The role of digital signatures and trusted services in electronic notarization

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

Overview of the Conference.

On September 19, 2025, in Hanoi, the National Electronic Authentication Center (NEAC), Ministry of Science and Technology in collaboration with the Vietnam Notary Association organized the Workshop "The role of digital signatures and trusted services with electronic notarization"

The workshop is a forum for management agencies, the Vietnam Notary Association, notary teams nationwide and businesses providing trusted services to exchange and share experiences, contributing to promoting the application of digital signatures and trusted services in notary activities. This is an important foundation for electronic notarization to be implemented synchronously after the Notary Law (amended) officially takes effect from July 1, 2025.

Ms. To Thi Thu Huong, Director of NEAC, delivered the opening speech at the Workshop.

In her opening speech, Ms. To Thi Thu Huong, Director of NEAC, commented: "In an era where data becomes a new resource and digital transactions become popular, ensuring digital trust is a prerequisite. In Vietnam, we identify digital signatures and trusted services as not only technical tools, but also the foundation to ensure trust in electronic transactions, shaping the digital economy , digital government and digital society."

The workshop took place in the context of Decree 23/2025/ND-CP on electronic signatures and trusted services recently issued by the Government , establishing a comprehensive legal framework for trusted services such as (digital signatures, data message authentication, timestamping, secure data sending and receiving services, etc.). This is an important bridge, helping electronic notarized documents have the same legal value as paper documents.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Tho, Executive Vice President of the Vietnam Notary Association, spoke at the Workshop.

At the workshop, Ms. Nguyen Thi Tho, Executive Vice President of the Vietnam Notary Association, affirmed that coordination with NEAC is necessary for electronic notarization to come into practice: "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."

Digital signature and trusted service, the important foundation of electronic notarization

NEAC representatives clearly analyzed the concepts of digital signatures, trusted services, legal value affirmation as well as the role of these services in electronic notarization activities.

According to the Law on Electronic Transactions 2023, a digital signature is an electronic signature created using an asymmetric key algorithm to authenticate the signatory and demonstrate the subject's approval of the signed content. A digital signature ensures authenticity, integrity, and non-repudiation. Therefore, the Law on Electronic Transactions affirms that a digital signature has the same legal value as a handwritten signature in traditional transactions. At the same time, the Law on Notarization 2024 also clearly stipulates that an electronic notarized document is valid from the time it is signed with the digital signature of a notary and a notary practice organization. As electronic transactions become more popular, many types of related services have also been formed, including trusted services. The Law on Electronic Transactions stipulates 3 types of trusted services, including: Timestamping service: a service to attach time information to data messages; Data message authentication service: includes service of storing and confirming the integrity of data messages; service of sending and receiving secure data messages; Public digital signature authentication service: is a service of authenticating digital signatures in public activities.

Decree No. 23/2025/ND-CP has detailed regulations on human resources, technology and finance... for businesses wishing to conduct trust services. For the field of electronic notarization, trust services are an effective tool, helping notaries and notary organizations simplify business processes, gradually convert traditional transactions from real environments to digital environments, and improve the efficiency of electronic notarization activities. Practical benefits of electronic notarization

At the workshop, delegates agreed that the implementation of electronic notarization should follow an expansion roadmap, in which technology will be used to simplify administrative procedures. First of all, electronic notarization helps save time and costs. 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.

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.

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

In addition to policy content, delegates also had the opportunity to directly discuss and listen to representatives of organizations providing public digital signature certification services (CA) present technical solutions, share implementation experiences and guide notaries on how to register and use digital signatures and trusted services in the field of electronic notarization, helping notaries access technology applied in their daily work.

At the workshop, delegates agreed that the implementation of electronic notarization needs to be carried out according to an expansion roadmap, in which technology plays a key role in simplifying administrative procedures.

In the immediate future, many simple transactions can be carried out online with digital signatures and reliable services, helping people save time and reduce paperwork. In the next phase, when the technical infrastructure, business processes and digital skills of notaries are improved, the scope of application will also be expanded to more complex contracts and transactions such as real estate, inheritance, and mortgages. This approach not only creates favorable conditions for people, but also ensures legal safety and enhances transparency in all transactions./.

Center for Science and Technology Communication

Source: https://mst.gov.vn/vai-tro-cua-chu-ky-so-va-dich-vu-tin-cay-trong-cong-chung-dien-tu-19725091916130271.htm