Promoting digital entrepreneurship among young people

As digital transformation accelerates, cyberspace is emerging as a vast marketplace offering new opportunities for businesses. Applying technology, harnessing data and leveraging e-commerce platforms to promote products and reach wider markets can improve business efficiency and drive socioeconomic development.

Speakers share insights into digital entrepreneurship with Youth Union members. Photo: Nga Son

In response, the Dong Nai Youth Union (DNYU) has launched an initiative to encourage young people to start businesses through e-commerce platforms. The initiative aims to develop their digital business skills and strengthen their ability to apply science and technology, digital transformation and e-commerce to entrepreneurship and economic development.

Building knowledge and skills for digital entrepreneurship

Trinh Phuong Thao, a Grade 11 student at Nguyen Huu Canh High School in Long Hung Ward, is keen to explore her future career options. She spent a weekend morning attending a conference on entrepreneurship through e-commerce platforms, jointly organized by the DNYU and FPT Polytechnic College in Dong Nai.

“I am in Grade 11 and will soon enter my final year of high school, so career guidance is essential,” Thao said. “I am particularly interested in training that equips young people with the basic knowledge needed to start and grow a business.” At the conference, she learned how to develop business models and plans, identify products and target markets, prepare business proposals and access startup support. Participants also received guidance on how to sell effectively through e-commerce platforms.

Alongside its training programs, the DNYU has organized a contest that gives youth union members an opportunity to practice their online selling skills while promoting OCOP (One Commune, One Product) products on e-commerce platforms. Participating teams apply their knowledge and skills in e-commerce, digital marketing, content creation and livestream selling to promote and showcase OCOP products to consumers across digital platforms.

Dang Thi Ngoc Han, a digital marketing student at FPT Polytechnic College in Dong Nai, said her team had prepared a livestream script and developed content ideas for the contest. The team also worked with the business to propose special prices aimed at attracting customers. The team also explored livestreaming software and learned to use visual effects, graphics and product displays to present information clearly. The aim was to make it easier for viewers to understand the products and place orders during the livestream.

Han said it was challenging to organize the content and capture viewers’ attention during a livestream lasting about an hour. However, the contest gave her valuable hands-on experience in online business and helped her better understand how digital sales work. She also gained practical skills in scriptwriting, livestream production and engaging with customers online.

Promoting local OCOP products

The contest not only helps young people hone their e-commerce sales skills but also gives them a chance to learn about local products, particularly those certified under the OCOP program. Teams can choose products independently or select from a list provided by the organizers.

Contestants livestream to showcase local OCOP products. Photo: Nga Son

Born and raised in Dong Nai, Nguyen Thi Mong Thuong, a second-year digital marketing student at FPT Polytechnic College in Dong Nai, grew up familiar with products made from Long Thanh cow’s milk. Her team chose Long Thanh milk cakes and confectionery to feature in its livestream.

Mong Thuong said that although the team had sampled Long Thanh milk cakes and confectionery before the livestream, its members still took the initiative to learn more about the products, including their flavors, ingredients and product bundles currently being marketed. In addition to speaking directly with brand representatives, the team explored social media platforms such as Facebook and TikTok to learn how to reach consumers and develop ideas for presenting the products in a more appealing way.

In addition to training programs, competitions and initiatives supporting young people in digital entrepreneurship, the DNYU plans to help them establish and operate storefronts on e-commerce platforms professionally, maintain stable operations and achieve sustainable growth. These efforts aim to gradually develop digital business skills among Youth Union members and young people.

Phan The Cong, Deputy Secretary of the DNYU and Chairman of the city’s Vietnam Youth Federation

 Through her research, Thuong gained a better understanding of how products are developed. She also realized that succeeding in online business requires sellers to understand their products, use digital communication channels effectively, keep up with consumer preferences and create content that helps them reach wider markets. The contest also introduced her to more of Dong Nai’s signature products and strengthened her pride in the high-quality goods produced in her home province.

By selecting locally made OCOP-certified products to showcase and promote at the contest, youth union members also demonstrate their support for OCOP products.

Five years after starting her herbal incense business, Le Thi Cam Van, Director of VFAM Trading and Services Co. Ltd, continues to seek opportunities to steadily expand the market for her two flagship product lines: Van Huong clean herbal incense and Van Huong herbal fumigation cones. When she learned about the livestream program promoting OCOP products, co-organized by the DNYU, Van registered to participate.

“I saw this as an opportunity to promote our products and bring them closer to consumers. I therefore shared information with the young participants about our company, the features, ingredients and uses of each product line, and what distinguishes our products from others on the market. Through these exchanges, I realized that many people were still unfamiliar with herbal incense and other distinctive local products. Raising consumer awareness can help bring these products to wider markets,” Van said.

By N. Son – Translated by M.Nguyet, Minho