Cambodia, Vietnam Boost Cross-Border E-commerce to Deepen Economic Ties

Cambodia and Vietnam are stepping up joint efforts to promote cross-border e-commerce. A July 15 event aimed to facilitate supply chains, boost export growth, and create opportunities for businesses in both countries to expand into regional and global markets. The "Promoting Cross-Border E-commerce between Vietnam and Cambodia: Connecting Markets and Expanding Export Potential" seminar was held at the headquarters of the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce (CCC). The event sought to strengthen economic cooperation, bilateral trade, and cross-border digital commerce between the two neighboring countries. Tan Monivann, CCC president, noted during the seminar that diplomatic and trade relations between Cambodia and Vietnam have continued to strengthen, making the two countries indispensable strategic partners. He added that Cambodia is steadily advancing toward a digital economy, providing strong support for the development of cross-border e-commerce. "Today, Vietnam is Cambodia’s leading trading partner within ASEAN and one of Cambodia’s largest trading partners globally," he said. Representing Vietnam’s E-commerce and Digital Economy Department, Nguyen Anh Vu praised the steady expansion of economic ties between the two countries. He noted that Vietnam is currently one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing e-commerce markets, while Cambodia is also experiencing rapid growth in the sector. "This growth is driven by a young population and the rapid adoption of internet usage and digital payments," he said. "The complementarity of the two neighboring markets, combined with favourable logistics conditions, creates an ideal environment for businesses in both countries to strengthen trade and digital business cooperation," he added. The seminar featured product exhibitions, along with presentations on key topics including Cambodian online consumer trends, the country’s e-commerce infrastructure, and the sharing of practical business experiences by entrepreneurs from both Cambodia and Vietnam. According to the General Department of Customs and Excise of Cambodia (GDCE), bilateral trade between Cambodia and Vietnam reached $4.73 billion in the first half of 2026, an increase of 9 percent over the same period in 2025. Cambodian exports totalled $2.52 billion, up 14.9 percent, while imports were $2.21 billion, up 2.9 percent. Economist Hong Vanak of the Royal Academy of Cambodia told The Post on July 17 that improved diplomatic relations have helped accelerate bilateral trade, particularly exports to Vietnam, which have grown significantly in recent years. He said agricultural products account for a large share, with both Cambodian and Vietnamese traders purchasing crops from Cambodian farmers during harvest seasons, for processing in Vietnam. "Trade will continue to increase, especially as both governments have agreements in place to facilitate cross-border cargo transportation," he said. According to Vanak, because Cambodia and Vietnam share extensive land and maritime borders, the actual volume of bilateral trade is likely higher than officially recorded figures. Cambodia’s main exports to Vietnam include paddy rice, cashew nuts, cassava, maize, rubber, bananas, mangoes, tobacco and other natural resources. Vietnamese imports include construction materials, machinery, fuel, electronic equipment, electrical products, agricultural fertilisers and spices, as well as fruit and vegetables.