Digital transformation is about changing mindsets and ways of doing things.

At the Vietnam-Asia Digital Transformation Summit 2026 held on the morning of May 28th in Hanoi, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Bui Hoang Phuong emphasized that digital transformation is not simply about investing in technology, but at its core, it is about changing management thinking, operating methods, and ways of working using technology.

Deputy Minister Bui Hoang Phuong speaks at the event. Photo: Ministry of Science and Technology.

According to the Deputy Minister, 2025 marks a turning point as Vietnam for the first time will enact a comprehensive set of laws related to digital transformation, including the Law on Digital Transformation, the Law on Digital Technology Industry, the Law on Artificial Intelligence, and the Law on Data. This is considered an important legal foundation to open up new development opportunities for the digital economy , digital government, and digital society.

"Digital transformation is not just about purchasing technology, data, or building information systems. More importantly, it's about changing mindsets and changing ways of doing things through technology," Deputy Minister Bui Hoang Phuong emphasized.

He argued that, after the "startup" phase, 2026 will be the time when Vietnam enters the "acceleration" phase of digital transformation with the motto "Breakthrough action, spreading results." The goal is not just to issue policies but to put mechanisms and regulations into practice, effectively serving the people and businesses.

At the forum, many opinions suggested that digital transformation is becoming a crucial foundation for Vietnam to achieve rapid and sustainable growth in the new era. According to Mr. Hoang Huu Hanh, Deputy Director of the National Digital Transformation Department ( Ministry of Science and Technology ), the productivity of the economy is not determined by technology applications at the "top layer," but depends on the quality of the underlying infrastructure and the speed of technology absorption by the entire society.

Representatives from the National Digital Transformation Agency stated that Vietnam currently faces two major "bottlenecks": a fragmented digital infrastructure and scattered data. Many agencies have invested in overlapping technology systems, while data is not effectively connected and shared between ministries, departments, and localities. As a result, citizens and businesses still have to repeatedly declare information that the authorities already have.

According to Mr. Hoang Huu Hanh, this is a form of "invisible tax" that increases transaction costs and reduces the productivity of the economy. To overcome this situation, the 2025 Digital Transformation Law aims to develop shared digital platforms at the national and specialized levels, based on the principle of "invest once, use together". Currently, there are 84 shared digital platforms built to serve the entire system.

One of the key goals of digital transformation is to provide proactive public services instead of requiring citizens to go through many manual procedures as before. For example, linking birth certificate data with the population database will help the system automatically initiate birth registration, issue identification codes, and provide social welfare services without requiring citizens to re-declare the information. Similarly, with driver's licenses, the system can proactively warn citizens about expiration dates so they can renew their licenses on time.

Digital transformation goes beyond infrastructure and data; it also demands a shift in management thinking. According to experts, Vietnam is gradually moving from a "pre-approval" to a "post-approval" model, meaning reducing paperwork and increasing monitoring through data and technological standards. This approach is expected to reduce compliance costs, create room for innovation, and promote the development of technology businesses.

At the forum, international experts also warned that Vietnam is at a crucial "crossroads" in the development of its digital economy and artificial intelligence (AI). According to senior digital expert Tran Thi Lan Huong (World Bank), although technology and AI are frequently discussed, they have not yet truly taken root in the domestic economy.

Vietnam's labor productivity is currently only around $6.7 per hour, significantly lower than that of China or Malaysia. Meanwhile, spending on research and development accounts for only about 0.42% of GDP, among the lowest in the region. Cross-border export procedures still take an average of about 55 hours per shipment, much higher than many countries in the region.

Delegates attending the event. Photo: Ministry of Science and Technology.

According to Ms. Lan Huong, the rules of global competition are changing dramatically, from the advantage of cheap labor to competition based on data, AI, and productivity. Countries that master digital infrastructure, data, computing power, and AI human resources will have a significant advantage in the race to develop the digital economy.

However, Vietnam still faces many gaps in AI development, such as inconsistent infrastructure, fragmented data, a shortage of high-quality human resources, and the lack of a comprehensive and responsible AI governance framework. According to a World Bank survey, AI is being used increasingly widely, but the legal framework and supervisory mechanisms are still lacking, posing many risks related to data security, algorithmic bias, and accountability.

Experts believe that for digital transformation to truly create new growth drivers, Vietnam needs to invest comprehensively in digital infrastructure, open data, human resources, and governance institutions. Simultaneously, the participation of the digital technology business community will play a key role in putting policies into practice.

Deputy Minister Bui Hoang Phuong affirmed that digital transformation is not solely the responsibility of state management agencies, but requires the collaboration of ministries, sectors, localities, and businesses. According to him, as management thinking changes, data is connected, and technology is effectively applied to operations, digital transformation will become a driving force for economic growth, improving productivity and the quality of service to the people in the new development phase of the country.

Thu Huong

Source: https://daidoanket.vn/chuyen-doi-so-la-thay-doi-tu-duy-va-cach-lam.html