General Secretary To Lam Sets Strategic Vision for Vietnam Digital Technology Sector at Sixth National Forum
The Sixth National Forum on Vietnam Digital Technology Enterprises, held in early 2025, served as a pivotal platform for redefining the nation’s trajectory toward a comprehensive digital economy. General Secretary To Lam, addressing a distinguished audience of policymakers, industry leaders, scientists, and international partners, emphasized that the digital sector is no longer merely a growth engine but the foundational pillar of Vietnam’s future socioeconomic development. This year’s event carried significant weight, as it followed the recent issuance of Politburo Resolution 57, which outlines a rigorous mandate for breakthroughs in science, technology, and innovation.
A Strategic Mandate for Digital Transformation
The forum served as a critical juncture for assessing the progress made since the last assembly. General Secretary To Lam highlighted the necessity of shifting from a model reliant on foreign-led assembly to one defined by domestic mastery, indigenous research, and high-value creation. He underscored that in an era of rapid global volatility and the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0), digital transformation is a strategic survival mechanism.
The government’s message was clear: Vietnam must bridge the development gap with global peers by embracing artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and the Internet of Things (IoT). These technologies are expected to enhance labor productivity, improve the quality of life for citizens, and solidify Vietnam’s standing in the global value chain. The General Secretary called for a unified commitment—where government policies, corporate initiative, and public participation converge to foster a sovereign, self-reliant, and sustainable digital economy.
Sector Performance: Facts and Figures
The data presented at the forum reflects a sector in the midst of a significant, albeit challenging, expansion. By the end of 2024, the total revenue of Vietnam’s digital technology industry reached approximately $152 billion, representing a 35.7% increase compared to 2019 figures. This growth trajectory underscores the sector’s resilience and its expanding footprint in the national economy.
Furthermore, the ecosystem has matured significantly, now comprising over 74,000 active enterprises. In 2023 alone, nearly 1,900 Vietnamese digital firms successfully expanded into international markets, generating $11.5 billion in revenue—a 53% increase year-on-year. This expansion into global markets signals a move toward higher competitiveness. Despite these achievements, the industry faces structural hurdles. While Vietnam ranks 44th globally in the Global Innovation Index and 71st in digital government development, the depth of its participation in the global supply chain remains constrained by a reliance on low-value-added processes.
The Challenge of Value Chain Integration
A significant portion of the General Secretary’s address focused on a candid assessment of the current state of industrial production. He pointed out that while Vietnam is a top-tier exporter of smartphones, electronic components, and computing equipment, the domestic contribution to these products is often limited to assembly labor.
The reliance on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) remains substantial. For instance, in industrial hubs like Thai Nguyen and Bac Ninh, the vast majority of "Tier 1" suppliers for global giants like Samsung are themselves foreign-owned entities. Domestic enterprises are frequently relegated to supporting roles, such as providing security, industrial catering, or waste management services. The General Secretary challenged the industry to look beyond the impressive export statistics and confront the reality that roughly 80% of the value in these high-tech exports is derived from imported components. He urged the nation to move beyond being a "factory of the world" and toward becoming an "innovation hub of the region."
Roadmap to 2030: Six Pillars of Growth
To address these imbalances, the forum outlined a multi-faceted strategy for the coming years, centered on six core objectives:
- Strategic Autonomy and Core Technology: The state will prioritize the mastery of "strategic technologies," including AI, IoT, large-scale data analytics, 5G/6G communications, and aerospace technology. The goal is to reduce dependency on foreign R&D and build a foundation for independent, self-organized economic structures.
- Infrastructure Investment: There is a renewed push for high-capacity, broadband-ready infrastructure that meets international standards. This is deemed essential for national connectivity and the seamless operation of digital services.
- Talent Acquisition and Development: The government plans to introduce more aggressive policies to attract high-tech talent, including foreign experts, while simultaneously investing in domestic educational programs to cultivate a pipeline of engineers and researchers.
- Sustainable Ecosystems: Fostering deeper collaboration between universities, research institutes, and the corporate sector is the priority. The aim is to create an innovation-friendly environment that encourages public-private partnerships.
- Digital Government and Society: Expanding the reach of digital government services to all citizens is a primary objective. By digitizing administrative procedures, the government aims to enhance transparency and efficiency.
- Global Competitiveness: By 2030, the government intends to position Vietnam among the top three ASEAN countries for R&D investment and expects to foster at least five major digital technology corporations capable of competing on the global stage.
The Role of International Collaboration
General Secretary To Lam expressed appreciation for the continued cooperation with international partners, particularly the Republic of Korea, which has been a major source of technology transfer and investment. The presence of representatives from global tech leaders at the forum highlighted the importance of learning from established economies.
However, the leadership also noted that Vietnam should not simply mimic the path of others but rather take advantage of its "late-mover advantage." By adopting the latest technological solutions directly—such as skipping legacy infrastructures in favor of modern cloud and AI systems—Vietnam can accelerate its development cycle. The General Secretary specifically highlighted recent site visits to firms like Amkor Technology as examples of the type of high-value investment that Vietnam seeks to encourage.
Implications for the Future
The Sixth National Forum marks a definitive shift in the government’s rhetoric regarding the digital economy. The focus has moved from merely growing the number of tech companies to improving the quality of their output and their role within the global value chain. The emphasis on "Make in Vietnam" products—a theme consistent with recent policy shifts—is now being backed by a clear call for domestic firms to invest heavily in their own R&D.
The implications for the private sector are profound. Companies will be expected to transition from service-oriented or assembly-heavy business models toward product development and IP creation. While the path to achieving the 2030 goals is steep, the consensus among stakeholders is that the current foundation, bolstered by political will and a massive young, tech-savvy population, provides a unique opportunity.
As the forum concluded, the call to action was directed at both the public and private sectors: to view this period not just as an economic endeavor, but as a national mission to secure Vietnam’s place in the digital era. The success of these initiatives will ultimately depend on the ability of local firms to innovate, collaborate, and transcend the limitations of the traditional manufacturing model.
