Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam is set to enter a deeper and broader phase of digital transformation over the next five years, focusing on delivering tangible economic and social outcomes, a senior official has said.
Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Vu Hai Quan made the statement at an event celebrating National Digital Transformation Day 2025, themed “Digital Transformation: Faster, More Efficient, Closer to People.”
He said the next phase aims to turn digital progress into economic growth, boost productivity, strengthen national competitiveness, and improve decision-making at all levels.
“Success must be measured by the real benefits it brings to citizens, businesses, and the economy,” Quan said.
After five years of digital transformation, Vietnam has moved beyond the initial phase, he said, elaborating that during this stage, the focus was placed on raising digital awareness, developing infrastructure and platforms, and providing basic public services.
These results show that the foundation for national digital transformation has been largely established, from service infrastructure to institutional frameworks.
According to the official, Vietnam is now ready to enter a new phase with stronger determination and more decisive actions. However, much work remains to ensure that digital transformation truly delivers tangible impacts on socio-economic development and people’s lives.
New phase of digital transformation
Vietnam is moving towards a smart and distance-free creative state, where all management decisions are based on real-time data and where people are served by paperless, personalised online public services tailored to their needs, he stated.
Quan noted that being closer to the people also means building digital trust in society. “People will only actively participate in digital transformation when they see it as truly convenient, when they believe the digital environment is safe, and when their rights are fully protected,” he said.
Regarding the core principle of this year’s theme, Quan emphasised the need to narrow the digital gap so that no one is left behind. Every Vietnamese citizen, whether in rural, mountainous, or urban areas, must have equal access to digital utilities.
Over the past five years, Vietnam has laid the foundation for a national digital economy, with 80% of public services now fully processed online, a digital economy accounting for 20% of GDP, and more than 100 million digital citizens.
At the event, the Ministry of Science and Technology announced the 2024 Digital Transformation Index (DTI), with Hanoi topping the rankings for the first time, followed by Hue, Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh City, and Thanh Hoa.
At the national level, ministries were not ranked for 2024 due to organisational restructuring that began in March, leaving several ministries unable to provide complete datasets.
The ministry is updating the DTI framework to align with new government resolutions and international evaluation standards. The revised framework, set for release in the fourth quarter of this year, will better reflect the outcomes of digital transformation rather than just implementation progress.
The updated DTI will be applied to 2025 assessments covering ministries and 34 provinces following administrative mergers, with results to be announced in the first quarter of 2026.
Launched in 2020, the DTI measures Vietnam’s digital transformation at three levels — national, ministerial, and provincial — using 12 indicators under three pillars: Digital Government (400 points), Digital Economy (300), and Digital Society (300). Data is collected and assessed online via dti.gov.vn. This process combines automated measurements and verified statistical reports to ensure transparency and accuracy./.
