Vietnam aims to become a digital country by 2030

In 3rd June, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc approved the National Digital Transformation Programme referred to as DX by 2025 in-law decision No.749/QD-TT.  As scheduled, with a vision for 2030, Vietnam will successfully apply new technologies and models, completely renovate government operations, update business operations, and improve the living and working environment fundamentally and comprehensively. The government said that the program’s goal is forming a digital government, economy, and society, while also supporting the establishment of global digital companies.  DX is aiming with the goal of increasing the efficiency index, gaining a competitive advantage, and especially improving the public experience based on applying digital technology to the operation and management systems of enterprises and national institutions.

1. DX’s condition in Vietnam

Vietnam-become-a-digital-country-1In recent years, the DX process has proceeded, including the financial, transportation, and tourism industries in Vietnam. All departments of the Government are striving to transform an electronic government into a digital government. On the other hand, many cities are also planning to become “smart cities” with new technology platforms. However, one of the tough challenges now is that Vietnam companies in general, especially Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), are not yet fully aware of the role of industrial revolution 4.0. Cisco, a global network company, has announced a survey of the “Digital Development Index for SMEs in the Asia Pacific Region” which researched about 1,340 companies in the entire region and 50 companies in Vietnam. This survey has clearly shown the barriers to the challenges of SMEs in Vietnam throughout the data, such as lack of digital skills and human resources (17%), lack of digitized powerful information technology (16.7%), lack of corporate digital thinking or cultural matter (15.7%). However, the survey shows that Vietnamese SMEs are gradually investing in DX for cloud platforms (18%), network security (12.7%), digitization software and hardware enhancements (10.7%), etc.

2. What should we prepare while aiming for DX?

About changes in recognition

This program indicates the need for expansion from point to face, with awareness of DX’s mission, necessity, and urgency for society through typical and convincing success stories in order to build the foundation for DX.

About methods

Regarding the challenges and solutions of digital government development, the first thing is to combine the strengths of dedicated data transmission networks with the Internet and data centers of national institutions, to strengthen digital government infrastructure and connect to all administrative levels. The next thing is to promote the enforcement of decisions, programs, plans, schemes, and projects so as to give strength to the digitized government. After that, it is necessary to build a national data portal and apply the latest technology of social media and public administration procedures that can be easily and conveniently accessed even on a smartphone. The government is considering developing a system that connects all of the national public service portals for the whole country.