Comrade Nguyễn Mạnh Hùng, Minister of Information and Communications, Vice Chairman of the National Committee on Digital Transformation

On the afternoon of February 6, at the Government Headquarters, a summary meeting of the National Committee on Digital Transformation and Project 06 took place. The conference reviewed the results of 2024 and set directions for 2025. Minister Nguyễn Mạnh Hùng emphasized that Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính has identified the theme for digital transformation in 2025 as 'Comprehensive digital transformation to develop the digital economy, creating new momentum for economic growth.' The National Committee on Digital Transformation will implement this direction in its 2025 action plan with a new approach to promote widespread digital transformation, contributing to the development of the digital economy and enhancing management and operational efficiency.

Five years ago, IT application was common, but digital transformation was still very new. Digital transformation was not only new to Vietnam but also to the world. For something new, the pioneering spirit is the most important. Those who dare to innovate will lead. The government issued the National Digital Transformation Program in 2020 as a strong and pioneering decision. The past five years have been a journey of both action and exploration. This pioneering spirit has placed Vietnam among the fastest-growing countries in digital economy, e-commerce, digital government, online public services, and digital transformation in general, both regionally and globally.

Vietnam aims to become a high-middle-income country by 2030, at which point its per capita income ranking will be in the global top 100. However, digital infrastructure, digital technology, digital industry, and digital transformation must advance ahead and move faster. By 2030, Vietnam's international ranking in these areas must be in the top 50 globally, doubling its economic ranking.

Regarding telecommunications, we are currently ranked 72nd but progressing rapidly. Six years ago, in 2018, Vietnam was ranked 108th. Over the past six years, we have climbed 36 places, averaging an increase of six ranks per year. At this rate, by 2030, Vietnam’s telecommunications sector will certainly be in the top 50 globally, and with greater effort, it could even reach the top 40.

Regarding data infrastructure, Vietnam is currently in the global top 60. If we attract Big Tech investments in data centers and encourage Vietnamese enterprises to continue investing heavily in this area, Vietnam could reach the top 30 globally by 2030.

Regarding cybersecurity, Vietnam holds a high ranking, currently 17th in the world. Our goal is to enter the global top 10.

Regarding the digital technology industry, we have a total revenue of over $150 billion, with an average annual growth rate of 15%. Overall, Vietnam’s digital technology industry is already in the global top 20. We aim to maintain our high ranking, striving to enter the top 15 globally and increase the proportion of Vietnam’s value in the digital technology industry from the current 32% to 50% by 2030.

Regarding the digital economy (DE), Vietnam ranks 41st in terms of DE/GDP ratio and is improving rapidly. In 2024, Vietnam's digital economy grew by over 20%, reaching a GDP share of more than 18%. In 2025, it is expected to meet and exceed the 20% target. Our goal is for the digital economy to account for 30-35% of GDP by 2030, placing Vietnam in the global top 30.

Regarding e-government (EG)/digital government (DG), in 2024, Vietnam ranked 71st, having climbed 15 places in just two years. Our ranking is changing rapidly. The government aims for 80% of public service records to be fully processed online by 2025. By 2028, Vietnam could enter the top 50 globally in EG/DG, with a goal of reaching the top 40 by 2030.

Thus, by 2030, Vietnam’s digital infrastructure, digital technology, digital industry, and digital transformation must be in the global top 50, with some sectors ranking in the top 10, 20, or 30. This ambitious goal aims to stay ahead, progress rapidly, and place Vietnam among developed nations, laying the foundation for national development, digital transformation, and digital economy growth.

General Secretary Tô Lâm, on behalf of the Politburo, has just signed Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW, coinciding with the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army on December 22, 2024. This is a particularly important resolution focused on breakthroughs in scientific and technological development (STI), innovation (IN), and national digital transformation. The resolution outlines major revolutionary perspectives, tasks, and solutions, comparable to the landmark Resolution No. 10 for agriculture 40 years ago—except this time, it applies to STI, IN, and digital transformation. We will transition from a state of lacking STI, IN, and digital transformation to one of sufficiency, surplus, and large-scale exports in these fields, just as we did with agriculture.

Resolution No. 10 was aimed at poverty alleviation, while Resolution No. 57 is aimed at escaping the middle-income trap. Resolution No. 10 liberated labor productivity, while Resolution No. 57 is about unleashing creativity. The common principle of both resolutions is goal-oriented management rather than controlling how things are done. It grants autonomy and accountability to implementers, accepts risks, and evaluates effectiveness based on overall results, ensuring that those who achieve results benefit from their labor and innovation.

Resolution No. 57 identifies STI, IN, and digital transformation as the three main pillars of national development in the new era. STI forms the foundation, creating new knowledge and technologies. IN serves as the driving force, transforming new knowledge and technologies into novel ideas and solutions, converting research outcomes into new products, services, and processes that generate practical value for socioeconomic development.

Digital transformation is about shifting all activities to the digital environment, digitizing the real world to create a new digital space. It provides the technical foundation, digital tools, data, and connectivity to accelerate and scale STI and IN applications. Digital transformation creates a new digital arena—a fertile ground for STI and IN—so accessible that even individuals can leverage technology for innovation. As we see today, most technologies are digital or rely on digital platforms, and most innovations are digital. Digital transformation provides the environment and tools to rapidly materialize innovation ideas and solutions.

Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính has set the digital transformation theme for 2025: Comprehensive digital transformation to develop the digital economy, creating new momentum for economic growth. Studies have shown that digital transformation and the digital economy can contribute up to 3% to the annual GDP growth of developing countries. Traditional economic growth drivers are reaching their limits, necessitating new momentum—digital transformation and the digital economy. Accelerating digital transformation at this time is crucial for achieving high economic growth, especially in exceeding the 7% threshold. Growth of 7% can be sustained with old drivers, but exceeding 7% requires new forces, particularly STI, IN, digital transformation, and the digital economy.

We will implement this direction in the National Committee on Digital Transformation's 2025 action plan with a new approach.

• First, set high targets to drive breakthrough solutions, attract talent, and create rapid development.
• Second, tasks must be quantified into specific objectives and indicators.
• Third, assign direct responsibility to leaders.
• Fourth, allocate appropriate resources for task execution.
• Fifth, establish online measurement tools to track progress quarterly and annually, with regular evaluations and public reporting.
• Sixth, performance results will determine task completion assessments, especially for leadership positions.

Some key tasks at the beginning of 2025:

• Ministries, sectors, and localities must promptly develop and issue action plans to implement Resolution 57-NQ/TW.
• Lease a dedicated cloud computing center for government use to accelerate digital transformation projects while the National Data Center is under construction, and establish a shared high-performance AI computing center to support technology and AI applications.
• All ministries, sectors, and localities must complete intelligent operation centers for data-driven governance and connect them to the Government’s central command center.
• Develop and publish specialized databases, especially the land database.
• Nationwide 5G coverage and tripling mobile data speeds.