When smartphones transform livelihoods in Vietnam’s highlands

In many remote villages across northern central Vietnam, digital technology has quietly entered daily life. Smartphones are no longer just tools for communication - they have become essential means for ethnic minority communities to build livelihoods.

From steep mountain hamlets, change is unfolding steadily. Technology is helping people access information, knowledge and essential services, while also opening new pathways for economic development and improving living standards.

Bridging gaps in infrastructure and mindset

In recent years, telecommunications infrastructure in highland areas has been significantly improved. 4G coverage now reaches many remote villages, gradually eliminating previous “signal blind spots”.

Alongside infrastructure development, local authorities have established digital transformation teams that travel to villages, guiding residents on how to use the internet, digital platforms and social media for both daily life and production.

As a result, smartphones have become familiar tools. Platforms like Zalo and Facebook now function as online marketplaces, allowing villagers to connect with customers across regions.

The story of Quang Van Trung, born in 1994 and belonging to the Thai ethnic group in Nghe An province, illustrates how digital tools can transform livelihoods.

In 2021, Trung was introduced to the internet through local officials, initially using it to install his digital identification app. Gradually, he began exploring Zalo and Facebook, joining local groups and accessing information.

Over time, he started posting videos and images of free-range chickens from his farm under the brand “Ban Puc native chicken”. These posts attracted customers from various regions, many of whom placed orders online or even visited in person to learn from his model.

As demand grew, his farm expanded to around 2,000 chickens per year - a scale he had never imagined before. His products found stable markets, helping his family improve their living conditions and become one of the most successful households in the village.

Building on that success, Trung established a cooperative model involving 17 Thai ethnic households. Together, they now supply nearly 20 tonnes of commercial chicken annually, with each household earning between VND80 million and VND100 million per year (approximately US$3,200 to US$4,000).

If digital tools have expanded market access in agriculture, they have also played a crucial role in tourism development.

The case of Ho Thi Doan, from the Bru Van Kieu community in Quang Tri province, highlights this transformation.

In 2023, she attended a training course on community-based tourism. Inspired, she and her husband built two simple huts by a local stream to create a small tourist destination.

Instead of waiting for visitors, she actively promoted the site on social media. Through authentic videos and images, she introduced the natural scenery and traditional cuisine of the Bru Van Kieu people.

As a result, what began as a local attraction has grown into a destination visited by travellers from major cities and even international tourists.

The site not only generates income for her family but also creates jobs for five local workers. More importantly, it provides a stable market for local products such as black sticky rice, traditional cakes, chicken and vegetables.

Access to technology has not only changed how people earn a living, but also how they think about development. Communities are shifting from dependence to initiative, from small-scale production to collaborative models that engage with broader markets.

Digital transformation is gradually opening new pathways for ethnic minority communities in northern central Vietnam, helping them integrate into wider economic trends and steadily improve their quality of life.