At a meeting of the government's steering committee for science, technology, innovation, digital transformation, and Project 06 on Tuesday afternoon, prime minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized the need for accelerated breakthroughs, proactive efficiency, timely synchronization, interconnectivity, information security, and citizen benefits in the coming period.

He urged all levels, sectors, and localities to implement the directives with strong determination, great effort, and decisive action, avoiding delays, procrastination, and dispersed resource allocation to prevent wasted time, intellect, and resources. He stressed that people and businesses must be the center and the subject of digital transformation.

The prime minister ordered a comprehensive review of all invested digital infrastructure. "Communes, wards, and special zones with unused digital infrastructure must be definitively cordoned off for further handling and investment in a unified and modern new system," he said. "Cordoning off" means suspending operations and halting expansion to avoid dispersion and waste, focusing resources on effective systems.

He also directed ministries, sectors, and localities to complete their databases by the 4th quarter of 2025, ensuring they are "accurate, complete, clean, and live," unified, and shared from the central to grassroots levels. Regulations need to be streamlined to facilitate development and serve the people. Measurement, monitoring, and evaluation tools (KPIs) for ministries, sectors, and localities, operating in real-time, must be completed this month.

The prime minister requested adequate staffing for grassroots digital transformation and promotion of the "Digital Literacy Campaign" launched by general secretary To Lam. He urged leveraging community digital transformation teams to "visit every alley, knock on every door, and check on every person."

Prime minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the meeting. Photo: Nhat Bac

Prime minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the meeting. Photo: Nhat Bac

The prime minister assigned the Ministry of Science and Technology to lead the drafting of 16 decrees and circulars guiding laws and National Assembly resolutions related to science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation. The Ministry of Construction will coordinate with the Ministry of Science and Technology and six cities to approve smart city projects this month for implementation in 2025. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will complete the land database. The Ministry of Construction will finalize housing and real estate data and launch a real estate trading platform. The Ministry of Education and Training will complete the student database.

EVN must develop a plan to provide electricity to 117 villages without power by November. The Ministry of Public Security will operate and effectively utilize the National Data Center and advise the government on urging ministries and sectors to implement national and specialized databases. They will also promote the VNeID application, monitor cybersecurity, and coordinate responses to information security incidents. The State Bank and commercial banks will implement a 500 trillion VND credit package with low interest rates, targeting appropriate recipients to promote investment in science, technology, innovation, digital transformation, and strategic infrastructure.

Vietnam's mobile internet speed ranks 18th globally.

Deputy minister of Science and Technology Vu Hai Quan stated that national digital transformation and digital infrastructure have achieved remarkable results. Vietnam's mobile internet speed currently ranks 18th globally, while fixed internet ranks 13th. Online public services continue to expand. In less than two months, the system has processed 7.5 million applications, with a total transaction value of over 1.5 trillion VND.

Deputy minister of Science and Technology Vu Hai Quan. Photo: Nhat Bac

Deputy minister of Science and Technology Vu Hai Quan. Photo: Nhat Bac

As of August 2025, revenue from the digital technology sector reached over 3.2 quadrillion VND, a 28.2% increase compared to the same period in 2024 and equivalent to 76% of this year's plan. Hardware and electronics exports reached 111.4 billion USD, a 27% increase. The country currently has nearly 78,000 digital technology businesses. In the digital society sector, by the end of August, over 22.3 million digital signature certificates were issued, accounting for 36.1% of the adult population, a 1.2% increase in just one month.

The Ministry of Science and Technology has identified three strategic technology product groups for prioritization: large language models and Vietnamese virtual assistants, AI edge processing cameras, and autonomous robots; 5G systems and equipment; blockchain infrastructure and applications for traceability and tokenized assets. In August, the National Data Center was inaugurated, and three innovation and expert networks were established: quantum (VNQuantum), cybersecurity (ViSecurity), and aerospace and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV Vietnam).

The ministry also proposed that the prime minister assign competent authorities to develop and issue mandatory regulations on digital skills training and assessment for all officials and public employees to enhance their capacity for synchronous and effective digital transformation implementation.

Vu Tuan