E-commerce: A New Growth Engine for Lam Dong's Economy

Lam Dong is entering a transition from the “adoption” phase to an “acceleration” stage in the digital economy.

However, achieving the 2030 target of 20% requires more than just infrastructure; it demands stronger business capacity and a high-quality digital ecosystem.

Solid Digital Infrastructure, Expanding Market

Under Decision No. 807/QĐ-UBND on e-commerce development, Lam Dong’s e-commerce sector has moved beyond its infancy and is gradually establishing a stronger foundation.

The province currently has over 4 million mobile subscribers, approximately 87.7% of whom use smartphones. Internet subscriptions total around 4.4 million, with nearly 99% of households connected via fiber optic broadband. More than 11,500 base transceiver stations, including nearly 6,000 4G and over 1,000 5G stations, have largely met demand for digital services.

To date, 100% of residential areas are covered by mobile broadband, and fiber optic infrastructure has reached commune and ward centers—key conditions for extending e-commerce to rural areas.

From a market perspective, around half of the population engages in online shopping, while B2C e-commerce revenue accounts for more than 10% of total retail turnover.

Beyond the domestic market, Lam Dong has begun expanding internationally, with 52 enterprises and cooperatives participating in cross-border platforms such as Alibaba, TikTok Shop and Tridge.

Lam Dong pilots its first e-commerce model in Nhan Co Commune.

Bottlenecks in Enterprises and the Ecosystem

Despite a solid foundation, a significant gap remains between potential and actual efficiency. Most enterprises in the province are small and medium-sized, with limited resources. Many businesses are still confined to product display on websites, without fully leveraging e-commerce platforms for sales, data analytics or digital brand building.

Reluctance to invest in packaging, visual identity and digital marketing has weakened the competitiveness of local products in the online marketplace, where digital experience plays a decisive role.

On the consumer side, traditional shopping habits persist, particularly in rural areas, while cashless payment adoption remains limited, hindering the e-commerce value chain.

Logistics is another critical bottleneck. The system remains insufficiently synchronized, especially for agricultural products that require fast delivery at low cost.

Towards Green and Sustainable E-commerce

A notable aspect of Lam Dong’s strategy is its focus not merely on growth, but on building green and sustainable e-commerce.

The province aims to align e-commerce development with product traceability, expand export markets through digital platforms and promote cross-border trade, thereby enhancing the value of local goods within modern supply chains.

Lam Dong’s 2030 vision follows a dual-track strategy: raising e-commerce’s share of total retail sales to 20%, with 75% of internet users shopping online, while also advancing green development goals. To support this agenda, the province aims to limit plastic packaging to 45% and ensure that at least 25% of local enterprises adopt eco-friendly alternatives.

Key specialty agricultural products of Lam Dong are being promoted on e-commerce platforms.

At the same time, 100% of OCOP products will be digitized and traceable, with around 30% participating in cross-border e-commerce—an important step toward elevating the value of local products.

To achieve these goals, Lam Dong is shifting its focus from infrastructure to ecosystem development, built on three key pillars: digital enterprises (with operational e-commerce capabilities), digital markets (with evolving consumer behavior) and digital services (including logistics, payments and data systems).

Nguyen Van Khanh emphasized: “In the coming period, the province will prioritize supporting businesses in building online brands, applying advanced technologies such as AI and big data, while improving logistics and promoting cashless payments to complete the e-commerce ecosystem.”

On March 13, 2026, the Lam Dong Provincial People’s Committee issued Decision No. 807/QĐ-UBND approving the e-commerce development plan for 2026–2030, aiming to accelerate the application of digital technologies in production and business, expand distribution channels and enhance the competitiveness of local enterprises.

The plan sets out key targets by 2030: 75% of internet users participating in online shopping, e-commerce revenue accounting for around 20% of total retail sales, over 65% of enterprises adopting e-commerce, and 80% of transactions conducted via cashless payment methods.

Diem Thuong