Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung has signed Decision No. 1033 approving Vietnam's Digital Economy and Digital Society Development Programme for the 2026-2030 period.
The programme seeks to build a dynamic digital economy driven by digital platforms, data and artificial intelligence, while promoting new production models, improving labour productivity and supporting green, sustainable growth. It also aims to create an inclusive and secure digital society where all citizens can benefit from advances in science, technology and digital transformation.
Under the programme, the digital economy is expected to account for approximately 30 per cent of GDP by 2030. The government also plans to support at least 500,000 small and medium-sized enterprises in adopting digital technologies, while fostering a minimum of five digital technology companies capable of competing with counterparts in advanced economies.
Authorities additionally aim to develop and put into operation at least five data exchange platforms.
The value of cashless transactions is projected to reach 30 times the country's GDP. In higher education, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines are expected to account for 40 per cent of total university enrolment.
For the digital society agenda, the government has set a target of providing all households with access to 1Gb/s fibre-optic broadband internet. Fifth-generation mobile networks are expected to achieve minimum speeds of 100Mb/s and cover 99 per cent of the population.
All Vietnamese citizens aged 14 and above are expected to receive identification cards and electronic identity accounts. By 2030, 95 per cent of people aged 15 and above are targeted to hold payment accounts at banks or other authorised financial institutions, while more than 70 per cent of adults are expected to possess digital or electronic signatures.
The programme also aims to provide basic digital skills training to at least 10 million working-age people during the five-year period.
To achieve these goals, the government plans to strengthen regulations governing data management and the data economy, while introducing controlled regulatory sandbox mechanisms for new economic models based on science, technology, innovation and digital transformation.
The state will take the lead in investing in strategic digital infrastructure and essential public digital platforms, while private enterprises will be encouraged to develop other digital infrastructure through market-based mechanisms.
The programme prioritises the development of shared digital platforms, national digital platforms and digital ecosystems owned and operated by Vietnamese organisations. These systems are intended to address economic, social and environmental challenges that cut across sectors and regions.
Businesses will be encouraged to develop platform-based services using open application programming interfaces (APIs) and interoperable systems, helping to create industry-specific digital ecosystems.
Data is identified as a key resource for future growth. Planned measures include expanding and connecting national databases, promoting open data, establishing a data market, piloting data exchanges and creating legal frameworks governing data assets and their commercial use.
The programme also highlights artificial intelligence as a foundational technology capable of delivering significant improvements in productivity and governance. Government ministries and agencies will identify priority challenges that can be addressed through AI pilot projects before wider deployment.
In cybersecurity, the strategy calls for the implementation of multi-layered protection systems, enhanced monitoring and incident response capabilities, and the development of a cyber trust ecosystem and cyber insurance market.
Vietnam also plans to establish cybersecurity centres meeting international standards and introduce safety regulations for emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, blockchain, cloud computing, big data and other advanced digital technologies.
Developing a comprehensive digital workforce remains another key priority. The programme aims to strengthen the capabilities of technology specialists and digitally skilled workers while attracting international expertise, advanced technologies and high-quality talent to support knowledge transfer and innovation.