Online shopping is growing

In recent years, due to rapid development of the internet and mobile devices (smart phones, tablets), consumers have switched gradually from traditional shopping to online shopping by just one finger touch on phone or a mouse click. Following this trend, many e-commerce websites have been founded with multifunction from showroom, sales and shipping to end-buyers.

E-commerce booms

E-commerce has been considered as an effective trading mode, since the development of the internet. The biggest benefit of e-commerce is cost saving and convenience while trading. According to E-commerce and Information Technology Bureau under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Vietnam has now 473 registered e-commerce websites including 357 newly registered ones in 2014, which was 3 times higher than in 2013 (116 sites).

Top e-commerce sites, like lazada.vn, 5giay.vn, chotot.vn, rongbay.com, chodientu.vn..., attracts millions of visitor every day. Ms. Ha Nguyen working for a company in TDM City, said, she did not have much time for direct buying, thus online ordering and buying on these websites is very convenient and useful.

With just one finger touch, consumers are able to purchase goods on e-commerce websites.

Besides, social networks, like facebook, zalo, zingme ..., has contributed to the development of e-commerce. Mr. Cao Thanh Xuan, lecturer of Thu Dau Mot University, said, at present, Vietnam has more than 30 million Facebook users including over 70% in ages of 18 - 40. This is a helpful advertising channel of businesses.

Bewaring of risks

In addition to advantages, such as:  easy searching (with comparison), ordering at any time, package services…, e-commerce transactions also have certain risks. Some common risks are wrong products, low quality or expired goods etc. Buyers may incur these risks, because of dishonesty of sellers and unclear regulations.

Ms. Ha in Thuan An town said, she like a shirt of her colleague, so she surfed some websites and selected a shirt and jacket. However, when receiving, these clothes were different from images posted on the website. The seller explained, because there is no camera and models, shop owner posted existing images on internet, the design was exactly alike, excepted that clothes are more beautiful as models wearing. The seller also did not refund.

According to, attorney Hoang Thai Nguyen working for Pham Huu Tinh Lawyer Office in TDM City, online shopping is an inevitable trend. The Government issued Decree 52/2013/ND-CP dated May 16^th 2013 specifying responsibilities of seller. Violating sellers only have to take administrative penalties and suspension, but then could register on other e-commerce websites. Therefore, buyers still have to suffer these risks.

To diminish transaction risks, experts recommended that consumers should only shop at reputable websites licensed by State management agencies. Regarding payment, consumers should not transfer all money to seller, and only complete payment as receiving the product.

Ms. Phan Thi Hau, Vice Chairman of provincial Consumer’s interests Protecting Association, online shopping in Binh Duong province has increased strongly. This helps consumers to choose products without losing much time. Currently, the Association has not received any complaints about online product from consumers

However, if ordering online, consumers should choose prestige organizations, learn carefully about product information before purchasing.

Reported by H.Pham – Translated by Ngoc Huynh