Hanoi overcoming challenges to accelerate digital transformation
As a major administrative centre of Vietnam, the capital city regards digital transformation as a top priority to enhance governance, facilitate administrative procedures, and connect with citizens and businesses.
At a trial installation of QR code scanners at elevated railway stations in Hanoi on December 9, 2021. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) –💞 As a major administrative centre of Vietnam, the capital city regards digital transformation as a top priority to enhance governance, facilitate administrative procedures, and connect with citizens and businesses.
With a population of over 10 million and a large number of administrative units (30 district-level and 579 communal-level units), Hanoi faces more challenges in the process of digital transformation than in other localities. Ha Minh Hai, Vice Chairman of the municipal People's Committee, named several obstacles in the city's digital transformation efforts, such as a shortage of human resources amid increasing workload and rising demands, and delays in the development of certain specialised databases, particularly in land management.
However, recent years, especially the 2022-2023 period, have seen significant progress in the work, thanks to the resolve of the leadership and involvement of the entire political system. Hanoi has launched numerous initiatives and events on a broad scale, achieving many positive results.
The capital is the first in Vietnam to issue a resolution stipulating a "zero fee" policy for online public services. Its leaders have fully implemented digital signatures on the city's unified document management and administration system, with 100% of the city’s government agencies now applying digital signatures to documents within the system.
Its local government service platform (LGSP), meanwhile, has been integrated with seven municipal information systems/databases and 14 national and ministerial information systems/databases.
As of June 2024, Hanoi had officially launched several information systems and applications to serve citizens and businesses, including the digital citizen app iHaNoi, the municipal electronic health records, and a transport-ticket-card application, which is being piloted for public passenger transport. Additionally, the city is testing cashless parking systems to enhance transparency in related fee collection and reduce congestion in downtown areas./.
The Hanoi Department of Health has asked the city's Centre for Disease Control (CDC) to coordinate with Noi Bai International Airport and relevant units to increase monitoring to promptly detect suspected monkeypox cases at the airport and border gates, especially those returning from countries where the disease is currently spreading.
The Asia-Pacific forum for young Francophones will be held in Hanoi from September 11-13, focusing on employment, creativity, and innovation as the heart of Francophonie in Asia-Pacific.
Hanoi has expanded cultivation areas that meet high-quality standards and have regional codes to ensure product origin and traceability. The capital has also established supply chains for key agricultural products to meet export requirements.
Vietnamese businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), must embrace digital and AI transformations to remain competitive and achieve sustainable growth, experts said.
Under the European Union (EU)’s global initiative on Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence (CoE), Vietnam has implemented numerous projects aimed at strengthening national capacity in detecting, preventing, and preparing for CBRN-related threats.
The course aims to promote knowledge exchange between scientific and educational schools from different countries, while deepening participants’ expertise in modern technology and technical education. It comprises two main specialisations of electronics-automation and nuclear technology.
ANTARA and VNA can design global-scale cooperation programmes or joint media campaigns, demonstrating the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Indonesia, as well as the cooperation between the two national news agencies.
As Vietnam’s digital transformation accelerates, both the frequency and severity of cyberattacks are growing. The National Cybersecurity Association (NCA) reported that in 2024 alone, there were some 659,000 separate cybersecurity incidents, impacting around 46.15% of government agencies and businesses.
A key highlight will be the technology cluster pavilion, showcasing top enterprises selected for their innovation, market potential, and practical applications. These firms will display flagship products and solutions, supported by government policies to strengthen the tech sector.
Since 2022, more than 500 Vietnamese startups have engaged in Google’s Startup Academy, Google for Startups Accelerator, and Google Startup Masterclass. Nearly 100 of these firms received support to develop and improve their products, benefiting more than 300,000 customers and creating over 300 new jobs through successful fundraising and team expansion amidst Vietnam’s competitive economy.
Over the past three decades, Binh Duong has cemented its status as one of Vietnam’s most dynamic industrial hubs, building a robust foundation in manufacturing, exports, and investment. The province now has 30 operational industrial parks spanning over 13,000 hectares, with an occupancy rate exceeding 90%.
The diplomat emphasised that Vietnam places the highest priority on the development of science, technology, and innovation, viewing them as critical drivers for the country’s advancement in the new development era.
The PM revealed Vietnam’s plan to develop nuclear power in the near future, and called on the Swedish side to assist Vietnam in developing and refining legal and policy frameworks for the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes; training and developing human resources; ensuring nuclear safety; and conducting training and drills to improve incident management capabilities.
More than an art showcase, the second “Technology with heart” contest seeks to inspire innovation and spotlight the humanistic values that technology can bring into daily life, expected to contribute to a sustainable digital future.
The average speed of the national mobile broadband network remained stable, with download speeds reaching 76.86 Mbps and upload speeds reaching 26.98 Mbps.
Under the MoU, AMD will support several key initiatives spearheaded by HCM City’s authorities, including piloting policies, co-hosting innovation events, and evaluating the investment environment within the Saigon Hi-Tech Park.
The centre is a joint initiative between Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology, with PTIT and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) serving as co-leads, and global telecommunications giant Nokia as founding industry partner.
The new centre, staffed by a team of scientists, researchers, and AI specialists working in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, forms part of Qualcomm’s global AI research group.
As a flagship initiative of the community project “Digital Literacy for All”, the programme forms part of a national scheme to equip 20 million young people with digital business skills.
The organisers hope the competition will help shape a generation of exceptional engineers who will make significant contributions to Vietnam’s scientific and technological progress in this era of transformation.
In the digital age and amidst the Fourth Industrial Revolution, IP plays an increasingly critical role, not only in safeguarding inventions but also in reducing copyright infringement and curbing piracy.
