Online business: Coordinated management solutions needed
Lam Dong has hundreds of e-commerce platforms, websites and marketplaces, opening new sales channels for businesses and household enterprises. However, managing commercial activities in the digital environment continues to pose significant challenges.
Expanding e-commerce opportunities
Doing business in the digital environment is becoming an important way for many organizations and individuals to reach customers. While online commerce offers convenience for both buyers and sellers, it also creates challenges in tracking transactions, determining responsibility and coordinating oversight among relevant authorities.
After graduating from high school in 2024, Le Thi Cam Tien of Dam Rong 3 Commune began her entrepreneurial journey by building a sales channel on social media, mainly offering products for children. “An omnichannel sales management system will help me track and update orders and make product promotion more convenient,” Tien said.
According to Tien, before starting her business on an e-commerce platform, she provided complete and accurate personal information to the platform operator. This is one of the necessary requirements for verifying seller identities and improving transparency in online business activities.
Like Tien, more people are choosing to sell products through e-commerce platforms and social media. Online buying and selling is becoming common in both urban and rural areas, with everything from vegetables and fish to high-value goods traded quickly with just a few clicks.
According to the Department of Industry and Trade, as of September 2026, the province had 554 e-commerce platforms, eight applications, 439 registered sales websites and six registered e-commerce marketplaces. The local e-commerce platform sanphamdiaphuong.com.vn had 858 accounts and 956 products.
The province has also organized e-commerce technical training for 2,200 participants from businesses, household businesses and government agencies. In addition, 60 businesses and household businesses have received support to join domestic and international platforms and marketplaces such as Alibaba, Shopee, Lazada, TikTok Shop, Tridge and GoBiz. To date, around 35% of exporters in the province use websites or e-commerce applications to introduce their products.
At least 50% of the population now shops online through e-commerce marketplaces, social media, applications and sales websites. Business-to-consumer e-commerce sales account for around 10% of the province's total retail sales of goods and consumer service revenue.
Strengthening accountability in the digital environment
On social media, a seller may use multiple accounts or livestreams to reach customers. When disputes arise, identifying the seller, tracing the origin of goods and determining responsibility for complaints can be difficult if information is incomplete or cannot be properly verified.
According to Nguyen Van Khanh, Deputy Director of the Department of Industry and Trade, another challenge in managing online business is controlling counterfeit goods, trademark-infringing products and other goods that violate intellectual property rights. In the digital environment, oversight must go beyond identifying sellers to clarifying product origins, signs of violations and the responsibilities of all parties involved.
During the 2026-2027 period, the Department of Industry and Trade plans to strengthen monitoring of business activities on e-commerce marketplaces, websites and social media. It will also coordinate with platform operators to verify sellers, collect information and handle or request the removal of products showing signs of violations.
The industry and trade sector also aims to electronically transfer 100% of information and urgent warnings about suspected intellectual property infringements to competent authorities within 24 hours of detection or receipt.
For sellers, providing accurate information, disclosing the origin and characteristics of goods and fulfilling transaction commitments are essential to building customer trust. Buyers, meanwhile, should check seller information, return policies and complaint channels before making purchases.
Only when the responsibilities of all parties are clearly defined and enforcement keeps pace with new forms of commerce can e-commerce develop on a transparent foundation, protect consumer rights and ensure a level playing field.