Breakthroughs in building a digital government.

In the context of the rapid development of science and technology, digital transformation and the building of a digital government have become essential requirements for all countries. Vietnam is not outside this trend.

Over the years, the Party and State's determination to promote digital government has been clearly demonstrated in many major programs and projects, yielding significant results and contributing to changing the way public services are managed, services are provided, and the economy operates.

However, despite the achievements, the process of building a digital government in our country is still facing many challenges. These include an inconsistent information and data system; and digital platforms of ministries, sectors, and localities that are still developing in a fragmented manner and lack common standards.

In many remote and rural areas, digital infrastructure remains weak, broadband networks are not yet widespread, and there is a lack of sufficiently large data centers to support data analysis, artificial intelligence (AI) deployment, or the provision of highly complex public services.

Many localities, especially at the grassroots level, still lack modern data governance models; public data remains scattered and fragmented, making it difficult to ensure security and ensure smooth operation. These are major "bottlenecks" that need to be addressed promptly if we want a truly effective and in-depth national digital transformation.

In response to this urgent need, on December 1, 2025, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung signed Decision No. 2629/QD-TTg approving the Digital Government Development Program, ushering in a new phase with a comprehensive, modern approach that places citizens and businesses at the center.

Accordingly, a digital government must be a model where all activities are conducted securely in a digital environment, based on data and advanced technology. A digital government helps to make decisions faster and more accurately; enact more effective policies; optimize resource utilization; and, most importantly, provide high-quality, convenient, and transparent public services to citizens. The overarching goal is that citizens and businesses are not only the recipients of services but also active participants and co-creators of digital services.

To realize that goal, raising awareness must play a fundamental role. Digital transformation is not just about deploying software and installing equipment, but also about changing the mindset and working methods of officials and civil servants. Therefore, in-depth forms of communication are needed to help officials understand the benefits, responsibilities, and methods of implementing digital transformation and digital government.

Along with a shift in mindset comes the task of perfecting mechanisms and policies. Ministries, sectors, and localities must proactively standardize, open, and share data; and upload eligible data to the national data exchange to promote the formation of a data market – a crucial component of the digital economy. Policies need to be transparent regarding data ownership and exploitation rights, ensuring the interests of the State, businesses, and citizens.

Another indispensable requirement is the complete digitization of administrative procedure records and results, while simultaneously perfecting national and specialized databases according to the principles of "accuracy, completeness, cleanliness, and viability." When data is interconnected, shared, and exploited on a unified platform, the administrative apparatus will operate more efficiently, minimizing paperwork, costs, and time for citizens.

Building a digital government is one of the three major focuses of the national digital transformation. More broadly, this is an opportunity for Vietnam to make a leap forward, leverage the achievements of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, narrow the development gap, and quickly catch up with global trends.

Digital government will create a favorable environment for innovation to flourish, increase the competitiveness of the economy, and improve the quality of public administration. More importantly, it is the foundation for every citizen to enjoy better, fairer, and more convenient services.

When data and infrastructure bottlenecks are removed, when the operating model of the government becomes flexible and intelligent, and when citizens are placed at the center, the development of digital government will create tremendous momentum, enabling the country to make a strong breakthrough in the digital age.

According to Hanoi Moi newspaper

Source: https://mst.gov.vn/but-pha-trong-xay-dung-chinh-phu-so-197251213164809695.htm