The digital economy surpasses the $72 billion mark.

The digital economy's share of GDP is projected to increase from 12.87% in 2021 to 14.02% in 2025, reaching a scale of over $72 billion. This increase indicates continued expansion of the digital economy, but significant disparities between localities and limitations in data infrastructure suggest that the next phase requires a greater focus on in-depth development.

The proportion of digital economic value added in GRDP will be highest in localities in 2025. Source: General Statistics Office.

Stable growth rate

According to the General Statistics Office, the period from 2021 to 2025 will see a significant increase in the digital economy. In 2021, the digital economy accounted for 12.87% of GDP; by 2025, this figure will increase to 14.02%, equivalent to a size of over 72.1 billion USD. The average growth rate during this period is approximately 12% per year, higher than the overall economic growth rate.

The value-added structure of the digital economy in 2025 shows that the core digital economy sector includes: Information technology, telecommunications, and data contributed 8.13%. GDP, while the digitalization of other economic sectors accounts for 5.05%. Thus, the majority of value added still comes from the foundational technology sector, while traditional manufacturing and service sectors are only in the initial stages of transformation.

The digital divide between localities is widening.

One of the highlights of the 2021-2025 period is the significant differentiation in the proportion of the digital economy among provinces and cities. Localities with high-tech industries have achieved outstanding contributions: Bac Ninh at 46.30% of GRDP, Thai Nguyen at 29.53%, Hai Phong at 22.28%, and Phu Tho at 22.71%. These are all localities with a strong development of electronics and information technology infrastructure.

Meanwhile, many other provinces achieved a share below 7%, largely due to limitations in resources. Digital infrastructure, technology workforce, and the investment capacity of local businesses are key factors. Even the two major economic centers, Hanoi (17.34%) and Ho Chi Minh City (13.43%), are not among the leading groups, indicating that digital transformation has not spread evenly across industries and economic regions.

If this gap is not narrowed, it will hinder the goal of increasing the share of the digital economy to a higher level in the period 2026-2030.

Development in depth

Although the digital economy is growing steadily, the quality of that growth remains a matter for discussion. According to the General Statistics Office, the majority of the digital economy's value still comes from core industries. High-tech sectors such as artificial intelligence (AI), big data, domestic cloud services, and smart manufacturing are only being implemented on a limited scale.

Data infrastructure is a prominent challenge. The construction and connection of national databases are still in their early stages; data sharing and openness among ministries, agencies, and businesses are not yet synchronized. This reduces the ability to leverage data for production, business, and innovation.

Most small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) still face difficulties due to a lack of capital, human resources, and a lack of a systematic digital transformation strategy. This has resulted in the digital economy growing rapidly in scale but not yet clearly demonstrating its impact on productivity and economic efficiency.

According to Dr. Can Van Luc, Chief Economist of BIDV, Vietnam's digital economy is entering a new phase of expansion, in which digital assets will become an important component, contributing to expanding the transaction space and innovating business models.

He stated that Vietnam is one of the first 25 countries to officially recognize cryptocurrency assets, according to Government Resolution 05 issued on September 9, 2025. The Ministry of Finance is implementing steps to establish a cryptocurrency market to create a legal framework for a new component of the digital economy.

However, he emphasized that this field is fraught with risks related to technology, fraud, and price volatility, thus requiring mechanisms for oversight, investor protection, and clear market standards. He also argued that central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) will be a crucial component in promoting safer and more transparent digital payments.

According to Dr. Can Van Luc, if policies are coordinated synchronously, new components, especially digital assets and digital capital, will create momentum for the digital economy to reach the target of 25-30% of GDP by 2030.

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/kinh-te-so-vuot-moc-72-ti-usd-3393068.html