The retail real estate market is displaying signs of optimism after quarantine restrictions were eased.

The fourth wave of the Covid-19 pandemic has caused many enterprises to shut down completely. This is because consumers have tightened spending, which has seriously hit both wholesale and retail markets.

Thanks to an expected upturn in retail demand between now and the end of the year, the total revenue for 2021 is expected to have grown by three to four per cent, when compared with the previous year. 

More local players are shaking hands with foreign companies to develop their retail arm in Vietnam, especially through the M&A channel.

While a number of brands are fading away in the Vietnamese retail landscape, others have stepped up their game to expand their market share.

Under the management of Masan, hundreds of VinMart+ convenience stores will be closed this year.

Criteo recently unveiled the results of its research analysing the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the e-commerce landscape.    

Despite the epidemic, the Vietnamese retail market in Q1 saw positive signs from e-commerce, online shopping, and delivery services.

Vietnam’s early efforts to weather the COVID-19 storm have helped its economy to reopen much sooner than others, with many sectors that have suffered badly from the outbreak – from retail to finance –now recovering with poise.    

Five sectors of telecoms, information and technology, clean agriculture, clean technologies, retail, healthcare and pharmaceuticals have potential for high growth in the next three years.

The "money burning" race in the local e-commerce scene is not over yet, with all Big Four competitors scampering to gain a larger market share.

While COVID-19 dealt a blow to the retail market in the first quarter, e-commerce, online shopping, and delivery services emerged as clear beneficiaries.

By injecting VND500 billion ($21.74 million) into Anco, Masan MeatLife will increase its stakes from 70 to nearly 100 per cent.

While COVID-19 will disrupting FMCG businesses, not all product categories and retailers will see a negative impact, according to Kantar Worldpanel Vietnam.

For the first time since launching in the market, Vsmart has surpassed Apple in retail revenue.

The local retail property market has reached the saturation point years ago and now empty storefronts and shopping centres are putting a dent in forecasts.

Vietnam, with its young demographic, growing incomes and large population, is considered a hugely promising market for retailers.

Feeling the bite of the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, many businesses in retail and services are coming up with measures to soften the blow.

Tiki and Sendo may be in talks over a potential merger to break the dominance of Shopee and Lazada and their foreign backers.