Minister Nguyen Manh Hung Unveils Strategic Vision for Vietnam’s Digital Future Through Resolution 57

Vietnam stands at a defining crossroads in its socio-economic development, transitioning rapidly from an agrarian-based economy and low-cost manufacturing hub into an innovation-driven digital powerhouse. At the heart of this national transformation is Resolution 57, a landmark policy directive issued by the Politburo aimed at reshaping the country’s approach to science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation. In an in-depth dialogue, Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung detailed the core philosophies, unprecedented mechanisms, and strategic imperatives embedded within Resolution 57, drawing compelling parallels to the historic "Khoan 10" (Contract 10) agricultural reform that lifted millions out of poverty four decades ago.

The policy framework championed by Minister Hung seeks to eradicate bureaucratic bottlenecks, incentivize high-tech research, and position Vietnam as a competitive global player in the digital era. By rewriting the rules of engagement for institutional frameworks, infrastructure development, and human capital, the Vietnamese government aims to foster a self-reliant, resilient economy capable of making decisive breakthroughs on the world stage.

Institutional Reform: Legalizing Innovation and Mitigating Risks

Addressing the structural impediments that have historically hampered technological advancement, Minister Hung emphasized that institutional reform represents the ultimate bottleneck of bottlenecks. Under Resolution 57, the primary objective slated for completion by the end of 2025 is the comprehensive legislative reform required to establish legal safety nets for innovators.

Technology evolves at a pace that traditional legislative bodies struggle to match. Consequently, Vietnam is actively adopting the "sandbox" approach—a regulatory framework that permits controlled, time-bound experimentation for emerging technologies and business models whose long-term systemic impacts are not yet fully understood. By absorbing risks on behalf of pioneers, the government aims to create an environment where failure in research is viewed not as a liability, but as a calculated stepping stone toward ultimate success.

Furthermore, the Ministry views institutional agility as a competitive weapon. While numerous nations possess the technical capability to deploy cutting-edge innovations, they frequently hamstring domestic enterprises with restrictive regulations and prolonged compliance cycles. By authorizing controlled trial runs and regulatory sandboxes, Vietnam invites global tech talent, venture capital, and intellectual capital to converge within its borders. This open-door policy facilitates domestic innovation while creating a springboard for Vietnamese enterprises to scale globally.

Developing Strategic Infrastructure for the Digital Age

Infrastructure investment under Resolution 57 represents a paradigm shift from traditional civil engineering projects toward advanced technological ecosystems. While previous decades focused heavily on physical foundations such as transportation networks and electrical grids, the current national strategy prioritizes digital infrastructure, science and technology infrastructure, and innovation facilities.

Minister Hung noted that state funding alone—estimated at approximately 3% of the annual state budget allocated for science, technology, and digital transformation—cannot sustainably finance these monumental initiatives. Instead, state capital is intended to act as "seed money," comprising roughly 20% of total investments, while the remaining 80% must be mobilized from private sector contributors.

Major state-owned enterprises and large private technology conglomerates, nurtured by the state over the past two to three decades, are now being called upon to shoulder national responsibilities. Corporations such as Viettel, VNPT, FPT, CMC, MISA, One Mount, and HDBank are tasked with leading the development of core strategic technologies, including 5G and 6G networks, semiconductor manufacturing, blockchain, Generative AI (GenAI), and cloud computing. These industry leaders serve as infrastructural anchors, establishing national laboratories and technology platforms that smaller enterprises can leverage at minimal cost.

Human Capital and the Global Talent Race

In the knowledge-based economy envisioned by Resolution 57, human capital is the definitive competitive differentiator. Vietnam’s strategic focus has shifted from nurturing general labor pools to competing aggressively for elite global talent.

Vietnamese professionals possess inherent adaptability, rapid learning curves, and a strong propensity for customized engineering. Capitalizing on this demographic strength requires creating an ecosystem that attracts both domestic innovators and the Vietnamese diaspora. To achieve this, the government is deliberately curating high-tech zones and innovation hubs designed to challenge top-tier talent with ambitious, high-stakes engineering projects.

Minister Hung underscored that intellectual capital is inherently global. By providing world-class testing environments, permissive regulatory sandboxes, and substantial research grants, Vietnam aims to reverse the brain drain and establish a magnet for international technological expertise.

The Evolution of the Make in Vietnam Initiative

Entering its sixth year, the "Make in Vietnam" strategy has matured from a national slogan into an actionable economic blueprint. The core philosophy demands that Vietnamese enterprises take full ownership of research, design, production, and commercialization. Recent milestones, such as the VI National Forum on Digital Technology Enterprise development, highlighted a profound shift in mindset: major corporations have formally registered to master foundational technologies rather than remaining perpetual adapters of foreign intellectual property.

Data from the Ministry of Information and Communications illustrates the tangible momentum of this initiative. Over the past five years, the value-added contribution of Vietnamese enterprises within the digital technology sector has surged from 21% to 32%, with national projections targeting over 50% by 2030. Simultaneously, the number of digital technology enterprises has expanded by 50%, bringing the total to approximately 74,000 active firms in a nation of 100 million people—placing Vietnam among the leading developing nations in enterprise density for the tech sector.

Crucially, the Make in Vietnam initiative has expanded beyond civilian applications into national defense and security. The display of domestically manufactured tactical missile systems at the Vietnam International Defense Exhibition signaled a profound psychological turning point for the nation, invoking deep national pride and proving that domestic industries can master the most complex engineering challenges imaginable.

Creating an Inclusive Digital Ecosystem

A central pillar of Resolution 57 is ensuring that digital transformation does not merely benefit elite technology conglomerates, but permeates every layer of society, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), agricultural households, and cooperatives.

To bridge the technology gap, the government is implementing support mechanisms where state budgets are utilized to subsidize digital services for smaller entities. Rather than forcing SMEs to allocate substantial capital toward independent tech development, the state facilitates access to platforms and software services provided by major tech firms at affordable subscription rates. This creates a symbiotic ecosystem: large corporations focus on core foundational research and large-scale infrastructure, while smaller enterprises deploy localized applications and drive grassroots digital adoption.

Minister Hung likened this dynamic to a digital revolution akin to the agricultural "Khoan 10" directive. By defining clear boundaries of responsibility, tolerating calculated risks, and ensuring that every stakeholder—from individual farmers to major industrial conglomerates—reaps tangible economic benefits, Resolution 57 establishes the institutional foundation for Vietnam to transcend the middle-income trap.

The Role of Media in Driving National Transformation

As Vietnam navigates this critical historical juncture, the media and press assume a vital socio-political mandate. Minister Hung emphasized that media agencies must act as catalysts for the national mindset, instilling a pervasive sense of confidence, self-reliance, and urgency regarding scientific adoption and digital transformation.

By transparently communicating successful case studies, holding policymakers accountable, and maintaining an objective evaluation framework that accepts a margin of research failure without punitive measures, journalism helps foster an environment of continuous innovation. The overarching goal is to ensure that the spirit of Resolution 57 permeates public consciousness, translating high-level policy directives into everyday economic practices.

Through a harmonious combination of institutional reform, targeted infrastructure investments, human capital development, and an unyielding commitment to the Make in Vietnam philosophy, the nation is systematically laying the groundwork for a prosperous, technologically independent future in the new era.