Vietnam’s e-commerce market is coming into a brand new chapter–one outlined much less by reductions and extra by dependability.
Milieu Perception’s newest survey underscores a placing behavioural shift: whereas affordability nonetheless issues, Vietnamese customers are prioritising constant service, dependable supply, and clear accountability. In a market that has simply crossed the US$25 billion mark, this pivot is critical.
The information reveals a rising center class that’s now not happy with cut price searching alone. Buyers need platforms to take possession of all the expertise, from correct product listings to last-mile logistics.
A convincing 90 per cent anticipate platforms–not couriers–to implement supply requirements, signalling that passing blame will now not fly. Reliability now outranks low charges, and 70 per cent of customers say they’re prepared to pay extra for sellers who ship on time.
This evolution is reshaping the aggressive equation for Southeast Asia’s e-commerce sector. Transparency, belief, and seamless service are rising because the true differentiators, difficult incumbents and opening doorways for challengers who can meet these expectations.
For startups and established gamers alike, the message is obvious: in Vietnam, the race is now not to the most cost effective, however to essentially the most dependable.
REGIONAL
Southeast Asia startup capital falls 21 per cent, lowest in over six years
Investor warning was notably pronounced in early-stage funding | Transactions as much as Collection B declined to 219, the bottom stage in six years, with proceeds falling to US$1.1B–a mere fraction of the H1 2022 peak of US$4.54B | This development displays a heightened emphasis on capital effectivity and profitability over speedy growth for youthful firms.
Germany logistic tech agency Rhenus to speculate US$20M in Philippines
The Germany-based logistics supplier will open a brand new head workplace in Pasay, consolidating its air and ocean freight, warehousing, and shared service operations | The ability spans almost 1,000 sqm and is situated close to main transport routes and enterprise districts.
Accion Ventures closes US$61.6M fund to again inclusive fintech startups throughout rising markets
The fund secured backing from Dutch financial institution FMO, Proparco, the Ford Basis, MetLife Asset Administration, Mastercard, and ImpactAssets | Accion targets startups that leverage next-gen applied sciences—together with embedded finance, various knowledge, and Generative AI—to create accessible monetary options.
Tevo secures seed funding, strikes partnership with Vietnam’s MobiFone
The Tevo-MobiFone collaboration goals to collectively introduce cell functions to world markets, with the quick drama utility, Dramini, being their inaugural three way partnership.
Siam Validus faucets NCB to speed up SME credit score entry in Thailand
Turning into an NCB member will allow Siam Validus to entry credit score bureau stories in real-time with SME consent, drastically decreasing present turnaround occasions from two weeks to virtually immediately | Crucially, the platform can even have the ability to report SME exposures and cost data again into the nationwide system.
REPORTS,FEATURES & INTERVIEWS
As Vietnam’s e-commerce market surpasses US$25B, customers are now not happy with low costs alone
A contemporary evaluation by shopper analysis agency Milieu Perception finds that Vietnamese customers are more and more pushed by product selection (52 per cent) and rising options akin to livestream purchasing (50 per cent) and AI-based suggestions (32 per cent).
From Bain to Bluente: Daphne Tay’s mission to repair the “final mile” of translation
Bluente is an AI-powered translation platform designed to resolve that last-mile ache level | Its one-click engine interprets to and from greater than 120 languages whereas preserving actual formatting (textual content, pictures, numbers, tables, and models) throughout contracts, PDFs, and PowerPoints.
INTERNATIONAL
International EV gross sales rise 15 per cent in August: report
This marks the slowest development charge since January, with the slowdown primarily as a result of more durable comparisons from final 12 months | Gross sales in China, which accounts for over half of worldwide EV gross sales, elevated 6 per cent in August after averaging 36 per cent month-to-month development within the first half of the 12 months.
OpenAI, Microsoft agree on restructure with US$100B nonprofit stake
OpenAI, which started as a nonprofit, plans to type a public profit company managed by the present nonprofit, in accordance with chairman Bret Taylor | The nonprofit is about to carry no less than a US$100B stake within the new entity, a determine that would rise, in accordance with an individual accustomed to the matter.
S Korea targets mass manufacturing of humanoid robots by 2029
A brand new alliance has been shaped that brings collectively main companies together with Hyundai, LG, Samsung, and Posco Group to advertise AI adoption in manufacturing | The alliance will oversee ten areas, together with AI factories, AI manufacturing providers, self-driving automobiles, humanoid robots, autonomous ships, AI residence home equipment, AI protection merchandise, AI-powered amenities for the biopharmaceutical business, and AI chips.
Indian on-line gaming agency Zupee lays off 170 staff
The web gaming firm is restructuring operations after the enactment of the Promotion and Regulation of On-line Gaming Act, 2025 | Zupee is amongst a number of companies which have shut down real-money gaming providers as a result of new regulation.
Alibaba launches Qwen3-Subsequent AI mannequin, ten occasions cheaper to coach
The corporate additionally stated the mannequin’s efficiency matches its bigger flagship Qwen3-235B-A22B mannequin and is optimised to be used on consumer-grade {hardware} | Alibaba has made the mannequin’s code out there on platforms together with GitHub and Hugging Face, permitting third-party builders to make use of, modify, and distribute it.
Ant Group debuts R1 humanoid robotic
The robotic was demonstrated cooking shrimp at Berlin’s IFA 2025 occasion, and later appeared on the Inclusion Convention in Shanghai | The corporate stated potential makes use of for R1 embrace kitchen help, healthcare assist, and tour guiding.
SEMICONDUCTOR
South Korea unveils US$108B fund for AI, robotics, chips
The fund, referred to as the Public Development Fund, will increase the federal government’s earlier proposal of US$72B | It goals to assist sectors together with semiconductors, secondary batteries, biotechnology, power, hydrogen, protection, vaccines, and robotics over the following 5 years.
OpenAI, Nvidia to speculate billions in UK knowledge centres
The businesses are reportedly working with London-based knowledge centre operator Nscale International Holdings, with OpenAI making ready to spend billions of {dollars} as a part of the plan | That web site is designed to host as much as 45,000 Nvidia GB200 tremendous chips for AI workloads, although no prospects had been named | Nscale’s Loughton facility can host as much as 45,000 Nvidia GB200 tremendous chips for AI workloads, although no prospects had been named.
Alibaba, Baidu begin utilizing personal chips to coach AI fashions: sources
Alibaba has deployed its in-house chips for smaller AI fashions since early 2025, whereas Baidu is testing its Kunlun P800 chip for coaching new variations of its Ernie AI mannequin | The shift comes as US export controls restrict Chinese language entry to superior AI chips, prompting native companies to extend growth of home options.
Nvidia to launch new AI chip for video, software program creation
Rubin CPX can be out there as playing cards for integration into present servers or as standalone models for knowledge centres | The corporate stated the chip is meant to enhance effectivity in duties like video era and software program creation by separating the method of understanding enter from producing responses.
AI
Singaporeans embrace AI comfort however nonetheless demand the human contact: Sinch
Whereas 45 per cent of Singaporean respondents stated they might use AI-powered buyer assist if backed by credible model data, solely 4 per cent would select AI or chatbots as their first alternative for resolving points—underscoring ongoing issues round privateness and accuracy.
Singaporeans are cautious of trusting AI with monetary or psychological well being recommendation: Report
A fieldwork, performed in June with 1,000 respondents aged 16 and above, underscores how rapidly AI has permeated Singaporean existence | Youthful folks, notably these aged 16 to 24, are main the cost: 40 per cent report common use, and half of that group say they make use of AI for inventive duties akin to writing or picture era.
From sensible rings to well being teaching: AI and the brand new preventive healthcare paradigm
Fashionable wearables hold a continuing finger on the heartbeat of our well-being. Not like an annual check-up or occasional lab take a look at, a sensible ring or smartwatch can monitor your physique 24/7 and warn you to subtler adjustments.
AI, authenticity and the way forward for founder storytelling
Essentially the most profitable founders are those that know learn how to strike the proper stability between delivering environment friendly content material whereas making certain it’s genuine, credible and most significantly relatable to your viewers | On the finish of the day you want to keep in mind who’s seeing your content material within the first place.
Singapore’s AI revolution and the way SMEs can win in a high-risk panorama
The prevailing explanation for AI failure isn’t expertise however execution | Many firms deal with AI as plug-and-play magic, anticipating flawless outcomes from preliminary pilots or demos | Nonetheless, actual enterprise environments are complicated: inconsistent knowledge, shifting metrics, and operational exceptions problem AI fashions.
Navigate in a cookie-less world, leverage AI and suppose community-first
Product-led communities are a enterprise already; they’re created as organisations with a goal and tradition | These communities additionally occur to be some of the efficient types of advertising and assist companies obtain their targets | Due to this fact, product-led group managers strategy group constructing with methods to construct this synergy.
From bits to atoms: How AI is shaping Southeast Asia’s meals future
AI can analyse hundreds of thousands of information factors throughout critiques, social media posts, and even name centre transcripts, in a number of languages and dialects, with cultural nuance intact | As an alternative of simply asking what customers need, AI makes it simpler to uncover the why behind their decisions.
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
From pilot to scale: Why conventional VC metrics don’t work for local weather deep tech
Elevating cash for deep tech isn’t about promoting upside; it’s about de-risking, layer by layer, milestone by milestone | Profitable founders perceive they need to systematically peel the “danger onion” for buyers: from technical feasibility to product performance, market readiness to staff execution.
How does viewers intelligence assist startups make knowledgeable selections?
By dedicating time and sources to understanding their goal market, validating enterprise concepts, figuring out and analysing competitors, and recognizing rising traits, startups could make strategic selections that foster development and profitability.
Why group constructing has changed lean startup strategy to lurk buyers?
Over the previous few years, altering dynamics of viewers engagement and go-to-market technique have led to unimaginable outcomes for product-led companies that have interaction actively in group constructing | Viewers and group are two various things, many organisations are realising the distinction post-pandemic.
What makes a fantastic buyer expertise?
A number of prospects now contemplate firms’ stage of environmental sustainability and morals of their buying selections | An Aflac analysis helps this by displaying virtually eight out of 10 of customers consider firms that keep true to their ethics/values outperform others of their subject.
The Fed, tariffs, and digital belongings: What buyers are watching
The present market setting demonstrates a outstanding capability for adaptation within the face of adversity | Equities reaching data regardless of downward knowledge revisions and tariff escalations level to a collective wager on central financial institution assist and financial resilience.
Why startups want cell apps to thrive in in the present day’s aggressive market
As many individuals have traded of their residence computer systems and laptops for smartphones and tablets, web sites have taken a backseat to cell functions in recent times | Due to this fact, for a startup in in the present day’s society, it is sensible to harness that power on constructing a superb app for his or her enterprise.
SEA startups are bleeding expertise: Right here’s how AI can stem the movement
AI gained’t change your staff ,however unhealthy management would possibly | The startups that survive this period gained’t be people who chase the most recent instruments, however people who retain, retrain, and re-skill their folks — constructing firms the place AI and people develop stronger collectively.
The fintech ‘Wild West’ in SEA is over and perhaps that’s a superb factor
Fintech app penetration has seen a multifold improve during the last 5 years or so, led by the Philippines and Indonesia | Digital funds, a cornerstone of the area’s fintech success, proceed to surge. These aren’t simply random highlights | They signify a elementary rewiring of how people and companies within the area work together with cash.
The publish Ecosystem Roundup: Vietnam’s e-commerce hits US$25B as customers demand extra | SEA startup capital sinks 21% | Korea launches US$108B fund for AI, chips appeared first on e27.
