Vietnam is poised for significant transformation by June 30, 2025, as all leaders, officials, and civil servants at various administrative levels are mandated to process work documents online and utilize digital signatures. This directive is part of the government's commitment to enhancing efficiency through the digital economy and improving public service delivery.
The announcement follows the Government Office's notification No. 56/TB-VPCP, released on February 23, 2025, which summarized the outcomes of the National Committee for Digital Transformation and Project 06's activities during 2024. The meeting showed clear progress and intent as the government laid out its strategic goals for the year 2025.
The drive for digital transformation aligns with Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW, ratified by the Politburo on December 22, 2024. It highlights the importance of developing science, technology, innovation, and digitalization as key strategies for sustainable economic growth. The government aims to achieve economic growth above 8% by 2025 and maintain double-digit growth rates thereafter.
To realize these ambitious objectives, five core focus areas have been identified:
- Accelerated Digital Transformation: The government plans to rapidly promote digital technology across all economic sectors, significantly enhancing productivity and competitiveness.
- Industry Digitalization: Various industries will undergo digitalization to initiate leaps forward in quality and operational efficiency.
- Infrastructure Development: Investment will be prioritized to establish solid digital foundations for the national economy.
- Workforce Development: The focus will be on equipping future generations with necessary skills and knowledge to thrive in the digital era.
- Expansion of Digital Governance: This includes enhancing state management operations and developing citizen engagement services.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, who also chairs the National Committee for Digital Transformation, has called on all ministries and local governments to lead by example, actively transforming their practices and effectively overcoming existing hurdles to digital implementation.
Further requirements mandate the establishment of national databases and their respective sectoral databases, particularly focusing on land data. It is imperative to deploy the Internet of Things (IoT) across various fields including agriculture, energy, and smart healthcare.
An important aspect of this transition involves shifting the public service paradigm from one of dependency to proactivity and client service. The government's aim is to eliminate unnecessary administrative procedures and to offer comprehensive online public services aimed at achieving personalization and bypassing geographic limitations.
By the end of 2025, it is targeted for all eligible administrative procedures to be provided online, with 80% of submitted administrative files processed digitally and 40% of the adult population utilizing these online public services. Each administrative document processed will be linked to individual identification numbers by June 30, 2025, illustrating the government's commitment to personalization and efficiency.
The directive also emphasizes the need for the provincial-level leaders to decentralize authority during the resolution of administrative tasks. Innovations like free fee policies are being considered to incentivize citizens to engage with online services, mirroring successful models like those implemented in Hanoi.
To support the digital infrastructure, specific milestones have been outlined, including the completion of digitizing personal data and streamlining civil registration processes by March 31, 2025. Each provincial and local government will collaborate with the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Public Security to overhaul personal data processing, ensuring it aligns with national standards.
The Ministry of Information and Communications is tasked with advancing the Digital Technology Industrial Law to be presented during the National Assembly's ninth meeting scheduled for May 2025. Alongside, the Ministry of Public Security will finalize the Personal Data Protection Law and prepare relevant guidance decrees for implementation.
With this digital transformation initiative, Vietnam is making strides to secure its place on the global digital stage, enhancing its international rankings. Yet, challenges remain, particularly concerning cybersecurity measures and the quality of the online public service offerings.
The government continues to stress the importance of maintaining awareness and proper training for the workforce necessary for effective digital transformation. This includes fostering participation from both the public and private sectors to achieve national digitization goals.
Overall, the government is optimistic about the potential for enhanced governance, public satisfaction, and economic growth through effective digital transformation and is committed to its thorough implementation by the stipulated deadline.