Vietnam’s 10 outstanding ICT events in 2020

1. National Digital Transformation Program until 2025, with a vision to 2030 approved by the prime minister

On June 3, 2020, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc signed Decision 749 approving the “National Digital Transformation Program until 2025, with a vision to 2030”. The program aims to turn Vietnam into a prosperous and stable digitalized country and a pioneer in piloting cutting edge technologies and models. It is expected to basically reform state administrative tasks, as well as business and daily activities. The ultimate goal is to create a safe, humane digital environment for the establishment of a digital government, economy, and society, while equipping Vietnamese digital enterprises with necessary skills for globalization.

2. Successful 5G technology commercial trials

Three top network providers in Vietnam - Viettel, VinaPhone and MobiFone - launched 5G technology commercial trials in 2020 in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. With a speed about 10 times that of 4G technology, 5G technology is expected to provide answers to more difficult problems associated with data networks, and smoother network experiences, provide mobile users with outstanding experiences, and create dramatic changes in economic sectors.

3. Make-in-Vietnam technology helps treat, control Covid-19

The technology applications include a mobile-based health status declaration application (NCOVI) created by the Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) and major information and communication technology (ICT) companies in Vietnam; the Vietnam health declaration application built by Viettel Solutions; and Bluezone (an application alerting users to close contact with people infected with Covid-19) co-developed by BKAV, Memozone, VNPT, and MobiFone. Other useful solutions include automated, remote body thermometers, floor robot cleaners and sterilization devices and equipment, among others.

4. Government Decree 91 on spam call, message and email control

The government issued Decree 91/2020/ND-CP on controlling spam messages, emails and calls, which took effect on October 1, 2020. Accordingly, those who infract the regulations are subject to fines of VND5-100 million and confiscation of their violation-related devices and equipment.

5. E-learning methods boom during Covid-19 pandemic

The Covid-19 pandemic has caused significant changes to all sectors, including education and training. To help control the spread of the virus, thousands of students in Vietnam were off school for more than three months, and many turned to online learning platforms. The numbers of these platform users, including Viettel Study, VNPT e-learning, Topica and Hocmai skyrocketed. Viettel says its e-learning platform Viettel Study had been launched at nearly 26,000 schools nationwide. Access to the platform had reached 3.4 million and more than 41 million page views a day.

Recent figures from Ambient Insight revealed that with a growth rate of 44.3 percent, the e-learning sector in Vietnam surpassed Malaysia’s (39.4 percent). The Ministry of Education and Training has included information technology in all levels of education since 2020. This is a great opportunity for domestic and foreign investors to continue investing in developing e-learning training models.

6. First successful 5G call by Viettel’s self-made equipment

On January 17, 2020, Viettel made the first video call using the 5G technology installed on a gNodeB transceiver, its self-developed device, including both software and hardware. Proving Vietnam’s ability to master 5G technology, Viettel has become the sixth mobile phone provider in the world that can manufacture 5G-supported equipment, after Ericsson, Nokia, Huawei, Samsung and ZTE.

7. First Make in Vietnam award presented to digital tech firms

On December 23, 2020, the Ministry of Information and Communications in coordination with the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) announced and honored the winners of the Make in Vietnam Digital Award 2020. Make in Vietnam Digital Award 2020 is the first Vietnam award to honor digital products and solutions of Vietnamese digital technology enterprises that showcase excellent design and creativity, and their contribution to bettering the economy, society, and people’s lives.

8. Vietnam’s National Assembly convenes first online session

The ninth session of the 14th-tenure National Assembly (NA) took place from May 20 to June 18. The session was divided into two phases, with the first organized as a teleconference from May 20 to 29.

Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and Hanoi-based delegates attended the session at the NA Building in the capital. Other NA members in other provinces and cities tuned in from their respective local offices. NA deputies used iPad installed software to vote, with voting results displayed on a screen at Dien Hong Hall in Hanoi. This was the first National Assembly session in over 70 years held online.

9. Foxconn shifts some Apple production to Vietnam By the end of 2020, Foxconn was moving some iPad and MacBook assembly to Vietnam from China at the request of Apple Inc, marking the first iPad assembly outside China. Apple has increased its iPhone production capacity in India, while AirPod assemblers have added some assembly lines with a total investment capital of US$270 million in Vietnam. Third-generation AirPods are expected to be produced in Vietnam in 2021.

10. Super-cheap smartphone program

In 2020, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc asked the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) to promote development of the country’s ICT infrastructure and ICT equipment production, so that each citizen has a smartphone and each household has access to high speed fiber optic internet.

On March 2, 2020, the MIC announced a program providing smartphones to 100 percent of the population. Under the program, mobile network operators, app developers and manufacturers are to join forces in a subsidized project to lower prices of certain smartphones from US$45-50 to US$20.

The ministry says access to smartphones and the internet for each citizen and household is an opportunity to promote digital transformation, the digital economy and e-government.