Tips for researching buyers to help Vietnamese businesses export effectively on Alibaba

1. Understand the B2B model on Alibaba and opportunities for Vietnamese businesses

Alibaba is the world's largest B2B platform, connecting millions of global suppliers and buyers. With the strong development of Alibaba Vietnam, more and more domestic businesses are taking advantage of this platform to export products internationally without opening offices abroad. Understanding the B2B model helps businesses understand how it works:

• Enterprises are suppliers (Supplier) posting products on the floor.

• International buyers search for products and submit a Request for Quotation (RFQ).

• Both parties negotiate, finalize the order and deliver internationally.

Opening a store on Alibaba is the first step for Vietnamese businesses to enter the global playground. However, to maximize export efficiency through Alibaba, choosing the target market and understanding the buyer is the decisive factor.

2. How to identify target market on Alibaba

When consulting on opening an Alibaba booth, experts often recommend that Vietnamese businesses should focus on the following factors:

Analyzing search data on Alibaba

• Alibaba offers a Data Insight tool that helps you see:

• Which countries are searching for your products the most?

• The average price desired by buyers in that area.

• A time of increased demand.

Evaluate supply capacity

• Businesses need to ask themselves: “Does my product meet the standards, certifications, and competitive prices in that market?”

• For example: If you sell spices or dry foods, markets like Korea, Japan, and the US have high requirements for food safety.

Identify potential unsaturated markets

Instead of targeting markets that are already too competitive like the US or Germany, Vietnamese businesses can focus on countries in the Middle East, South America or Eastern Europe, where demand is increasing but the number of suppliers is small.

3. Research buyers on Alibaba

After choosing the market, the next step is to analyze buyer behavior (Buyer Insight). Some popular ways include:

• View buyer profile: Number of RFQ sent, country, company size.

• Monitor RFQs regularly: Helps understand the type of product, model, or price that buyers are looking for.

• Join Alibaba Live or Trade Show Online: Where buyers directly find reliable suppliers.

Tip:Please use professional language and writing style when responding to RFQs. International buyers often appreciate Vietnamese businesses with clear catalogs, real product photos, detailed descriptions, and reasonable prices.

4. How to optimize Alibaba store to attract buyers

Even if you have identified the right market, if your booth does not stand out, the chance of closing a deal is still low. Make sure:

• Product title contains main keyword: For example: “Vietnam Dried Mango Export Supplier – OEM Available”.

• Product description is clear, certified: HACCP, ISO, FDA,...

• Use high quality images, showing packaging, size, logo.

• Post at least the first 10–20 products to increase the credibility of the booth.

In addition, Trade Assurance (TA Score) and Gold Supplier Status are also factors that help international buyers have more confidence in Vietnamese businesses.

5. "Buyer-centric" thinking in export strategy through Alibaba

In Alibaba Vietnam's B2B model, the decisive factor for success is not only cheap prices but solutions for customers. Businesses need:

• Learn about the purchasing culture of each country.

• Optimize message response time (under 4 hours).

• Maintain stable product quality and fulfill delivery commitments.

A professional supplier on Alibaba doesn't just sell products — it also builds trust, brand, and long-term relationships with international buyers.

6. Conclusion

Choosing the right target market and understanding buyers is the foundation for Vietnamese businesses to succeed when exporting through Alibaba. When opening a store on Alibaba Vietnam, seriously invest in:

• Analyze market data,

• Build a professional profile,

• Buyer-centric mindset.

This not only helps you increase your chances of closing orders but also builds a reputable Vietnamese brand on the world's largest B2B e-commerce platform.

ALIBABA VIETNAM COMPANY - EXPORT E-COMMERCE FLOOR

• Head office: 19th Floor, Saigon Center Building, No. 67 Le Loi Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1

• Email:  [email protected]

• Phone: (+84) 987 258 510

• Branch 1: 10th Floor, Becamex Tower, 230 Binh Duong Avenue, Thu Dau Mot, Binh Duong

• Branch 2: 9th Floor, TTC Plaza, Vo Thi Sau, Thong Thong Ward, Bien Hoa City, Dong Nai

• Branch 3: 123 Cong Hoa, Ward 12, Tan Binh, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam