Viet Nam emerges as Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing digital economy: e-Conomy SEA 2026 report
VGP - Viet Nam's gross merchandise value (GMV) is projected to climb 20 per cent on-year to US$49 billion in 2026, according to the annual e-Conomy SEA 2026 report released by Google, Temasek, and Bain & Company on Thursday.
The momentum is powered by double-digit expansion across all four core sectors, led by e-commerce and online travel, alongside rapid growth in digital financial services, particularly digital lending and payments.
E-commerce remains the primary engine of Viet Nam's digital economy, accounting for two-thirds of the overall digital economy, growing 22 per cent on year to reach US$32 billion in 2026 and tracking towards US$61 billion by 2030.
Online travel sustains momentum with Viet Nam's online travel sector recorded 15 per cent on year growth to reach US$5 billion in GMV, matching Malaysia for the fastest expansion in South East Asia.
This double-digit expansion extends across the wider digital ecosystem, demonstrated by growth enablers in online media (up 17 per cent on year to US$7 billion in GMV in 2026). Complementing these drivers, mobility and food climbed 17 per cent on year to US$6 billion GMV, as electric vehicle players intensify competition in this sector.
Viet Nam stands out as Southeast Asia's most highly engaged AI market. As Generative AI transitions from early adopters to mainstream workforce integration, the nation now counts 45 million GenAI users, representing 65 per cent of the working population, generating 31 billion annual AI queries.
Managing director of Google Viet Nam Marc Woo said, the nation's digital economy continues to demonstrate strong growth, driven by active user uptake and proactive national AI policies.
Reaching US$49 billion in GMV while leading the region in daily, local-language AI engagement proves that Vietnamese consumers are exceptionally forward-looking, he noted./.