Digital transformation from the grassroots: Cao Bang brings public services closer to the people

From a mountainous border province with limited infrastructure, Cao Bang is gradually asserting its new position in the digital age. Digital citizen platforms, online public services, cashless payments, etc. are penetrating into daily life, changing the way the government serves, opening up new development opportunities for the land at the head of the Fatherland.

Digital foundation from political determination

Digital transformation in Cao Bang does not start with technology, but with strong political will and development aspirations of the entire system. As early as 2022, the Provincial Party Committee issued Resolution No. 11-NQ/TU on digital transformation for the 2022-2025 period, with a vision to 2030, identifying this as a key and consistent task in socio-economic development.

On that basis, a series of specific mechanisms, policies, plans and projects have been born: Digital Government Architecture Framework version 4.0, Plan to improve the quality of online public services, Project to popularize digital skills for people, Digital data strategy and development of digital infrastructure for the whole province... All create a unified and solid "digital institutional framework" creating the premise for a synchronous and substantive transformation process.

Digital infrastructure has also been heavily invested. To date, Cao Bang has had more than 1,200 transmission stations, 100% of communes have fixed broadband internet connection and 3G, 4G mobile; 5G waves have covered the city center and densely populated areas. The dedicated data transmission network from the province to the commune has been completed, the cloud computing platform and interconnected data sharing have been put into stable operation.

Along with infrastructure is the work of propaganda and raising digital awareness. The "learn and do digital transformation" programs spread widely through conferences, training courses, and competitions. Notably, the "Digital Literacy for All" movement is a model to help ethnic minorities and rural people access basic digital skills.

To date, 1,241 community digital transformation teams with more than 9,300 members have become bridges between the government and the people, "digital ambassadors" bringing technology to villages, helping people confidently submit applications online, look up procedures, make electronic payments...

The delegation of the Ministry of Science and Technology visited the Public Administration Service Center of Thuc Phan Ward (Cao Bang).

Digital transformation into life

Currently, Cao Bang has entered a real transformation phase, when digital achievements are gradually present in all aspects of life. In the field of digital government, the province's administrative procedure settlement information system currently provides 1,672 full and partial online public services.

According to statistics by the end of August 2025: 84.63% of records were issued electronic results, 82.44% of records and results were digitized, 47.18% of data information was exploited and reused, 48.3% of administrative procedures had online payment transactions and 31.19% of records successfully made online payments.

In particular, the Cao Bang Digital Citizen Platform, launched in 2024, has had more than 21,000 downloads, becoming a "digital bridge" between the people and the government. There, people not only look up procedures but also send feedback, recommendations, and interact online, helping the government listen and serve more promptly.

In the digital economy, 99.26% of businesses have used electronic invoices; 80% of people aged 15 and over have bank accounts; over 45,000 mobile money accounts have been activated. The "Cashless Street" model at Kim Dong walking street (Thuc Phan ward) has become a bright spot, promoting modern payment culture.

The health and education sectors are at the forefront of cashless payments: 100% of public hospitals have implemented electronic fee collection, 100% of schools pay salaries via banks and are preparing to expand electronic tuition payments. The Home Affairs sector also pays subsidies to meritorious people via accounts, contributing to transparency, convenience and cost savings.

In the digital society, the movement of learning, using smartphones, and exploiting digital platforms has spread widely. In many remote communes, people have become accustomed to looking up procedures, paying bills, and submitting documents online thanks to direct guidance from community digital transformation teams. From being "afraid of technology", people have now become active "digital users", an important step towards building an inclusive digital society where no one is left behind.

Despite many outstanding results, the digital transformation journey in Cao Bang still faces many difficulties. Currently, the province still has 138 villages without mobile signal and 29 villages without electricity; the rate of households with fiber optic internet is only about 60%, lower than the national average. In many remote communes, one-stop shop staff still have to "do it for" people to submit online applications, clearly reflecting the digital skills gap between regions.

Digital human resources, especially at the commune level, are still lacking and weak. A number of older officials are not familiar with using software and smart devices. Attracting technology enterprises to invest in the province is still limited, making it difficult for the locality to access solutions suitable for the mountainous region.

The delegation of the Ministry of Science and Technology conducted a field survey at the Public Administration Service Center in Cao Bang province.

Breakthrough to become a "border digital province"

Entering the 2025-2030 period, Cao Bang identifies digital transformation as a strategic pillar to realize development aspirations.

The province continues to deploy tasks according to the Government's Action Program to implement Resolution 57-NQ/TW and Action Program No. 29-CTr/TU of the Provincial Party Committee on science and technology development, innovation and national digital transformation.

The key goal of the "breakthrough" phase (from July 1 to December 31, 2025) is to connect synchronously, quickly, and effectively, ensuring the two-level government model operates effectively.

Key tasks include: Promoting telecommunications coverage to 100% of villages and hamlets; building a shared digital learning platform, popularizing digital skills for people and officials; widely implementing the "Digital Education for All" movement; investing in open data infrastructure, information security, connecting with national databases; strengthening training and retraining of digital human resources, attracting technology experts, scientists, and high-quality human resources to localities; promoting the role of the Community Digital Transformation Team as a "hand-holding" force to help people proficiently use digital platforms.

By 2030, Cao Bang aims to perfect digital government, strongly develop digital economy, build a comprehensive digital society, in which people are the center and businesses are the driving force.

Digital transformation is not just about applying technology, but also a journey of changing the mindset from leaders to people. When every Cao Bang citizen becomes a digital citizen, it will be the strength for the province to break through and rise up.

Center for Science and Technology Communication

Source: https://mst.gov.vn/chuyen-doi-so-tu-co-so-cao-bang-dua-dich-vu-cong-den-gan-nguoi-dan-197251105150833507.htm