Hanoi Convention: Solving the problem of transnational crime, building a people's security posture in cyberspace

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Cybercrime has become a global problem and is growing faster than ever. Photo: VNA

Many important steps forward in ensuring network safety and security

Cybercrime is evolving rapidly, crossing borders, attacking many areas, from fraud to appropriation of assets, data intrusion to destruction of critical infrastructure such as finance, banking, energy, healthcare , transportation..., even public administration systems. This is the reality and challenge that no country, whether developed or developing, can "fight alone" in this fierce battle.

Therefore, the United Nations Convention is a necessary step to strengthen the coordination mechanism between countries in preventing and combating cross-border cybercrime. The United Nations' choice of Hanoi as the venue for the signing ceremony of the Convention shows the international community's trust and recognition of Vietnam's proactive and active role in promoting the building of a safe, transparent and responsible cyberspace.

Despite being a developing country, gradually entering the digital economy , in recent years, Vietnam has made many important strides in building a legal framework on cyber security, protecting personal data and closely cooperating with international organizations to fight high-tech crime.

Developing technology, innovation and digital transformation is an option to realize national aspirations. This is the "golden key" to help Vietnam overcome the middle-income trap, avoid the risk of falling behind and catch up with the times. However, this development must go hand in hand with ensuring network security, data security and information security.

To realize this vision, the Party and State of Vietnam have issued and led many important policies. Typical are Resolution 29 on the Strategy for protecting the Fatherland in cyberspace and Resolution 30 on the National Cyber Security Strategy. The establishment of the National Cyber Security and Safety Steering Committee headed by the Prime Minister shows the special attention of the Government of Vietnam.

The legal system on cyber security has been gradually improved. The National Assembly has issued a series of important laws such as the Cyber Security Law, the Data Law, the Personal Data Protection Law... The establishment of the National Cyber Security Association also contributes to strengthening coordination between agencies, businesses and the community.

In Resolution 57 of the Politburo on innovation, science and technology development, digital transformation, the issue of cyber security has become a pillar that goes hand in hand with the general development in the country's development process. The Party and State always attach importance to and pay special attention to the fight against cybercrime, especially in the current period when implementing national digital transformation.

Major General Le Xuan Minh - Director of the Department of Cyber Security and High-Tech Crime Prevention (A05 - Ministry of Public Security) said that Vietnam is deploying and perfecting the legal system related to cybercrime. Building a legal corridor that meets domestic and international standards to comply with international regulations and create the most favorable conditions for domestic and international enterprises to be best protected in the investment environment and develop science and technology in Vietnam. At the same time, building and perfecting the forces participating in ensuring security and safety in cyberspace. Key and urgent tasks are deployed to ensure cyberspace in the best way, serving the national digital transformation process.

With the spirit of "not letting anyone face cybercrime alone", in recent years, Vietnamese authorities have shown determination and concerted efforts in protecting people in cyberspace, especially vulnerable groups, children and adolescents from the risks of abuse in the online environment. In terms of policies and laws, the State has issued and gradually completed many important documents such as the Law on Children, the Law on Cyber Security, the National Strategy for Child Protection in the Online Environment for the period 2021-2025, along with inter-sectoral decrees and circulars to strengthen the detection and handling of high-tech crimes. This is a testament to the consistent policy of the Party and State in the strategy for developing people and a safe and humane digital society.

Solving the problem of preventing and combating transnational crime

In addition to improving the law, the enforcement capacity of law enforcement agencies is also being improved to meet tasks in the digital age.

Specialized units on cyber security and high-tech crimes have been invested in human resources, equipment and skills. Intensive training courses and training cooperation programs with foreign countries are continuously deployed, helping the staff keep up with the development of technology and new criminal methods. This force is arranged from the central to the grassroots level, forming a widespread network. Thanks to that network, many cybercrime gangs operating across borders have been destroyed.

In just the past few years, the Vietnamese police have solved many notable cybercrimes, from dismantling a multi-billion online gambling ring linked to many countries to arresting international hackers who attacked Vietnamese businesses. This is a testament to the increasing level and bravery of Vietnam's law enforcement forces in this field.

However, the burning issue is how to completely destroy similar cross-border criminal gangs. The challenge is not small. Cybercrime is mostly hidden and difficult to trace. Many criminal networks are linked across borders, operated from abroad, taking advantage of legal gaps between countries.

The answer lies partly in the efforts to implement the Hanoi Convention, which will help Vietnam and other countries in the world have more legal tools and international cooperation strength to ensure safety and security in cyberspace.

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Experts from the National Cyber Security Association shared an overview of Vietnam's cybersecurity resources at the International Conference and Exhibition on Cyber Security with the theme "Ensuring Cyber Security and Building Trust in the New Era" (May 23, 2025). Photo: Tien Luc/VNA

Building a "people's security posture in cyberspace"

According to a report by the National Cyber Security Association (NCA) released at the end of 2024, Vietnam is among the countries heavily affected by cybercrime. The rate of “potential victims” is also alarming: 1 in 220 smartphone users becomes a victim and 70% of people are exposed to at least one scam call or text message each month.

Lieutenant General Nguyen Minh Chinh, Permanent Vice President of the National Cyber Security Association, said that currently, large-scale cyber attacks, targeting critical national infrastructure, businesses and people, with sophisticated tricks and increasingly fast speed. In addition, the situation of spreading fake news and bad and toxic information on digital platforms, taking advantage of artificial intelligence to spread quickly. High-tech criminal activities such as fraud, data trading, even drug and weapon trafficking, etc. in cyberspace are also increasingly complicated.

Mr. Nguyen Minh Chinh emphasized that the legal system on cyber security has been formed and is increasingly perfected, but it has not kept up with the speed of technological development. The awareness of a number of officials, businesses and people is still limited, creating loopholes that are easily exploited. The domestic technology infrastructure is not synchronized and is heavily dependent on imported solutions, making the risks even greater.

“Therefore, the Hanoi Convention not only opens up opportunities for Vietnam to strengthen international legal cooperation and improve its capacity to prevent cybercrime; but is also a foundation to raise awareness of the entire political system, people and businesses in ensuring security and safety in cyberspace,” said Mr. Nguyen Minh Chinh.

When people's awareness and vigilance are not uniform, if we only rely on specialized functional forces, it will be difficult to cover everything. Therefore, mobilizing the strength of the entire population is the most sustainable and effective solution. Therefore, building a "people's security posture in cyberspace" is extremely important.

Regarding the development of a model for organizing the mass movement to protect national security in cyberspace, in the trend of comprehensive digital transformation, many localities have proactively innovated the way of organizing the movement in the direction of integrating the traditional model at the grassroots level with digital platforms and information technology tools. This is an important shift from "direct activities" to "digital organization", reflecting the movement's adaptation to new social behavior in cyberspace.

Familiar models such as "Security Camera", "Self-Managed Security and Order Group", "Safe Neighborhood Group", "School Security", "Prevention and Control of High-Tech Crime"... have been partially or completely digitized, through connection with social networks, messaging applications, monitoring software and online community interaction. Thereby, cyberspace has become a component part of the movement's operation method, contributing to improving the ability to monitor, give early warning and mobilize people to participate in protecting security remotely, anytime - anywhere. The above models not only help promote the core role of the police force, but also expand the proactive participation of people in the digital space, gradually building a movement for the whole people to protect national security in cyberspace associated with the locality, objects and actual situation.

With the goal of building a safe and civilized online community; each citizen is a "stronghold" in protecting the country's "digital border", through the Project on building a people's security posture in cyberspace, the Government is continuing to mobilize the combined strength of the community and the entire masses.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/thoi-su/cong-uoc-ha-noi-giai-bai-toan-toi-pham-xuyen-quoc-gia-xay-dung-the-tran-an-ninh-nhan-dan-tren-khong-gian-mang-20251022160135073.htm