From shopping to services, Vietnamese are choosing a digital-first lifestyle to benefit from the online world’s speed, convenience and prices, according to Google’s 2021 Year in Search: Vietnam's Search for Tomorrow report.

There are great opportunities and a bright future for US companies within sight in Vietnam despite the economic implications of the COVID-19 for the country, said Adam Sitkoff, executive director from the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) Hanoi, in a recent interview.

VOV.VN - The ravaging COVID-19 pandemic over the past two years has forced many businesses to accelerate their digital transformation, with e-commerce being a lifeline to assist them to overcome difficulties and effectively respond to the new normal.

A record high of US$1.35 billion was poured into Vietnamese startups last year, making the country among the most attractive destinations for startups in the region.

Major e-commerce marketplaces have rolled out programmes to boost sales of Tet goods until the end of January 31 as the largest and longest festival of Vietnamese people is approaching.

Online shopping will still be booming this year, even if the COVID-19 pandemic is over, experts have said.

VOV.VN - Along with having to register for service provision activities in Vietnam, e-commerce exchanges must establish representative offices or appoint their authorised representatives in the country.

Digital transformation saw a remarkable progress last year, with awareness of this regard among State agencies, businesses and people significantly improving, according to Deputy Minister of Information and Telecommunications Nguyen Huy Dung.

A seminar on technical assistance for Vietnamese female entrepreneurs engaging in cross-border e-commerce was held on January 21 within the framework of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.

The COVID-19 pandemic, with its complicated developments, has given a boost to e-commerce, with non-cash payments accounting for 70% of total retail transactions in Vietnam last year.