Hanoi (VNA) – The United Nations General Assembly on December 24, 2024 (New York time), adopted by consensus the UN Convention against Cybercrime, a global legal instrument of major significance amid growing challenges to global security in the digital age.
The opening for signature of the convention will take place in Hanoi on October 25–26, 2025, highlighting Vietnam’s increasingly active and constructive role in international diplomacy.
Vietnam takes initiative in shaping international legal frameworks
In an interview with VietnamPlus, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Hoang Giang, who headed Vietnam’s negotiation delegation, affirmed that Vietnam’s contributions to the drafting of the UN Convention against Cybercrime, also known as Hanoi Convention, represent a concrete step in advancing the Party and State’s policy of elevating multilateral diplomacy.
According to the Deputy Minister, in the digital era, cybercrime has emerged as an especially dangerous threat to the security and sovereignty of every nation. To address it effectively, the world needs a unified, fair, and binding global legal framework.
From the very outset, when the UN initiated the negotiation process in 2019, Vietnam strongly supported it and was actively engaged. Between 2022 and 2024, an inter-agency working group led by the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs participated fully in all eight negotiation rounds, contributing substantially to the convention’s development.
Vietnam proposed and successfully safeguarded fundamental principles embedded in the convention such as respect for national sovereignty and independence, non-interference in internal affairs, compliance with international law, and equality in cooperation. The country also coordinated negotiations on several key provisions, earning broad recognition and support from the international community.
Giang noted that Hanoi being chosen as the venue for the signing ceremony marks a historic moment for Vietnam’s multilateral diplomacy.
The campaign to secure Hanoi’s selection began immediately after the Convention’s adoption by the UN General Assembly. It was carried out methodically and decisively across multiple levels, from UN headquarters in New York to major capitals with key roles in cyber governance.
Vietnam will be among the first group of countries to sign the Convention. At least 40 countries are expected to participate and sign in Hanoi, demonstrating strong political commitment to bringing the Convention into force by 2027, in line with UNODC’s roadmap.
As part of the event, Vietnam will host a thematic forum discussing the Convention’s key pillars, supporting countries in developing domestic legal frameworks, and promoting collaboration among regulators, tech enterprises, and cybersecurity researchers.
Hanoi will not only be a formal occasion but also a symbol of cooperation, responsibility, and Vietnam’s constructive role in advancing global collaboration on cybersecurity, the Deputy Minister stated.
Opportunities, challenges ahead
Giang affirmed that the Hanoi Convention opens significant opportunities for Vietnam in international integration and in strengthening national cybersecurity.
He said no single nation can independently resolve non-traditional security challenges such as cybercrime. By playing a pioneering role in shaping and implementing the Convention, Vietnam can expand international cooperation, access global resources, technology, and expertise, and contribute to ensuring a safe, healthy, and sustainable digital environment.
Hosting the signing ceremony and the implementation of the convention is an opportunity for Vietnam to open up many new directions of cooperation, not only in preventing and combating transnational cybercrime but also in multilateral cooperation in many other fields. The signing ceremony will also serve as an opportunity to promote the image of a peaceful, hospitable, and dynamic Vietnam.
However, the Deputy Minister also acknowledged the considerable challenges ahead. The convention’s adoption is only the beginning; the real test lies in turning commitments into concrete action, fostering trust, and promoting effective cooperation among nations.
Vietnam will need to continue improving its legal and institutional frameworks, enhancing law enforcement capacity, and developing high-quality human resources capable of working with international partners to combat transnational cybercrime.
The greatest challenge - and also the most crucial factor - is people, Giang stressed.
“Each official and citizen must enhance their knowledge, skills, and sense of responsibility to help build a safe, civil, and resilient cyberspace, thereby contributing to the defence and development of our nation in the digital era,” he said./.
