Every week I hear the same argument: "In Vietnam, everything is for the big players—a small supplier can't break in." I don't argue—scale really does decide a lot. But there's a nuance that changes the economics of entry entirely: since July 1, 2026, Vietnam has an updated E-Commerce Law and an accompanying government decree.
This isn't about "simplified reporting." It's about what now makes up the cost of your procurement.
What Happened
Vietnam's National Assembly passed an updated E-Commerce Law, and it took effect on July 1, 2026. This was reported by the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam (MOIT).
At the same time, in late June 2026, a government decree was published detailing the law's provisions: transaction thresholds for buyers within Vietnam, platform management requirements, deposits, and registration procedures for foreign platforms. The decree text was published via LuatVietnam.
And the third layer—customs. Amendments to the Customs Code (No. 11/2026/QH16) introduce electronic identification of goods moving through e-commerce platforms and give priority in clearance to declarants who comply with the rules. Source: LuatVietnam (English).
What the Data Shows
Three things I took away from the documents and from what I see in operations.
First. The Vietnamese government issued Resolution No. 18/2026/NQ-CP dated April 29, 2026—it cuts, delegates, and simplifies administrative procedures across ten areas, including e-commerce, foreign trade, and import-export. The document is valid until March 1, 2027. This was reported by BaoChinhPhu, the official government gazette.
Second. MOIT approved a separate implementation plan for the law—with a report to the Prime Minister in June 2026 and a series of seminars and webinars for businesses. Participants include MOIT, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Finance, the State Bank, and provincial administrations. This matters: clarifications are coming not "someday" but on schedule.
Third. A separate track—support for SMEs. On the government policy-building portal, proposals have been published to adjust regulations on tax support, accounting, and access to credit for small and medium-sized enterprises, tied to Resolution No. 198/2025/QH15.
Where the Shift Is
It seems logical: rules tighten—so entry becomes more expensive. In reality—no.
Look at the mechanics. When a platform is required to appoint an authorized legal entity in Vietnam, and customs receives electronic identification of goods, the main source of unpredictability—gray schemes—leaves the chain. And gray schemes have always cost more than they seemed: not on the invoice, but in timelines, risks, and lost shipments.
Plus administrative reform. Resolution 18/2026/NQ-CP cuts procedures across ten areas—this isn't abstract "optimization," it's concrete steps that used to take weeks and require intermediaries.
And the third layer—customs priority. A declarant who follows the rules gets fewer inspections. Fewer inspections—shorter supply cycle. Shorter cycle—less money frozen in transit.
What I See from Operations
At VietSmart, we launch partners on Shopee Mall from Ho Chi Minh City, and over the past months the picture has changed in one specific place.
Previously, a brand that wanted to enter carefully, with certificates and white customs clearance, paid for it with time—timelines stretched because every stage hit manual approvals. Now I see the bottleneck shifting. It's no longer in the documents. It's in the supplier's readiness to work transparently.
The second thing I hear constantly in negotiations: "But is the Vietnamese supplier even ready for such requirements?" I'll answer honestly—not all. Large and medium manufacturers have long been in the white zone. Micro-suppliers that used to live on gray schemes are now either restructuring or leaving the market. For a Russian seller, this means a simple thing: the circle of suppliers is narrowing, but the quality of that circle is growing.
The third observation—about timelines. Based on what we see with partners, the cycle from order confirmation to shelf placement is shrinking, but not evenly across categories. I won't give exact figures for each category—it heavily depends on whether the product has a certification package. If the package is ready in advance—the timeline is noticeably shorter. If not—you lose weeks at a stage that could have been closed before the start.
What This Means for Your Cost
I'll break it down into three components.
| Component | What It Was | What It Is Now |
|---|---|---|
| Procedural costs | Intermediaries, manual approvals, weeks of waiting | Reduction of procedures under Resolution 18/2026/NQ-CP |
| Customs costs | Standard inspection regime for all | Priority and fewer inspections for those who comply |
| Risk costs | Gray schemes, lost shipments, unpredictability | Electronic identification, transparent chain |
Note: none of the rows are about the price of the goods as such. All three are about what you pay around the goods. And that's exactly where margin used to be lost.
The World Bank estimate cited in industry reviews speaks of a 20–30% reduction in procedural costs with digital trade facilitation. This is a general estimate, not specific to Vietnam—but it shows the direction of movement.
As for the market as a whole: VECOM and industry reports record sustained double-digit growth in online retail—annual rates above 20%. The exact figure for 2026 hasn't been published yet, but the direction has been stable for the second year in a row.
What a Brand Should Do
Not "study the market." Concrete steps.
- Ask your supplier for confirmation that they operate in the white zone: registration, tax code, no export restrictions. Not verbally—with documents.
- Check whether your category falls under electronic identification of goods under the Customs Code amendments (No. 11/2026/QH16). If yes—add an extra stage to your timeline.
- Assemble the certification package before starting procurement, not after. This is the very stage that now determines whether you fall into a short or long cycle.
- Check with your logistics partner whether they are ready to work in priority declarant mode. If not—change the partner, not the scheme.
- Recalculate unit economics taking into account the reduction in procedural costs, not the old entry price. The old price is no longer relevant.
What's Next
Rules don't change in a vacuum. MOIT is holding a series of webinars for businesses, clarifications are coming on schedule, and some provisions are being detailed in subordinate acts. This means the picture will be refined—and whoever reads primary sources rather than retellings will gain an advantage for several months.
If you're currently calculating entry into Vietnam, open two documents: the decree from late June 2026 and Resolution 18/2026/NQ-CP. See which procedures in your category have been cut. If your supply chain was stuck on exactly those—a window has opened. Check in a month what has changed in MOIT's clarifications.
At VietSmart, we close the certification package and launch partners on Shopee Mall in 60–90 days—including supplier verification for compliance with the new requirements. The team packages the entire path: from manufacturer audit to listing and first sales. If you want to understand exactly where procedures have been cut in your category and what that means in numbers—start with our unit economics calculator for the Vietnam direction.