From December 12 to 14, 2025, TechFest Vietnam 2025 unfolded in Hanoi, drawing an unprecedented crowd of over 60,000 participants who joined both in person and online. This year’s event, the largest in its history, marked a significant leap not just in scale but in ambition, featuring more than 20 major corporations, 50 investment funds, and over 100 support organizations and incubators. Delegates from six international regions—Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East, North America, and Europe—also flocked to the event, underscoring Vietnam’s growing stature on the global innovation stage.
One of the most notable shifts at TechFest Vietnam 2025 was its move from the traditional “conference hall event” format to an “open space event” based in the bustling Hoan Kiem pedestrian street area. This transformation wasn’t just cosmetic. It allowed for direct, meaningful interaction among citizens, startups, investors, and institutions, breaking down barriers that often keep these groups apart. Throughout the festival, discussions and workshops took place in open exchange zones, while technology experiences were brought to life through hands-on interaction points. The event’s inclusivity was also on full display, with participation expanding to business households, students, the elderly, and small and medium enterprises—creating a vibrant, multi-dimensional hub that connected market, technology, policy, and investment.
On the evening of December 13, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and leaders from the Ministry of Science and Technology toured the technology product booths, signaling high-level support for Vietnam’s innovation ecosystem. During one of the event’s key workshops, Pham Hong Quat from the Department of Startups and Technology Enterprises (Ministry of Science and Technology) highlighted the critical importance of data in artificial intelligence applications. Quat emphasized, "Data is the most crucial condition for effective operation." He referenced Prime Minister Chinh’s data requirements: “accurate - sufficient - clean - live - unified - shared.” However, Quat candidly acknowledged that the current data systems fall short of these ideals, stating that "effective solutions are needed so that data can fully meet the needs of socio-economic development, especially for innovative startups."
Against this backdrop, CMC Technology Corporation made headlines by introducing a comprehensive digital transformation ecosystem designed for Vietnam’s ward and commune levels. According to both Nhan Dan and Vietnam News Agency, this ecosystem aims to restructure grassroots administration, making it simpler, more transparent, and more efficient by leveraging data and digital technology in line with the government’s digital vision. The solution is not just about digitizing paperwork; it’s a strategic overhaul intended to unify operational capacity at the grassroots, reduce information delays, and improve service quality for every citizen.
The ecosystem’s architecture is built on three strategic pillars, mirroring the government’s orientation toward a digital future. The first pillar—digital government—focuses on modernizing internal administrative operations at the grassroots, automating management processes, and implementing smart monitoring tools to enable fast, precise decision-making. The goal is nothing less than a "paperless office" where standardized processes reign.
The second pillar—digital society—puts citizens at the heart of transformation. It aims to simplify administrative procedures, deliver convenient online public services, and establish effective two-way communication channels. Citizens can access services through multiple touchpoints, including mobile apps, kiosks, and digital assistants, cutting down travel time and boosting responsiveness and service quality monitoring. The third pillar—digital economy—supports local management of supply and demand, enterprises, business households, labor, and essential services. It also helps local products—like OCOP-certified goods, agricultural produce, and regional specialties—reach broader markets, promoting sustainable, data-driven development.
CMC’s Chairman, Nguyen Trung Chinh, stressed the pioneering spirit of private technology companies in driving systematic innovation. "As a leading private technology enterprise, CMC is fully aware of its pioneering responsibility in researching and developing technology, building 'Make in Vietnam' capabilities, and deploying core technologies into scalable systems to ensure data security and digital sovereignty," he said. Chinh also underlined that the digital transformation ecosystem for wards and communes was developed with "platformization" and "modularization" in mind, making it quick to deploy, easy to operate, and flexible to expand at the local level.
CMC’s new ecosystem was showcased at TechFest 2025, and its launch is widely seen as a milestone in modernizing grassroots government. The initiative is expected to close the digital gap between regions and lay a robust data foundation for localities to step confidently into the AI-X era—a future where artificial intelligence and advanced digital tools are seamlessly integrated into everyday governance and community life.
CMC didn’t stop at just one platform. The company also rolled out a suite of eight modular digital solutions, including a core platform and seven specialized modules designed to address essential administrative and public service tasks. Among the standout modules are C-Vision (an AI-powered vision system for security, traffic, and urban surveillance), C-Agent and CLS (AI assistants to help officials handle tasks and quickly retrieve information, with CLS focusing on legal and regulatory support), and C-AI Office (which supports digital offices by reducing paperwork and boosting work efficiency). Other modules target healthcare (C-Health), digital identity (C-ID), and digital notary services (C-Notary), all designed to integrate smoothly and scale as needed.
Data security and digital sovereignty remain at the heart of CMC’s solutions. The company has prioritized deploying these systems within domestic infrastructure to safeguard sensitive information and ensure compliance with Vietnam’s strict data policies. As Chinh put it, "The grassroots-level digital transformation ecosystem is a step toward making technology work in practice, serving people right at the front lines."
Vietnam’s startup ecosystem, meanwhile, continues to evolve rapidly. Dr. Vu Viet Anh, General Director of the Academy of Success and Head of the Marketing Technology Village, presented an overview of the country’s innovative startup landscape in 2024. According to the Ministry of Science and Technology, Vietnam now boasts more than 3,800 active startups, over 200 domestic and international investment funds, and upwards of 100 innovation spaces and incubators nationwide. The policy environment is also improving, with key initiatives such as Project 844, the Science and Technology Law, the Innovation Law, and especially Politburo Resolution 57, all aimed at fostering breakthrough development in science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation.
As TechFest Vietnam 2025 drew to a close, the consensus among participants and observers was clear: Vietnam is not only embracing digital transformation but is also building the institutional and technological muscle to lead in the region. By connecting diverse stakeholders, investing in robust digital infrastructure, and nurturing a vibrant startup ecosystem, the country is laying the groundwork for a future where technology and innovation drive growth, opportunity, and improved quality of life for all its citizens.
