Vietnam's 10 outstanding ICT developments in 2021

Linking government online to all communes, wards and towns nationwide

1. Approval of e-government development strategy

The prime minister approved the e-government development strategy towards a digital government in the 2021-2025 period. The strategy plays an important role, creating breakthroughs for digital transformation in general and digital government development in particular.

The vision is for the country to develop a high level e-government and digital government, placing it among the top 50 countries by 2025 and among the top 30 countries by 2030 according to UN ranking.

2. Launch of national population database

The national population database system connected with ministries, departments and localities was put into operation on July 1 in order to serve the development of e-government.

Vietnamese citizens can use their personal identification numbers, which replace household registration books or temporary residence books, to see their information in the system and conduct legal transactions.

3. Granting of Mobile Money pilot licenses to three carriers

The State Bank of Vietnam granted licenses to Viettel, VNPT and MobiFone for a two-year pilot of Mobile Money services nationwide in late November.

Mobile Money will help narrow the digital gap in remote areas and contribute to the promotion of a digital economy and society.

4. Launch of national Covid-19 prevention and control application

Under the direction of the prime minister on unifying and developing a single app for all Covid-19 prevention and control activities, the ministries of Health, Public Security and Information and Communications, along with the National Technology Center for Covid-19 Prevention and Control cooperated with businesses to launch PC-Covid.

PC-Covid app’s major features include personal and venue QR code issuance and management, QR code scanning, medical declarations, domestic move declarations, citizen reports, vaccination and testing information, Covid-19 cards and close contact tracing.

5. Linking government online to all communes, wards and towns nationwide

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, head of the National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control, assigned the Ministry of Information and Communications to direct Viettel and VNPT to deploy an online conference system connected to all communes, wards and towns nationwide. On September 5, the meeting was connected to all 63 provinces and cities, 705 districts and 9,043 communes, wards and towns.

6. Launch of vaccination management platform

In early July, Viettel put the national platform for Covid-19 vaccination management into operation to support the largest vaccination campaign in history with a capacity of five million injections per day.

The platform operates in all 63 provinces and cities nationwide, helping people access vaccination. The entire process from registration to vaccination results can be carried out through the Electronic Health Book application or the Covid-19 Vaccine Portal.

7. Consolidation of National Committee on Digital Transformation under PM

On September 24, the National Committee on E-Government was consolidated and renamed the National Committee on Digital Transformation. The 16-member committee is under the chair of the prime minister.

The committee is tasked with promoting national digital transformation coupled with administrative reforms; building and developing e-government, digital government, digital economy, digital society and smart cities; and creating favorable conditions for the implementation of the fourth industrial revolution in Vietnam.

8. Announcement of “Waves and Computers for Children” program

On September 12, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh launched the “Waves and Computers for Children” program to help millions of disadvantaged children learn online in pandemic-hit provinces, while promoting digital society development.

9. World focus on Axie Infinity, a Vietnamese blockchain game

In May, Axie Infinity’s play-to-earn blockchain game engaged the world’s interest. Axie Infinity successfully raised US$152 million from Andreessen Horowitz, with a company valuation of US$3 billion.

10. Record set for creative startup investment in Vietnam

Despite the complicated developments of the Covid-19 pandemic, investment capital pouring into startups in Vietnam hit a record high of more than US$1.35 billion, with hot areas being fintech, blockchain games, edtech, medical-pharmaceutical startups and e-commerce.