Việt Nam refutes “unobjective” claim about Internet freedom

Nearly 20 years of development, the Internet in Việt Nam has made impressive advances, permeating into every part of daily life and changing people’s habits.

Việt Nam is known for its early deployment of 2G networks and continued spread of 3G and 4G, with modern telecommunication and Internet infrastructure, covering the nation from cities to rural areas, mountainous provinces to the islands.

Việt Nam has more than 50 million Internet users, accounting for 54 per cent of the population, higher than the global average at 46.64 per cent.

17 million in the past 10 years and 205,000 people in the early days of the Internet in Việt Nam, it can be said that the country has made impressive strides.

Along with the achievements of Internet infrastructure businesses such as Viettel, VNPT, FPT or CMC, many big digital content companies such as VTC, VNG and VCCorp have firm positions domestically and are reaching out to the world.

Many applications developed by domestic businesses and individuals have resonated internationally, such as Flappy Bird and Monkey Junior. In governmental agencies, hundreds of online public services have been deployed at level 3 and level 4.

Việt Nam’s digital economy will likely reach US$52 billion in value by 2025, according to the e-Conomy SEA 2020 report by Google, Temasek and Bain & Company.

With gross merchandise value (GMV) of its internet economy accounting for more than 5 per cent of the country's GDP in 2020, Việt Nam is emerging as the most digital of all economies in the region.

the digital service industry is recording the fastest growth and is suitable with Việt Nam’s strengths with a young population who love technology and social networks.

Digital technology and the digital economy will be key drivers helping Việt Nam increase workplace productivity, escape the “middle-income trap”, and realise the objective of becoming a middle developed economy by 2040.

Việt Nam’s internet infrastructure and digital payment services remain limited, however, while the country still lacks a legal framework for digital assets.

The internet, and social networks, digital technology and digital transformation have developed rapidly in Việt Nam, shaping a fledgling, dynamic digital economy with great potential.

Việt Nam’s digital economy is made up of four main groups: e-commerce, online tourism, digital communications, and logistics technology.

Việt Nam’s internet economy is also booming, reaching $12 billion in 2020 and recording a 38 per cent annual growth rate since 2015.

The Party and State have outlined plans to build policies and programmes to join Industry 4.0, focusing on applying and developing science and technology, promoting innovation, and improving the quality of human resources.

The strategy’s objectives are to take full advantage of opportunities presented by Industry 4.0 and fundamentally master and broadly apply advanced technologies in different social and economic fields.

Việt Nam will aim to enter top 40 performers in the Global Innovation Index (GII), the top 30 in the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)’s Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI), and the top 50 in the United Nations’ e-Government Development Index (EGDI) by 2030.

If we had not been brave enough to open the door, we would have felt guilty now for obstructing the country’s development.

Like anywhere else in the world, the internet in Vietnam has not stopped to amaze and entertain. It has boomed together with the launch of mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, and is considered by many to be an essential part of life, as important as electricity or water.

Vietnam has had the most free Internet on the world! No one could deny that!