Vietnamese SMEs Facing Airport Closure Risks in 2025: Modern Logistics, Resilience, and Strategic Transformation

Vietnam stands at a crossroads in the evolution of its logistics ecosystem. Historically, its small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have fueled vibrant domestic commerce and rapid e-commerce expansion, yet persistent infrastructure gaps and unpredictable disruptions—ranging from natural disasters to pandemic-induced shutdowns—have exposed critical vulnerabilities. As global supply chains grow increasingly intricate, and as Vietnam’s logistics costs remain high at 16–17% of GDP (double that of advanced economies), the looming threat of airport closures in 2025 has prompted a collective reckoning. How can Vietnamese SMEs transform their logistics strategies to not only survive these risks but also thrive in a rapidly changing, digitally enabled marketplace?

Adapting to Disruption: The New Imperative for Vietnamese SMEs

Multimodal Transport Integration: Traditionally, air freight has been the lifeblood of Vietnamese exporters and e-commerce players seeking speed and global reach. Yet, the exposure to airport closures—and the resultant bottlenecks—demands a paradigm shift. Leading industry voices advocate for multimodal logistics solutions that blend road, sea, rail, and air, effectively diluting risk and enabling more robust end-to-end supply chain management.
The government’s vision, detailed in its logistics service development strategy, urges SMEs to identify alternative trade corridors and leverage regional infrastructure, aligning with the broader ASEAN integration agenda (see policy overview). This push is not merely reactive; it signals a strategic movement toward networked resilience where redundancy, flexibility, and agility define competitive advantage.

Digital Transformation & Smart Logistics: The digital revolution is sweeping through Vietnam’s logistics sector, with industry forecasts indicating that by 2025, 80% of logistics enterprises will adopt smart platforms, automation, and real-time tracking. For SMEs, this leap is more than technological—it is existential. By harnessing supply chain analytics, AI-powered routing, and predictive modelling, businesses can reroute shipments, optimize inventory placement, and respond dynamically to airport closures or other disruptions. Early adopters report improved visibility and substantial reductions in recovery time during logistical shocks.
Platforms such as FedEx Business Insights and GrowthHQ.io offer benchmarking analyses, tailored action plans, and upskilling for digital logistics capabilities, making sophisticated risk management accessible to even the smallest players.

Unpacking the Real-World Implications: SMEs on the Front Lines

Regional Distribution Networks and Partnerships: Resilience requires geographic and operational diversification. Vietnamese SMEs are increasingly establishing distribution hubs outside major airport zones, forging partnerships with third-party logistics providers (3PLs) and local fulfillment centers. By cultivating redundant logistics nodes and regional alliances, SMEs can reroute goods with minimal disruption—turning crisis response into a strategic differentiator. Such measures echo global best practices and are actively supported by major logistics players like DHL, who have invested in direct serve operations and co-innovation labs tailored for the SME segment.
This shift is reinforced by government priorities: by 2035, at least five world-class logistics centers will anchor Vietnam’s supply chains, offering built-in redundancy and further strengthening the nation’s posture against unpredictable disruptions.

Scenario Planning, Risk Assessment, and Business Continuity: Proactive planning is now regarded as indispensable. SMEs that conduct regular risk assessments, create scenario simulations for airport closures, and maintain flexible contracts with logistics partners are statistically more likely to recover swiftly and sustain service quality during crises. Scenario planning enables businesses to map alternative corridors, negotiate backup arrangements, and maintain agility in the face of uncertainty—a principle central to the government’s logistics strategy and reflected in recent industry roundtables.

Accessing Government and Industry Support: The Vietnamese government provides tax breaks, logistical incentives, and advisory platforms—resources designed to accelerate digital transformation and infrastructure modernization. SMEs can leverage industry knowledge networks (such as GrowthHQ.io) for benchmarking, strategic consulting, and direct links to government programs. These supports are increasingly vital as the country aims to lower logistics costs to 12–15% of GDP by 2025, enabling SMEs to invest in modern logistics without compromising financial stability.

Comparative Perspectives: Vietnam’s Approach Versus Regional and Global Norms

Efficiency and Cost Profiles: Vietnam’s logistics costs are among the highest in Asia, at 16–17% of GDP. By contrast, advanced economies average 8–10%, benefitting from long-established multimodal connectivity and digital supply chain optimization. The government’s ambitious target—to reach 12–15% by 2025—is both a challenge and an opportunity, signaling major sectoral reform and creative adaptation.
Digital Adoption and Supply Chain Intelligence: While regional peers such as Singapore and Thailand have advanced digital warehousing and cross-border fulfillment hubs, Vietnam’s rapid digital transformation—coupled with its burgeoning e-commerce market—positions it as a future leader if SMEs fully embrace smart logistics. Early movers are already capitalizing on these trends, gaining preferential access to new market segments and leveraging data-driven agility to outperform competitors (see VietnamPlus analysis).

Resilience and Green Logistics: International logistics giants increasingly prioritize sustainability—reducing emissions, adopting green energy, and investing in smart warehousing. Vietnam’s industry stance is evolving in parallel, with government incentives for companies aligning with national climate goals. SMEs embracing green and smart supply chains are likely to benefit from lower long-term costs and enhanced brand equity, securing competitive advantage within the region’s digital economy (see WTCConnect’s report).

Innovative Practices and Tactical Shifts: A Playbook for Tomorrow’s Leaders

Mapping Critical Suppliers, Routes, and Corridors: Leading SMEs are conducting holistic supply chain mapping—identifying alternative corridors outside congested airport areas and prioritizing redundancy. This ensures shipments can be rerouted rapidly, maintaining customer trust even if primary gateways close. Such mapping is increasingly automated and data-driven, enhancing speed and accuracy.

Upgrading Digital Solutions for Real-Time Response: Modern logistics platforms facilitate centralized tracking across diverse transport modes, supporting rapid scenario simulation and agile decision-making. Automation in warehousing and smart inventory allocation means SMEs can pivot quickly when disruptions occur, sustaining service levels and minimizing losses.
Industry partnerships with tech-enabled providers, as illustrated by DHL and FedEx, bring advanced analytics, predictive modelling, and operational best practices into the SME domain through co-innovation and training (read more at Source of Asia).

Engaging with Ecosystem Platforms and Partnerships: Benchmarking with industry platforms like GrowthHQ.io facilitates SME access to real-time insights, incentive programs, and strategic consulting. By leveraging collective intelligence and best-in-class resources, SMEs are transforming from reactive risk managers to proactive supply chain architects.

"The future of Vietnamese logistics lies not in avoiding risk, but in mastering it—where digital intelligence, multimodal resilience, and collaborative networks turn disruption into opportunity, forging a new era of agile, green, and globally competitive supply chains."

Real-World Case Applications: Turning Threats into Transformation

Scenario: An E-commerce SME Navigates Airport Closure
A mid-sized apparel exporter based in Ho Chi Minh City experienced a three-day airport disruption in early 2023, prompting a rapid supply chain overhaul. By activating pre-mapped sea and road corridors, leveraging real-time data analytics to reroute shipments, and drawing on regional 3PL partnerships, the company sustained 90% of its delivery commitments despite the closure. Subsequent investment in digital logistics platforms reduced response time to future shocks and opened new cross-border opportunities—a testament to the power of proactive risk management.

Industry Vanguard: Direct Serve Operations and Co-Innovation Labs
FedEx, DHL, and other outsized logistics players have launched direct serve models and co-innovation hubs in Vietnam, tailored to SME pain points. These initiatives focus on rapid onboarding, digital enablement, and hands-on scenario planning, equipping SMEs with tools and insights previously reserved for multinational giants (see FedEx’s SME Innovation Guide).

Future Trajectory and Strategic Importance

The ASEAN E-Commerce Boom: As Vietnam deepens its integration with the regional digital economy, the pressure to modernize logistics becomes existential. SMEs that adopt multimodal, digital-enabled, and sustainable supply chain practices will not only reduce exposure to airport closures and other risks, but also position themselves as nimble leaders in a booming ASEAN e-commerce market.

Policy and Industry Alignment: The alignment of government objectives—cost reduction, digital transformation, green logistics—with industry best practices signals unprecedented opportunity for SMEs. Those who act early, invest strategically, and collaborate across networks are poised to leverage incentives, gain market share, and shape Vietnam’s logistics narrative for the next decade.

Conclusion: A Mandate for Action—and Vision

Looking ahead, the prospect of airport closures in 2025 is more than a challenge; it is a clarion call for strategic transformation. Vietnamese SMEs must adopt a proactive posture, embracing multimodal transport solutions, digital logistics platforms, regional partnerships, and green supply chain practices. By leveraging government support, industry innovation, and collaborative intelligence, they can build agile, resilient, and globally competitive supply chains.
The urgency is real, but so is the opportunity. The logistics revolution underway in Vietnam will reward early movers with superior risk management, operational efficiency, and access to new digital marketplaces. SMEs, once on the margins, now have the chance to lead. The strategic importance of these changes cannot be overstated: mastering supply chain risk is not merely about survival—it is the pathway to growth, leadership, and enduring impact in the region’s evolving commercial landscape.