Directive No. 04-CT/TW of the Secretariat of the Central Committee:

In the context of digital transformation reshaping the entire knowledge value chain, the issuance of Directive No. 04-CT/TW dated March 17, 2026, by the Party Central Committee on strengthening the Party's leadership over publishing activities in the new situation is timely and strategically significant. Directive No. 04-CT/TW is seen as creating new momentum and a "boost" to promote digital transformation in the publishing industry.

Readers experience digital publications. Photo: Thuy Du

The digital publishing ecosystem is gradually taking shape.

In recent years, digital transformation in the publishing sector in Vietnam has seen significant progress. According to statistics from the Department of Publishing, Printing and Distribution (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism), by the end of 2025, 35 out of 52 publishing houses will participate in electronic publishing (reaching 67.3%). The number of electronic publications increased by 49.3%, reaching over 5,200 titles; and the number of visits reached 35 million. These figures demonstrate the strong shift of the industry in line with the inevitable trend of the digital age.

A prominent example of digital transformation is the National Political Publishing House, which has digitized, published, and distributed electronically through the systems stbook.vn and thuviencoso.vn. The unit has published over 1,000 e-books; developed numerous specialized e-book collections such as: the "Protecting the Party's Ideological Foundation" e-book collection, the "E-Party Branch" e-book collection, the "President Ho Chi Minh" e-book collection, the "General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong" e-book collection, the "Law" e-book collection, etc., and donated nearly 8,000 accounts to agencies, units, and localities, serving millions of readers both domestically and internationally. The National Political Publishing House also established an official online book distribution platform at https://ststore.vn; and applied artificial intelligence in its advisory, editing, publishing, and communication work.

Besides applying digital technology in editing and publishing, the Science, Technology and Communication Publishing House also builds and operates a platform for publishing and distributing electronic publications through two systems, ebook365.vn and ebook.gov.vn, which are shared by publishing and distribution units of electronic publications…

Along with traditional publishers, there are currently about 29 distribution units and technology companies that have registered to participate in the distribution of electronic publications. These entities play a crucial role in building online reading platforms, providing payment solutions, storage, and content security. The combination of traditional publishers and technology companies shows that an electronic publishing ecosystem is gradually taking shape.

However, the digital transformation of the publishing industry is still uneven. Some units have invested systematically in infrastructure and human resources, while many are still in the testing phase and heavily dependent on technology partners. The operation of these systems also lacks interoperability.

Ms. Phung Thi Nhu Quynh, representative of Waka E-book Joint Stock Company, stated that the potential of the digital reading market is enormous, especially among young people. However, revenue from e-publishing is still not commensurate with the scale of users. Therefore, the publishing industry needs a strong "boost" to overcome bottlenecks and fully exploit the potential of the digital reading market.

"Map" for shaping the modern publishing industry.

Directive No. 04-CT/TW, issued by the Party Central Committee, is a significant milestone, opening up new development opportunities for the publishing industry. Ms. Pham Thi Thinh, Deputy Director and Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the National Political Publishing House, stated that Directive No. 04-CT/TW has long-term strategic orientation significance for the entire publishing industry over the next 20 years, linked to the requirements of national development in the digital age and deep international integration. For the first time, a Party document sets out a vision for the development of the publishing industry towards a modern, professional direction, linked to the digital economy, digital technology, and a content creation ecosystem. This represents a shift from a "publishing management" mindset to a strategic "publishing industry development" mindset. According to Ms. Pham Thi Thinh, in the context of digital transformation becoming an inevitable trend, Directive No. 04-CT/TW is a driving force for comprehensive innovation in the publishing industry. From editing and printing to publishing and promoting publications, everything needs to be restructured on a digital platform.

Sharing the same view, Nguyen Nguyen, Director of the Department of Publishing, Printing and Distribution (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism), believes that Directive No. 04-CT/TW is a new mandate for the development of the publishing industry, meeting the requirements of a rapidly evolving era. The tasks and solutions set forth in the Directive, especially the content on digital transformation, are like a "map" for creating a modern and integrated publishing industry in the future. The Directive also outlines a series of synchronized solutions, from improving institutions and developing human resources to promoting public-private partnerships. Mobilizing social resources, especially the participation of technology companies, helps to boost the development of the publishing ecosystem.

Dr. Nguyen Manh Hung, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Thai Ha Book Joint Stock Company, commented that Directive No. 04-CT/TW, issued immediately after Resolution No. 80-NQ/TW of the Politburo on the development of Vietnamese culture, demonstrates the Party's deep concern for improving content quality, preserving cultural identity, and proactively adapting to the digital environment of the publishing industry. This is an important requirement for the private sector, which must always balance business efficiency and social responsibility.

Directive No. 04-CT/TW is a crucial impetus for gradually building a modern digital publishing ecosystem, contributing to the enrichment of the national knowledge base and spreading Vietnamese cultural values ​​in the context of integration.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/chi-thi-so-04-ct-tw-cua-ban-bi-thu-cu-hich-thuc-day-chuyen-doi-so-nganh-xuat-ban-744460.html