Haravan vs Shopify: Which Should Vietnamese Sellers Choose in 2026?

Two platforms, two very different starting points. Haravan was built in Ho Chi Minh City for Vietnamese sellers. Shopify is a global platform used by millions of stores worldwide. Here’s what each actually costs in VND, how they handle local payments and marketplaces, and which one fits your first store.

Quick Comparison: Haravan vs Shopify for Vietnamese Sellers

Haravan prices are from its published pricing page (Haravan, 2026). Shopify figures are converted from its published US dollar pricing at approximately 26,000 VND per US$1 and will shift with the exchange rate (Shopify, 2026); Shopify also adds a third-party payment fee for Vietnamese sellers, covered below.

If you’re still weighing marketplaces against your own website, read our best ecommerce platforms for Vietnamese sellers guide first. For a deeper single-platform look, see our full Haravan review or Shopify review for Vietnamese sellers.

How Much Do Haravan and Shopify Cost in VND?

Haravan’s published pricing runs from 300,000 VND/month (Standard) up to 8,000,000 VND/month (Priority) across six tiers. Shopify’s published pricing runs from US$19/month (Basic, about 495,000 VND) to US$299/month (Advanced, about 7,800,000 VND), before Vietnam’s mandatory third-party payment fee.

Haravan’s current plan structure, per its pricing page:

Shopify’s current plan structure, per its pricing page:

The fee most comparisons miss: Shopify Payments is not available in Vietnam, per Shopify’s published list of supported countries and regions. That means every Vietnamese Shopify store connects a third-party payment gateway instead, which triggers an extra 2% (Basic), 1% (Grow), or 0.6% (Advanced) fee on every sale, on top of whatever the gateway itself charges. Haravan does not charge a transaction fee on top of its subscription cost, per its published plan terms. Budget for this difference before comparing sticker prices alone.

Which Platform Handles Vietnamese Payments and Shipping Better?

Haravan comes pre-configured with MoMo, ZaloPay, VNPay QR, bank transfer, and COD, plus direct integration with Vietnamese carriers GHN, GHTK, Viettel Post, and J&T Express — no extra apps required. Shopify reaches the same payment and shipping options through third-party apps from the Shopify App Store, which usually means added setup time and, in some cases, added monthly app costs.

This is the single biggest practical difference between the two platforms for a Vietnam-focused seller.

Cash on delivery still drives a large share of Vietnamese online orders, and MoMo and ZaloPay wallets are increasingly common, especially with younger buyers. On Haravan, these payment methods are ready the moment you launch. On Shopify, you’ll spend part of your setup time installing and configuring a local payment app before you can accept the same methods.

Shipping works the same way. Haravan’s direct links to GHN, GHTK, Viettel Post, and J&T Express let you print labels and track deliveries from the same dashboard where you manage orders. Shopify sellers typically connect similar carriers through an app, which works well once configured but adds a step Haravan skips entirely.

Which Platform Handles Marketplace and Social Selling Better?

Haravan syncs products, inventory, and orders across Shopee VN, Lazada VN, TikTok Shop, Facebook, Instagram, and Zalo from one native dashboard. Shopify supports similar connections through Shopify App Store apps, but Vietnam-specific marketplaces and Zalo integration are less mature on Shopify’s app ecosystem than on a platform purpose-built for the Vietnamese market.

Most Vietnamese sellers don’t rely on a single channel. They sell on Shopee, take orders through Facebook comments, and chat with customers on Zalo, alongside their own website.

Haravan was built around that reality. A customer’s Shopee order appears in the same dashboard as a website order, with inventory synced automatically. Facebook and Zalo conversations route through the same system, and Haravan can auto-create orders from Facebook comments and Messenger.

Shopify can connect to Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop through apps, and to Facebook and Instagram through its native sales channels. Coverage for global channels is strong. Coverage for Vietnam-specific tools like Zalo OA is thinner, since Shopify’s app ecosystem is built for a global merchant base first.

Which Platform Is Easier to Set Up for a First Vietnamese Store?

Haravan is faster to launch for a Vietnam-only store: the admin panel is in Vietnamese, and local payments, shipping, and marketplace connections are pre-configured. Shopify’s setup is fast too, but Vietnamese sellers need extra steps to add a compatible payment gateway and local shipping apps before the store matches what Haravan offers out of the box.

Setting up Haravan:

1. Sign up and choose your plan (trial available; visit haravan.com for current terms)
2. Pick a template from Haravan’s website builder
3. Add products with photos and descriptions
4. Vietnamese payment methods (MoMo, VNPay, COD) are already available
5. Connect Shopee, Lazada, or TikTok Shop if you sell on marketplaces
6. Add your domain and go live

Setting up Shopify:

1. Sign up at Shopify.com (free trial, no credit card required to start)
2. Choose a theme from the Shopify Theme Store
3. Add your products with photos and descriptions
4. Install and configure a Vietnam-compatible payment gateway app for MoMo, VNPay, or COD
5. Install shipping apps for GHN, GHTK, or your preferred Vietnamese carrier
6. Add your domain and go live

Both platforms handle hosting, security, and updates for you after launch — neither requires the ongoing maintenance a self-hosted platform like WooCommerce does. The real time difference is in those local-integration steps: Haravan starts with them done; Shopify starts without them.

Who Should Choose Haravan and Who Should Choose Shopify?

Choose Haravan if:

• You’re selling mainly to Vietnamese buyers and want local payments, shipping, and marketplaces working from day one
• You already sell on Shopee, Lazada, or TikTok Shop and want inventory synced with your own website
• You use Facebook or Zalo heavily for customer conversations and orders
• You want a Vietnamese-language admin panel and local-market support
• You run a physical store and want POS features included

Choose Shopify if:

• You plan to sell internationally, not just to Vietnamese buyers
• You want access to the largest global app and theme ecosystem
• You’re comfortable managing an English-first admin panel and adding local payment/shipping apps yourself
• You may migrate to Shopify Plus later for high-volume, multi-region selling

The honest middle ground: Some Vietnamese sellers use Shopify specifically because they’re targeting export or cross-border customers, and accept the extra setup work for local payments as a trade-off. If your buyers are overwhelmingly Vietnamese, that trade-off rarely pays off — Haravan’s local-first design saves real time and money at the entry and mid-tier levels.

If you haven’t decided whether to build your own store yet, our how to start an online business in Vietnam guide covers that decision, including when it makes sense to stay on Shopee or Lazada first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Haravan or Shopify better for Vietnamese sellers?

For sellers focused mainly on the Vietnamese market, Haravan has a real edge: Vietnamese payment gateways, local shipping carriers, and Shopee/Lazada/TikTok Shop connections come built in. Shopify is a stronger fit if you plan to sell internationally or want access to the largest global app ecosystem, but you’ll need to add local payment and shipping apps yourself.

Does Shopify support VND and Vietnamese payment methods like MoMo or VNPay?

Shopify Payments is not available in Vietnam, per Shopify’s published list of supported countries. Vietnamese Shopify sellers connect a third-party gateway instead, which triggers an extra 2%, 1%, or 0.6% fee depending on plan, on top of whatever the gateway itself charges. MoMo and VNPay are reachable through apps in the Shopify App Store, not built in.

How much does Haravan cost compared to Shopify?

Per Haravan’s published pricing page, its entry Standard plan is 300,000 VND/month, with Omni Pro, Omni Advanced, Grow, Scale, and Priority tiers rising to 8,000,000 VND/month for its largest plan. Per Shopify’s published pricing, Basic is US$19/month (roughly 495,000 VND), Grow is US$49/month (roughly 1,280,000 VND), and Advanced is US$299/month (roughly 7,800,000 VND), before the added third-party payment fee.

Can I sell on Shopee and Lazada with Shopify the way I can with Haravan?

Yes, but the setup differs. Haravan connects to Shopee VN, Lazada VN, and TikTok Shop natively, with orders and inventory synced automatically. Shopify reaches the same marketplaces through third-party apps from the Shopify App Store, which typically means extra monthly app fees and more setup steps.

Which platform is easier to set up for a first store in Vietnam?

Haravan is faster for a Vietnam-only store because local payments, shipping carriers, and marketplace connections are pre-configured and the admin panel is in Vietnamese. Shopify is faster if you’re comfortable in English and don’t need local integrations immediately, but expect extra time connecting Vietnamese payment and shipping apps before you can accept MoMo, VNPay, or COD orders.

Keep Reading

• Haravan Review for Vietnamese Sellers: Pricing and Features
• Shopify Review for Vietnamese Sellers: Pricing and Features
• Best Ecommerce Platforms for Vietnamese Sellers