On the morning of October 22nd, in Hai Phong city, the Department of E-commerce and Digital Economy (Ministry of Industry and Trade), in coordination with the Hai Phong City Department of Industry and Trade, organized a training conference on "Improving the Management Capacity and Application of E-commerce on Digital Platforms," with the participation of department leaders, experts, businesses, youth union members, and students in the province.
The conference is one of the key activities in the national e-commerce development program for 2025, aiming to enhance the capacity to apply digital technology, especially AI, in management, production, and business, contributing to promoting comprehensive digital transformation in localities.
AI – a new driving force in modern management and administration.
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Ms. Vu Thi Kim Phuong, Deputy Director of the Hai Phong Department of Industry and Trade, delivered a speech at the conference.
In her opening remarks at the conference, Ms. Vu Thi Kim Phuong, Deputy Director of the Hai Phong Department of Industry and Trade, emphasized that the conference was held within the framework of the City People's Committee's Plan 291/KH-UBND and the Department of Industry and Trade's Plan 1104/KH-SCT on the development of e-commerce in the 2021-2025 period. “Today's conference is of particular importance, aiming to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of state management and promote the application of e-commerce in the city. In the context of the digital economy, e-commerce has become one of the important pillars not only in production and business activities but also in the management and operation of state agencies,” Ms. Phuong stressed.
According to Ms. Phuong, despite the global economic fluctuations, Vietnam's e-commerce sector continues to maintain a growth rate of 20-27% annually; in 2024 alone, it is expected to reach approximately US$32 billion, a 28% increase compared to the previous year. For Hai Phong, e-commerce revenue accounts for 16-18% of total retail sales of goods and consumer services, higher than the national average, with an average growth rate of 23-25% per year. Notably, the city's e-commerce index in 2025 is projected to reach 14.5 points, exceeding the national average (9.3 points), ranking 5th nationwide, clearly demonstrating the strong digital transformation efforts of the city's industry and trade sector.
Ms. Phuong also pointed out shortcomings that need to be addressed: the rate of businesses registering e-commerce websites, building digital brands, and using online sales platforms is still low; many units lack the skills to apply digital tools in management and business. Therefore, this conference is not only for training purposes, but also a forum for exchanging and sharing experiences, connecting management agencies, experts, and businesses – thereby forming a digital mindset and more modern and effective operating methods.
From awareness to action – when AI enters management and business practices.
Within the framework of the conference, delegates heard two key presentations: An overview of e-commerce and the legal framework for managing online activities, helping officials understand the decrees and regulations on notification, website registration, handling violations, and consumer protection; and the application of AI in work, brand development, and business support on digital platforms, presented by Mr. Cao Qui Long – Lecturer at the Center for E-commerce and Digital Technology Development (eComDX), Department of E-commerce and Digital Economy – Ministry of Industry and Trade.
Mr. Cao Qui Long stated that current artificial intelligence (AI) applications are playing a key role in optimizing performance and automating work. Through the practice of creating AI assistants, users can increase their work productivity by 3–5 times, thanks to the ability to process data thousands of times faster than humans.
Mr. Long analyzed that in the field of design and construction, AI is strongly applied in analyzing drawings and creating 3D models. Users only need to enter a command (prompt) to ask the AI to convert architectural drawings (floor plans) into realistic 3D rendered images, with a top-down view.
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Mr. Cao Qui Long – Lecturer at the Center for E-commerce and Digital Technology Development (eComDX), Department of E-commerce and Digital Economy – Ministry of Industry and Trade
At the conference, Mr. Cao Qui Long, Director of the eComDX Center, emphasized that in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the strong trend of globalization, the digital economy, e-commerce, and digital transformation are becoming key drivers of socio-economic growth. Mr. Long stated that Vietnam is currently among the countries with the fastest e-commerce growth rate in the world, with B2C revenue estimated at over US$25 billion in 2024, accounting for approximately 10% of total retail sales of goods and consumer services. It is projected that by 2025, this scale could reach US$39 billion, creating a solid foundation for Vietnam to accelerate its digital transformation and international economic integration.
Besides the opportunities, Mr. Long also noted that e-commerce presents many challenges, especially for local businesses like those in Hai Phong. Businesses need to proactively embrace new trends such as "shoppertainment," livestreaming sales, and the application of artificial intelligence to analyze consumer behavior, thereby personalizing the shopping experience. Simultaneously, optimizing flexible logistics, ensuring transaction security, and fulfilling e-commerce tax obligations transparently are also key factors for sustainable development in the digital environment.
In administrative and office work, AI is increasingly demonstrating its crucial role in supporting processes such as automatically managing emails, summarizing incoming messages, writing pre-scripted replies, and intelligently synthesizing communication sequences. Furthermore, AI tools assist in drafting and processing specialized documents across various fields, from government administration with the ability to quickly create standardized official documents, announcements, and reports; education and training with the function of creating lecture outlines and electronic lesson plans; business and marketing with the ability to build promotional materials, PR content, and SEO-optimized product introductions; to human resources and management, where AI supports data aggregation, planning, and automated progress reporting.
Mr. Cao Qui Long affirmed: "AI is not just a technology, but a new companion for every official and business in the digital age."
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The trainees directly practiced creating "virtual assistants" to assist with their work.
Mr. Long's presentation on "Practical AI" attracted particular attention from the delegates. Participants directly practiced creating "virtual assistants" for management, reporting, and marketing tasks right at the conference, demonstrating the spirit of "learning to do" – bringing AI from concept to concrete action in each organization.
Hai Phong – a shining example in the national digital transformation strategy.
With its strong technological infrastructure, Hai Phong is gradually building an e-commerce ecosystem linked to the application of AI in urban management, industry, and services.
According to representatives from the Department of E-commerce and Digital Economy, in the period 2025–2030, Hai Phong is envisioned to become a smart e-commerce and logistics center in the Northern region, where small and medium-sized enterprises can leverage AI platforms to enhance competitiveness and expand their markets.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade will also continue to work alongside the city in implementing GoOnline, GoAI, GoExport, and GoRight programs, supporting businesses in applying technology, complying with the law, and boosting exports through digital platforms.
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Connecting technology – unleashing digital potential
At the conference, the leaders of the Hai Phong Department of Industry and Trade affirmed that digital transformation cannot stop at awareness, but must begin with concrete actions, where every official, every business, and every small trader can use digital tools and AI to improve work efficiency.
Building on that foundation, Hai Phong is demonstrating its determination to become a "pioneering city in the application of AI in management and business," making a positive contribution to the goal of building a modern, innovative, and sustainable digital economy in Vietnam.
According to the Department of E-commerce and Digital Economy (Ministry of Industry and Trade), in 2024, the size of Vietnam's e-commerce market reached approximately US$25-32 billion, an increase of over 25%, placing Vietnam among the top 10 fastest-growing countries in the world. It is projected that by 2025, this figure will reach US$35 billion, accounting for about 10% of the total retail sales of goods and consumer services nationwide. Furthermore, the global AI market is projected to reach over $1.8 trillion by 2030. Vietnam is actively promoting the application of AI in government administration, education, healthcare, commerce, and logistics. The Ministry of Industry and Trade's GoAI, GoOnline, GoExport, and GoRight programs are playing a crucial bridging role, helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) enter the global arena through digital technology – ushering in a new era of development where artificial intelligence and e-commerce become pillars of sustainable growth. |
