Popularizing Digital Signatures in Electronic Notarization

Vietnam identifies digital signatures and trusted services as not only technical tools, but also as a foundation to ensure trust in electronic transactions, especially towards expansion in electronic notarization in the coming time.

On September 19, in Hanoi , the National Center for Electronic Authentication coordinated with the Vietnam Notary Association to organize a workshop on "The role of digital signatures and trusted services in the field of electronic notarization in Vietnam".

The workshop was held in the context of the law on notarization creating a legal corridor for electronic notarization and the Government 's recently issued Decree 23/2025/ND-CP on electronic signatures and trusted services establishing a complete legal framework for trusted services (digital signatures, data message authentication, timestamping, secure data sending and receiving services, etc.). These new regulations are an important bridge to create a legal foundation for electronic notarization to operate effectively, ensuring that all electronic notarized documents have the same legal value as paper documents.

Ms. To Thi Thu Huong, Director of the National Electronic Authentication Center (NEAC) spoke at the Workshop.

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Ms. To Thi Thu Huong - Director of the National Electronic Authentication Center (NEAC) commented: "In an era where data becomes a new resource and digital transactions become popular, ensuring digital trust is a prerequisite". Vietnam identifies digital signatures and trusted services as not only technical tools, but also the foundation to ensure trust in electronic transactions, shaping digital government, digital economy and digital society.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Tho, Executive Vice President of the Vietnam Notary Association, the cooperation between NEAC and the Association is a necessary step to ensure the application of electronic notarization. The Association will accompany NEAC in promoting, training and guiding notaries to access new technology, thereby ensuring service quality and the legitimate rights of the people.

At the workshop, NEAC representatives clarified the legal value as well as the role of digital signature services and these trusted services in electronic notarization activities, thereby supporting notaries to access and properly apply legal regulations.

Specifically, according to the Law on Electronic Transactions 2023, a digital signature is an electronic signature that uses an asymmetric key algorithm to authenticate the signatory and confirm the signatory's acceptance of the signed content. A digital signature ensures authenticity, integrity, and non-repudiation, so the Law on Electronic Transactions affirms that a digital signature has the same legal value as a handwritten signature in traditional transactions, and the Law on Notarization 2024 stipulates that an electronic notarized document is valid from the time it is signed with the digital signature of a notary and the digital signature of a notary practice organization.

As electronic transactions become popular, related services are followed, one of which is trust services. Decree No. 23/2025/ND-CP has detailed and specific regulations on trust services, including conditions that must be complied with in terms of human resources, technology, finance, etc. if businesses want to do business in this type of service.

View of the seminar.

In the field of electronic notarization, the trusted service is an effective tool, helping notaries and notary organizations simplify their business processes. Thereby, gradually converting traditional notarization transactions from the real environment to the digital environment, improving the efficiency of electronic notarization activities. The workshop also pointed out the benefits that electronic notarization brings to the people and society.

First of all, it saves time and money. People can notarize some types of documents online right at home, instead of having to go to the notary office many times. Electronic records are processed quickly, and notarized documents can be issued almost immediately after the notary signs them digitally.

It is estimated that with about 8 million notarized documents each year, the application of electronic notarization can save society hundreds of billions of dong in costs for storing and processing documents.

Second, electronic notarization increases security and transparency. Each electronic notarized document is accompanied by a digital signature and time stamp, which can be checked online to determine authenticity. Records are stored in electronic form, avoiding the risk of loss, damage or forgery.

Third, electronic notarization is connected with many other public services and electronic transactions. Electronic notarized documents can be used directly in business registration procedures, real estate transactions, banking, etc. without having to submit additional paper copies, helping to reduce duplication and create maximum convenience for people.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/xa-hoi/pho-bien-chu-ky-so-trong-cong-chung-dien-tu-20250919125014253.htm