The number of users on Zalo, the mobile-based free texting and calling app, is now equal to half of Vietnam's population and matches the number of subscribers of the country's biggest mobile carrier.
Hanoi (VNA)꧒ - The number of users on Zalo, the mobile-based free texting and calling app, is now equal to half of Vietnam's population and matches the number of subscribers of the country's biggest mobile carrier.
The operator of the app announced that it reached a new milestone of 45 million users on February 24, a significant expansion from one million users in March 2013.
According to tech website ICTnews, the number of Zalo users matches that of the Viettel Corporation, which is Vietnam's largest mobile network operator.
Vietnam's population reached 90 million in November 2013.-VNA
Competition in the free chat software market has become stronger than ever with the participation of a lot of large technology groups, both foreign and domestic.
The Republic of Korea’s Kakao software firm last month officially joined the Vietnamese market. Kakao Talk software allows free SMS messaging in all smart phone operation systems including Androit, iOS, BlackBerry, Windows Phone and Bada.
The mobile game market was very quiet in the first half of the year, but things are expected to heat up in the second half, the English language news website VietNamNet Bridge reported.
The total turnover of Vietnam’s internet economy is scheduled to soar to 100 trillion VND (roughly 4.72 billion USD) by 2018 from 20.4 trillion VND in 2013, according to an article published on the English language news portal VietNamNet Bridge.
Foreign-app developers have flocked to Vietnam as the country is a potential market with 30 percent of mobile device users using them, the English language news portal VietNamNet Bridge quoted Thieu Phuong Nam, General Director of Qualcomm Indochina as saying.
Low-cost carrier Vietjet Air has recently added a programme to keep passengers informed of their flight schedules through messages from the Zalo application along with usual SMS messages.
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.
Illustration photo. (Source: Internet)
