Alibaba—What Should Vietnamese E-commerce Companies Learn?
From a Small Office in Hangzhou in 1999 to an AI-Era Giant in 2026: Alibaba’s Growth Story as a "Living Textbook" for Emerging Market Enterprises to Break Through! Vietnam is in a Period of Foreign Investment Influx and Export Transformation, and This Practical Guide Must Be Saved!
Alibaba’s 4 Key Growth Stages, Which Vietnamese Enterprises Can Benchmark Against:
Start-up (1999-2003): Relying on the B2B platform to solve information gaps for Chinese suppliers, launching Taobao with a "free model + Alipay trust mechanism" to defeat eBay.
Expansion (2004-2010): Leveraging China’s WTO accession momentum to launch Tmall for B2C, with Alipay growing independently—this stage is highly aligned with Vietnam’s current development!
Maturity (2011-2020): Record-breaking NYSE IPO, deploying Alibaba Cloud and Cainiao Logistics, with user base exceeding 1 billion.
Transformation (2021-2026): Splitting into 6 business units, investing $52 billion in AI + cloud, with AI revenue accounting for over 20% in FY2026 and achieving triple-digit growth!
✨ Core Competitiveness: The Magic of the Platform Economy Closed Loop
E-commerce (Taobao + Tmall) accounts for 54% of revenue, Alibaba Cloud ranks first in Asia, Cainiao processes hundreds of millions of packages daily, and Alipay completes the payment closed loop. By relying on "low barriers to attract SMEs + big data personalization + vertical integration to reduce costs," it maintains its leading position. In 2025, its market value rebounded by 89%, with free cash flow reaching 83.1 billion RMB—proof of strength!
🎯 5 Precise Insights for Vietnamese Enterprises:
Build Ecosystems: Platforms like Shopee can learn from "free store setup + value-added services" to drive SME digitization and help Vietnam’s digital economy grow from 5-7% of GDP to 15%.
Bet on AI: Don’t just assemble! Learn from Alibaba’s approach of using AI to optimize supply chains and improve efficiency, breaking free from foreign technology dependence.
Seize Policy Opportunities: Leverage CPTPP and RCEP to replicate Alibaba’s cross-border e-commerce model and sell Vietnamese-made products globally.
Mitigate Risks: Prepare for compliance in advance (Alibaba once saw its market value halved due to antitrust issues), avoid relying on a single market, and diversify布局.
Leverage Demographic Dividend: Vietnam’s median age is 33, similar to China during Alibaba’s rise. The young population is quick to adopt new models, accelerating implementation!
Current Status: Vietnam’s digital economy only accounts for 5-7% of GDP. Replicating the "platform + payment + logistics" model can rapidly drive SME digitization.
Adaptability: Suitable for Vietnam’s export-oriented economy, helping local manufacturers connect directly with global buyers.
💡 Key Reminder: Alibaba didn’t succeed by copying; it innovated based on China’s market. Vietnamese enterprises must leverage local cost advantages, avoid the bottleneck of small domestic demand, and focus on cross-border trade and AI. The next giant could come from Vietnam!
