Forum talks digital technology’s role in building sustainable society
The Vietnam Internet Forum 2019 (VIF19) opened in Hanoi on March 20, discussing ways digital technology can help build a creative, open and sustainable society.
Swedish Ambassador to Vietnam Pereric Hogberg addresses the Vietnam Internet Forum 2019 on March 20 (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnam Internet Forum 2019(VIF19) opened in Hanoi on March 20, discussing ways digital technology canhelp build a creative, open and sustainable society.
Swedish Ambassador to Vietnam Pereric Hogbergaffirmed the importance of the internet and digital technology in improvingpeople’s life and building a country’s competitiveness brand.
He said 94 percent of Swedish people have usedthe internet with the world’s fastest connection speed. The widespread use oftechnology and the internet has helped the country promote information access,innovation and entrepreneurship, thereby creating inventions, growth andprosperity for it like at present.
Vietnam can obtain the same achievements asSweden’s as it has such fast internet development, especially the popularity ofsocial networks. The country has a big advantage, that is its Government alwayssupports free trade and integration into the globalised world, he added.
Vu The Binh, Secretary-General of the VietnamInternet Association, said the country has recorded considerable developmentsin technical infrastructure serving a market of about 95 million people and arate of internet users of over 60 percent. However, it is also facingchallenges in identifying and harmonising some social and legal problemsarising from new internet-based technological applications.
Caitlin Wiesen, Acting Resident Representativeof the UNDP, said young tech businesses play an important role in solvingchallenges facing society. Young people who aspire to make innovations arethose applying new technologies and the internet to build society.
Connecting innovative youth is key to attainingthe Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, she noted.
The VIF19, the second of its kind following thefirst in 2017, will last through March 21. The event, held by the SwedishEmbassy and the Hanoi People’s Committee, is also an activity marking the 50thfounding anniversary of the Vietnam-Sweden diplomatic ties.-VNA
The Vietnamese Government should paid due attention to outlining policies to promote breakthrough technologies as well as to bolster digital economic development in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, World Bank Country Director for Vietnam Osmane Dione said on March 7.
The size of Vietnam’s online business market grew by over 30 percent to about 7.8 billion USD in 2018, compared to only 4 billion USD in 2015, according to an official of the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
Technology opens up new development opportunities for startup businesses by translating their ideas into products and services, experts said at the recent Tech Summit 2019 held in Ho Chi Minh City.
The Vietnam Computer Emergency Response Team (VNCERT) has warned that GandCrab ransomware affiliates which had been spreading globally over the past year had updated to version 5.2 and the team was taking measures to disconnect with GandCrab server to avoid damages.
VietNEST (Vietnamese Nurturing Education for Science & Traditions) is a mobile app and digital platform for Vietnamese language learning among overseas children.
The networks bring together universities, research institutes and domestic and foreign businesses. Members will work closely in training, research, and technology transfer by sharing curricula, improving faculty capacity, providing access to laboratories and research facilities, and jointly implementing science and technology projects.
The Better Choice Awards (BCA) 2025 is a key highlight in the lead-up to Vietnam Innovation Day that falls on October 1, an annual event expected to attract hundreds of innovative enterprises, research institutions, investment funds, and startups from both Vietnam and abroad.
The new line serves as a critical backup route, strategically complementing existing submarine cables and enhancing the resilience, proactivity, and security of Vietnam’s telecommunications infrastructure.
Vietnam is actively yet cautiously preparing for the construction of its first nuclear power plant in Ninh Thuan (now the south-central coastal province of Khanh Hoa). The resumption of the programme after years of suspension carries considerable significance for the nation’s development in a new era as it strives to gradually reduce and ultimately phase out coal-fired power to realise the Government’s commitment to Net Zero by 2050.
The government leader reaffirmed Vietnam’s goal of achieving self-reliance in the design, manufacturing, and test of necessary semiconductor chips by no later than 2027.
With the launching of its two-tier local administration model, the city is incorporating technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain to enhance service delivery for citizens and businesses, aligning with the Politburo’s Resolution 57-NQ/TW on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation.
Vietnam has issued many key policies to support semiconductor development, notably the Politburo’s Resolution 57 on science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation. Other initiatives include the Semiconductor Industry Development Strategy to 2030, with a vision to 2050, and the Human Resources Development Programme for the Semiconductor Industry.
Vietnam is no longer just an emerging blockchain market, it is stepping into a leadership role, with global investors, developers, and experts recognising its growing potential to become a leading hub for digital assets in the region.
Taking place on August 1–2, the event features more than 20,000 attendees and over 200 speakers from Vietnam, the h Korea, Singapore, the UAE, Hong Kong (China) and the US.
Dung directed the Ministry of Science and Technology to revise the national startup scheme, ensuring it clearly defines the scope and content, grounded on strong political and legal foundations, international best practices, and well-reasoned arguments for submission to the Government.
The two-day academic forum, themed “Resilience, Sustainability & Digital Transformation in a Changing World: Perspectives from Southeast Asia”, aims to share interdisciplinary research insights, focusing on adaptive capacity, sustainable development, and digital transformation amid evolving global and regional landscapes.
With such a rapid economic growth, Vietnam must diversify energy sources and nuclear power is a rational choice to ensure the national energy security, said Associate Professor Kei Koga from the Nanyang Technological University (Singapore).
Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung emphasised that Vietnam has a clear strategy and ambition in this field, and is rapidly emerging as a central hub and key link in the regional and global semiconductor value chains.
According to Cushman & Wakefield’s latest Asia-Pacific Data Centre Investment Landscape report, Vietnam now ranks second in the region for data centre investment returns, with a yield on cost (YoC) of 17.5–18.8%, just behind Singapore’s 21–23%.
Vietnam is taking drastic yet cautious steps in building a culture of nuclear safety and security, with the aim of having its first nuclear power plant operational by the end of 2030 and using this specific energy source effectively and sustainably.
Vietnam’s 5G strategy has been clearly outlined in national digital technology and infrastructure policies. A wide range of solutions is being vigorously implemented to achieve the target of an average internet speed of 100 Mbps by 2025 and full nationwide 5G coverage by 2030.
The visit aimed to assess the new two-tier local government model, preparations for upcoming Party congresses at levels, and implementation of the Politburo’s Conclusion on school construction in border areas.
Under the theme “Breakthrough Era with the Development of Industrial Internet”, the event gathered over 400 delegates, including senior officials, leading Internet experts, and technology engineers from Vietnam and abroad.
Swedish Ambassador to Vietnam Pereric Hogberg addresses the Vietnam Internet Forum 2019 on March 20 (Photo: VNA) 
