The proposal was presented at the 3rd National Forum on Digital Economy and Digital Society Development, held in Hanoi on December 20, as Vietnam intensifies efforts to accelerate digital transformation and achieve double-digit economic growth in the 2026–2030 period.

Data-driven economy taking shape

Speaking at the forum, Major General Nguyen Ngoc Cuong, Director of the National Data Centre, emphasised that data should be recognised as a special economic asset and that the development of a data-driven economy must be identified as a strategic breakthrough for the country.

Data is not only an input resource but also a core means of production for creating new value. It can be exchanged, priced, and commercialised, he said.

According to Major General Cuong, Vietnam has made significant progress in building its national data infrastructure, particularly through the National Population Database managed by the Ministry of Public Security. The database currently contains information on 107 million citizens, is connected to 15 ministries, sectors, and 34 localities, and has processed more than 2.1 billion authentication requests.

The implementation of Project 06, which promotes the application of population data, digital identity, and electronic authentication in national digital transformation, has marked what he described as a “historic turning point” in Vietnam’s digital journey.

As of now, VNeID has 67 million digital identity accounts and integrates 50 digital services. Meanwhile, the National Public Service Portal provides access to 4,700 administrative procedures, processed 11.5 million online applications in 2025, and helped save more than VND4 trillion (approximately US$160 million) in social costs. VNeID has also facilitated the disbursement of VND33 trillion in social welfare payments to 675,000 beneficiaries.

Three major bottlenecks

However, despite these achievements, Vietnam remains at an early stage of developing a true data economy. Major General Cuong, therefore, identified three critical bottlenecks that must be addressed for Vietnam to unlock the full potential of its digital economy.

First, while data exists, “live” and dynamic data is limited. Of the country’s 12 key national databases, eight have yet to establish shared data platforms or remain at a very low level of completion.

Second, Vietnam has digital platforms but lacks a fully developed ecosystem. Although VNeID has 67 million users, it has not yet become a true super platform. Citizens still rely on multiple applications for different services, resulting in a fragmented and non-seamless user experience.

Third, Vietnam has not yet defined a clear national data economy model. Globally, three dominant models exist: the market-driven approach of the United States, the state-coordinated model of China, and the citizen-benefit-centred model of the European Union. Vietnam, meanwhile, is still in the early stages of shaping its own path.

Five strategic breakthroughs proposed

To overcome these bottlenecks, the Ministry of Public Security has proposed five strategic breakthroughs aligned with Vietnam’s digital economy and digital society goals.

Key proposals include drafting a Politburo Resolution on data economy development, establishing an open data ecosystem to support businesses and innovation, and issuing regulations to create breakthrough mechanisms for data-driven innovation.

The Ministry is also working on plans to develop a national data innovation incubator under the National Data Centre. The incubator would provide startups and enterprises with infrastructure, investment connectivity, and professional consulting to support commercialisation.

“This model has proven successful in countries such as Singapore and Estonia,” Major General Cuong said. “We expect it to help Vietnam develop data-driven industries worth billions of US dollars, contributing directly to the digital economy, which is targeted to account for 30% of GDP by 2030.”

VNeID as the core of national digital ecosystem

At the centre of the proposal is the plan to upgrade VNeID into a national digital super platform, positioning it as the core of Vietnam’s digital ecosystem.

Under this vision, VNeID would go beyond its current role as a digital identity application and become a single, unified gateway for public services, commercial services, and social interactions, offering a seamless experience for users.

The Ministry of Public Security also proposed launching a national digital citizen development strategy, along with the implementation of a national data architecture framework, to ensure consistency and interoperability across ministries, sectors, and localities.

The proposals reflect Vietnam’s broader ambition to build an inclusive, people-centred digital society, strengthen national competitiveness, and ensure secure and responsible data governance as the country moves deeper into the digital era.

Vietnam Airlines passengers required to complete procedures via VNeID

VOV.VN - Vietnam Airlines on December 1 began enforcing a new policy requiring all passengers without checked baggage to complete the entire travel process, including ticket purchase, check-in, security procedures, and boarding, through the government’s digital ID application VNeID or airport self-service kiosks.
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