Digital industry to contribute a quarter of Vietnam’s GDP by 2025
A pending project on national digital transition aims for the digital industry to contribute 25 percent of Vietnam’s GDP by 2025 and for the country to be placed fourth among ASEAN member states in terms of national digital ranking.
Hanoi (VNA) – A pending project on nationaldigital transition aims for the digital industry to contribute 25 percent ofVietnam’s GDP by 2025 and for the country to be placed fourth among ASEANmember states in terms of national digital ranking.
The project, designed by the Ministry ofInformation and Communications, is opened for public feedback before beingsubmitted to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.
It consists of three phases, implementedbetween 2019 and 2030. The first phase (2019 – 2020) will focus on digitisationin socio-economic areas to boost productivity, create new development sources,build relevant infrastructure and legal framework and provide guidance forenterprises on digital transition.
The second phase (2021 – 2025) aims to turndigitisation into a part of the national competitiveness. During the period,digital transition will take place across sectors, particularly in updatingbusiness models to apply digital platforms and ecosystems and in forming valuechains.
The third phase (2026 – 2030) targets acomprehensive digital-based society and economy, with new digital industriesformed. Significant support will be funneled into technological fields like artificialintelligence (AI), Big Data, and Internet of Things.
Minister of Information and CommunicationsNguyen Manh Hung said Vietnam will announce its national digital transitionstrategy this year.
Affordable smartphones and mobile data planshave driven recent growth of internet usage in Vietnam. The country has about64 million internet users (approximately 67 percent of the population), placingit among the top 20 countries with the highest internet penetration.
Meanwhile, more and more businesses haveapplied digital technology to production, business activities and management,which is reflected in the rapidly increasing rate of new technologies such ascloud computing, AI and automation.
A survey of about 5,000 businesses inVietnam conducted by the Vietnam E-Commerce Association revealed that 43percent of enterprises used websites, 32 percent used social networks and 15percent used mobile applications to sell their products in 2018.-VNA
A digital economy is an inevitable step for development, said Nguyen Thanh Hung, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications at the 2016 Internet Day event in Hanoi.
Government bodies should be more proactive in promoting IT application, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam said at the opening of the 2017 Vietnam ICT Summit in Hanoi on September 6.
Major economic hubs of big cities and provinces nationwide have announced ambitious multi-billion dollar projects to become smart cities, well-equipped to take advantage of opportunities presented by the digital age, but so far, the country still lacks a specific standard framework for building a "smart city".
Vietnam needs to build up the National Innovation Centre to create a technological start-up ecosystem and upgrade the national innovation system, said experts.
With the government's strong direction and active participation from businesses and citizens, national digital transformation is deepening, with a focus on building a digital government, economy, and society.
VietNEST (Vietnamese Nurturing Education for Science & Traditions) is a mobile app and digital platform for Vietnamese language learning among overseas children.
The networks bring together universities, research institutes and domestic and foreign businesses. Members will work closely in training, research, and technology transfer by sharing curricula, improving faculty capacity, providing access to laboratories and research facilities, and jointly implementing science and technology projects.
The Better Choice Awards (BCA) 2025 is a key highlight in the lead-up to Vietnam Innovation Day that falls on October 1, an annual event expected to attract hundreds of innovative enterprises, research institutions, investment funds, and startups from both Vietnam and abroad.
The new line serves as a critical backup route, strategically complementing existing submarine cables and enhancing the resilience, proactivity, and security of Vietnam’s telecommunications infrastructure.
Vietnam is actively yet cautiously preparing for the construction of its first nuclear power plant in Ninh Thuan (now the south-central coastal province of Khanh Hoa). The resumption of the programme after years of suspension carries considerable significance for the nation’s development in a new era as it strives to gradually reduce and ultimately phase out coal-fired power to realise the Government’s commitment to Net Zero by 2050.
The government leader reaffirmed Vietnam’s goal of achieving self-reliance in the design, manufacturing, and test of necessary semiconductor chips by no later than 2027.
With the launching of its two-tier local administration model, the city is incorporating technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain to enhance service delivery for citizens and businesses, aligning with the Politburo’s Resolution 57-NQ/TW on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation.
Vietnam has issued many key policies to support semiconductor development, notably the Politburo’s Resolution 57 on science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation. Other initiatives include the Semiconductor Industry Development Strategy to 2030, with a vision to 2050, and the Human Resources Development Programme for the Semiconductor Industry.
Vietnam is no longer just an emerging blockchain market, it is stepping into a leadership role, with global investors, developers, and experts recognising its growing potential to become a leading hub for digital assets in the region.
Taking place on August 1–2, the event features more than 20,000 attendees and over 200 speakers from Vietnam, the h Korea, Singapore, the UAE, Hong Kong (China) and the US.
Dung directed the Ministry of Science and Technology to revise the national startup scheme, ensuring it clearly defines the scope and content, grounded on strong political and legal foundations, international best practices, and well-reasoned arguments for submission to the Government.
The two-day academic forum, themed “Resilience, Sustainability & Digital Transformation in a Changing World: Perspectives from Southeast Asia”, aims to share interdisciplinary research insights, focusing on adaptive capacity, sustainable development, and digital transformation amid evolving global and regional landscapes.
With such a rapid economic growth, Vietnam must diversify energy sources and nuclear power is a rational choice to ensure the national energy security, said Associate Professor Kei Koga from the Nanyang Technological University (Singapore).
Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung emphasised that Vietnam has a clear strategy and ambition in this field, and is rapidly emerging as a central hub and key link in the regional and global semiconductor value chains.
According to Cushman & Wakefield’s latest Asia-Pacific Data Centre Investment Landscape report, Vietnam now ranks second in the region for data centre investment returns, with a yield on cost (YoC) of 17.5–18.8%, just behind Singapore’s 21–23%.
Vietnam is taking drastic yet cautious steps in building a culture of nuclear safety and security, with the aim of having its first nuclear power plant operational by the end of 2030 and using this specific energy source effectively and sustainably.
Vietnam’s 5G strategy has been clearly outlined in national digital technology and infrastructure policies. A wide range of solutions is being vigorously implemented to achieve the target of an average internet speed of 100 Mbps by 2025 and full nationwide 5G coverage by 2030.
The visit aimed to assess the new two-tier local government model, preparations for upcoming Party congresses at levels, and implementation of the Politburo’s Conclusion on school construction in border areas.
Illustrative photo (Source: VNA) 
