Vietnam's digital technology enterprises are realizing their ambitions of global expansion, with international revenues projected to reach $10 billion in 2024. The country is also one of only five nations capable of producing 5G equipment.
Continuing the legacy of leadership
Recently, the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) showcased two of its latest technological achievements: a virtual assistant designed to aid civil servants and 5G base station equipment "Made in Vietnam."
These developments were presented to retired officials of the ministry in the northern region, demonstrating the sector's commitment to innovation.
5G equipment manufactured by Vietnamese companies has been tested and certified to meet quality standards by the Ministry of Information and Communications. Photo: Le Mai
Guided by Minister Nguyen Manh Hung’s vision of harmonizing modern trends with Vietnam’s cultural and practical realities, the MIC has been testing a virtual assistant across 34 agencies and departments.
This assistant combines human-built knowledge systems with AI-based large language models, aiming to ease the workload of civil servants. Following successful trials, the goal is to create personalized virtual assistants for individual use.
The 5G base station, developed by Viettel on an open standard Open Ran, exemplifies Vietnam's technological independence. These stations have already been deployed in Hanoi, Ha Nam, and Ninh Thuan, with plans to expand to Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang by the end of the year.
Viettel has also signed contracts to export this technology to India, making Vietnam the fifth country globally, after Sweden, Finland, South Korea, and China, to produce 5G equipment.
These achievements, alongside other significant milestones in Vietnam’s digital transformation, reflect the current generation's successful continuation of the “Courage” and “Creativity” traditions—key components of the industry’s guiding principles: "Loyalty - Courage - Dedication - Creativity - Compassion." This spirit of bold decision-making and pioneering technology has been ingrained in the industry since its inception.
A bold vision for the future
Director General of the General Department of Post Dang Van Than at the inauguration of the Telecommunications Center in Dien Bien Phu in 1994 (Photo provided by former Deputy Minister of Post and Telecommunications Dang Dinh Lam).
Nearly 40 years ago, amidst overwhelming challenges, former General Director Dang Van Than and his leadership team at the General Department of Post and Telecommunications made the audacious decision to bypass intermediate technologies and leap straight into digital technology. They sought financial autonomy, opting to self-finance their initiatives and reinvest foreign currency revenues without relying on state budgets.
This bold approach propelled the Post and Telecommunications sector from a laggard position to a leader in Vietnam’s economic reform. Not only did the sector achieve self-sufficiency, but it also made significant contributions to the country's socio-economic development.
Former Minister of Posts and Telecommunications Do Trung Ta recently expressed his confidence in the current generation's ability to carry forward this legacy. He noted the remarkable progress and achievements under the leadership of the MIC, which have reassured him about the future of Vietnam's digital technology sector.
New milestones in the digital age
The 10 golden words of tradition in the industry are always inherited, promoted, and regarded as a foundation for opening up new development opportunities for Vietnam's Information and Communications sector. Illustrative photo: Le Anh Dung
During a recent meeting with retired officials from the northern region, former Minister Do Trung Ta recalled a visit by the late General Secretary Do Muoi to the Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Corporation in 1991, during which the General Secretary expressed concerns about the heavy reliance on foreign equipment.
"Today, we are pleased to see that the concern shared by many generations of national and industry leaders - technological self-sufficiency - is being realized by the current generation. They are building a Vietnamese digital technology industry," said Do Trung Ta.
With a firm belief that the best way to honor previous generations is to advance the industry and contribute to the nation's prestige, the MIC has been at the forefront of developing all facets of the sector.
The national digital transformation program, along with specialized strategies in areas such as digital government, digital economy, digital society, cybersecurity, postal services, and digital journalism, has consistently emphasized technological self-sufficiency and the pivotal role of Vietnamese digital technology enterprises.
For example, the dual goals of the national digital transformation program are to develop digital government, digital economy, and digital society while simultaneously fostering Vietnamese digital technology companies capable of competing on a global scale.
Since 2019, the MIC has organized the annual "Make in Vietnam" forum to inspire and encourage the domestic tech community to create solutions that address Vietnam's challenges and aim for global markets.
The ministry has also published a digital technology roadmap across various sectors, serving as a management, forecasting, and decision-making tool for technology adoption and investment.
Furthermore, the MIC has launched a program to support Vietnamese digital technology companies in expanding internationally, with the goal of contributing knowledge and expertise to the global community.
A global impact
Minister Nguyen Manh Hung met with and encouraged FPT Japan employees during his business trip in July 2024. Photo: FPT
As a result of these efforts, Vietnamese digital technology products are not only playing a crucial role in the national digital transformation but also making their mark in international markets.
By July 2024, the total number of active digital technology companies in Vietnam was estimated at 51,038, an increase of nearly 6,000 companies compared to August 2023. Notably, 1,500 of these companies have already generated revenue from foreign markets.
In 2023, international revenue for Vietnamese digital technology companies reached $7.5 billion, with projections indicating that this figure will approach $10 billion in 2024, representing a growth rate of approximately 30%.
Minister Nguyen Manh Hung emphasized that the $10 billion generated by Vietnamese digital technology companies abroad far exceeds the amount spent by Vietnamese telecom companies on purchasing telecommunications equipment.
"In the past, foreign companies dominated our market, but today, we are competing on the global stage, bringing revenue back to build our nation. The goal of the MIC is for the international revenue of the ICT sector to surpass agricultural exports by 2035. Only then can Vietnam truly be considered an industrialized nation," Minister Nguyen Manh Hung highlighted.
The road ahead
As of now, 1,500 digital technology enterprises have generated revenue from foreign markets. Photo: N.P.
The dream of technological self-sufficiency and the establishment of a Vietnamese digital technology industry is being realized step by step by the current generation of the TT&TT sector.
As part of its mission to lead and promote the development of the digital technology industry, the MIC has established the Department of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Industry.
The ministry is also continuing to refine policies and regulations, including the development of the Digital Technology Industry Law and the Strategy for Semiconductor Industry Development in Vietnam by 2030, with a vision towards 2050.
These initiatives are aimed at laying the foundation for the growth of this key industry, ultimately contributing to Vietnam's aspiration to become a developed nation in the near future.
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