The Hanoitimes – Many giant international retail groups such as Auchan, Robinson and Walmart are likely to set up more convenience stores, supermarkets and big commercial centres in Vietnam when the country completely opens its retail market next year, said the Vietnam Business Forum Magazine (VBF).

Vietnam’s retail market is changing extensively, becoming more modern and integrated. In the first ten months of 2014, total retail sales nationwide reached nearly 2,400,480 billion VND, up 11.1 percent compared to the same period of 2013. Total retail sales of goods and services for 2014 are projected to reach 2,970 trillion VND, up 11.3 percent compared to 2013.

According to the Vietnam Retailers Association, as of 2013, Vietnam had about 724 supermarkets, 132 commercial centres, a few hundred convenience stores, nearly 9,000 markets of various kinds and about 1 million family stores. 
By 2020, the country is expected to have about 1,200-1,300 supermarkets, 180 trade centres and 157 shopping centres. Currently, this type of distribution is claiming about 25 percent of the Vietnam distribution market.

According to Nguyen Tien Vuong, Deputy General Director of Hanoi Trade Corporation (Hapro), in recent years, businesses have started to conduct more drastic measures to renovate, construct and expand trade infrastructure systems in the city as well as some northern provinces . So far, Hapro has had 2 HAPRO Shopping Centres, 3 Market Centres, 40 supermarkets and HaproMart convenient stores, 44 Haprofood shops selling guaranteed products and other specialised store systems.

According to the Vietnam Retailers Association, although foreign investors in the retail sector account for only 3.4 percent of the businesses involved in this sector, they have gained the strongest growth rate, reaching over 21 percent. The competition between domestic and foreign enterprises has been getting fierce, but it does not mean that domestic firms are losing their “home ground” or falling into a passive situation.