

The second step involves helping the stores and household businesses assess their current status of digital transformation, offering them recommendations on digital transformation opportunities to improve business performance through digital solutions and platforms. The third step provides direct support for the adoption of suitable digital solutions and platforms to accelerate digital transformation in line with their current level of digital status.

Nguyen Thuy Anh, Deputy Head of the Digital Transformation Division at the Department of E-commerce and Digital Economy under the MoST, noted that promoting e-commerce and digital transformation in Dong Nai’s wholesale and retail sectors will help expand consumer markets, strengthen the competitiveness of local enterprises, enable household businesses to adapt to new business models and create additional growth opportunities for the city. She added that the program is part of practical activities toward implementing policies under the 2025 E-Commerce Law, helping to foster a transparent, secure and sustainable digital business environment.

Speaking at the signing ceremony in June 2026, Le Truong Son, Member of the Standing Board of the City Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Dong Nai City People’s Committee, stressed that all relevant departments, agencies and local authorities must implement the program in a synchronized, practical and effective manner, placing household businesses at the center and measuring success through tangible outcomes. He also called for community digital technology teams, local organizations and mass associations to play a more proactive role in coordinating with technology companies and related stakeholders to ensure effective implementation.

At the same event, Bui Hoang Phuong, Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology, emphasized that the Dong Nai model would not only provide direct support to local household businesses but also serve as a practical foundation for refining cooperation mechanisms among government agencies, digital technology enterprises and household businesses nationwide.

To ensure the plan’s effective and substantive implementation and the timely achievement of its objectives, Dong Nai City People’s Committee is required to clearly define responsibilities, tasks, timelines and expected outcomes. Responsibilities will be assigned to specific departments, agencies, businesses, communes and wards, while grassroots authorities, community digital technology teams, industry associations and local support forces will be mobilized to facilitate implementation.

Support measures will focus on practical and accessible solutions suited to the scale and capabilities of household businesses. Priority areas include sales and inventory management, cashless payments, electronic invoicing, tax declaration, customer relationship management, business websites using the national “.vn” domain, and integration with e-commerce platforms. At the same time, data connection, sharing and utilization must strictly comply with regulations on personal data protection and cybersecurity.

Le Truong Son, Member of the Standing Board of the City Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Dong Nai City People's Committee assigned the Dong Nai Department of Science and Technology to serve as the standing agency responsible for advising the City People's Committee on implementation measures, while organizing, coordinating and closely monitoring implementation progress to ensure the plan delivers measurable and meaningful results.

By Hai Quan - Translated by Mai Nga, Thu Ha