The forecasted global economic improvement of USD 13.1 trillion from 5G by 2035 is expected to have a noticeable impact on the world economy, and its potential influence on reimagining e-commerce is especially untapped in emerging markets like Vietnam, where online retail skyrocketed 37.66% in 2024. This examination explores the impacts of 5G on online shopping while integrating Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), and Expectation-Confirmation Theory (ECT) in hosting an adoption-satisfaction analysis. From the second half of November 2024 till March 15, 2025, we conducted 30 in-depth interviews and six focus group discussions (n = 48) alongside 460 SEM surveys from consumers aged 18-45 that were performed during the first month of 2025, combining with Hanoi, Bac Giang, Hai Phong, Ninh Binh, Nam Dinh, and Ha Tinh. Results highlight the importance of interactivity (β = 0.48, p < 0.001), personalization (β = 0.34, p < 0.001), and security (β = 0.17, p = 0.019) as main driving factors accounting for 70.4% of the observed variance (R² = 0.704), and a negative influence from cost (β = -0.20, p = 0.008). The juxtaposition of 5G and 4G reveals interactivity’s increasing importance in the context of 5G (β = 0.55 vs 0.32), giving way to an astonishing paradox where users with higher income prefer interactivity to cost (β = 0.58 vs -0.10), giving interactivity more weight as well. To take advantage of 5G, companies ought to implement real-time monitoring systems with graduated pricing (e.g., VND 50,000/month). This study rethinks the adoption processes and provides a roadmap for e-commerce within the context of economies undergoing digital transformation.