A popluar online shopping website in Viet Nam. Online retailers have been urged to deliver quality products and good customer service to protect the sector's reputation.— Internet Photo

HA NOI (Biz Hub) — The development of e-commerce has played a vital role in the world market as retail continues to modernise.

However, many retailers have not utilised more modern trade methods, like online shopping, said Vu Vinh Phu, president of the Ha Noi Supermarket Association, at a conference in Ha Noi promoting internet-based retail.

Phu said e-commerce makes shopping more convenient, and increases production and consumption.

Consumers can save time and find lower prices online, said Nguyen Ngoc Hung, director of Di Sieu Thi Joint-Stock Company. However, some businesses have posted exaggerated advertisements and poor products online, preventing the online market from developing.

Phu urged online retailers to deliver quality products and good customer service to protect the sector's reputation.

State agencies should have strict measures for dealing with online trading violations, he said. However, just in case, consumers should research products carefully before buying.

However, so far, online shopping accounts for only 0.1 to 0.2 per cent of the nation's total retail revenue, far lower than in many other countries, said Nguyen Lam Thanh, general secretary of the Viet Nam Digital Media Association.

In developed countries, popular companies sell products online, but in Viet Nam they haven't paid much attention to the new form of shopping, Thanh said. It's important to change how people in Viet Nam think about online shopping, he said.

The conference was co-organised by the Ha Noi Super Market Association, Viet Nam Digital Media Association and Dien dan Doanh nghiep (Business Forum). — VNS