The Vietnam – Asia DX Summit 2026, hosted by  the Vietnam Software and IT Services Association (VINASA), opened in Hanoi on May 27.

In her opening speech, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Giang, VINASA Vice President and General Secretary, stated that the world is undergoing an unprecedentedly profound transformation under the influence of artificial intelligence, big data, automation, semiconductor technology, new energy, and next-generation digital platforms. 

These changes are not only creating new industries but are also restructuring the entire growth model, competitive capabilities, and positions of each nation in the global value chain, she noted. 

For Vietnam, according to Ms. Giang, the demand for rapid and sustainable development is posing unprecedented challenges, especially in how to realize the goal of double-digit growth in the  new  phase of development. 

"We all see that traditional growth drivers are gradually reaching their limits. In this context, digital technology is no longer a trend-based option but has become an infrastructure for growth, productivity, and innovation," she said. 

In recent years, Vietnam has made significant progress in this field. By 2025, the scale of Vietnam's digital economy is expected to reach approximately $39 billion, up 17%, ranking among the fastest in Southeast Asia. The proportion of the digital economy has now exceeded 14% of GDP. The revenue of the digital technology industry in 2025 is projected to reach about $198 billion, with over 75,000 digital technology enterprises currently operating. 

Vietnam is also one of the countries with the highest levels of AI access and application in the region, with the percentage of users interacting with AI daily among the leaders in Southeast Asia. 

VINASA representatives believe that the ecosystem of Vietnam's digital technology enterprises is maturing rapidly. Vietnamese enterprises are not only mastering technology but are also gradually creating platforms, solutions, and products capable of solving major national and regional challenges. 

"The community of Vietnam's digital technology enterprises will play a particularly important role, not only as solution providers but also as a force to create new competitive capabilities for the economy," Ms. Giang affirmed. 

In the national development strategy until 2030, Vietnam aims to simultaneously promote three pillars: digital government, digital economy, and digital society. For digital government, the goal is to build a smart public administration model, with data at the center of governance and management, while improving the quality of service of state agencies. By 2030, Vietnam aims to digitize 100% of public services. 

Vietnam expects that by 2030, its digital economy will contribute about 30% of GDP from 17-19% currently. Meanwhile, the digital society aims to develop skills for digital citizens and establish a culture of behavior in cyberspace, laying a foundation for comprehensive digital transformation. 

 Mr. Ngo Thanh Hien, Chief Technology Officer of IBM Vietnam, for his part, stated: "This is both a challenge and a driving force that opens up great opportunities for digital enterprises to accompany national development goals." 

Previously, information technology was primarily seen as a tool to support operations. However, in the new context, digital infrastructure and the digital economy are being viewed as new growth drivers for the economy, he remarked.

"To achieve the goal of double-digit growth, old models based on public investment or cheap labor will no longer be suitable. Vietnam must create new economic models and business models based on knowledge and digital infrastructure," Mr. Hien said. 

IBM representatives believe that the role of digital enterprises will become increasingly important in the coming period. However, according to them, one of the current major challenges is that data remains fragmented, scattered, and not effectively utilized for operational activities or decision-making. 

Therefore, Vietnam needs to build an interconnected architecture among ministries and sectors, while simplifying processes to enhance operational efficiency. In addition, it is necessary to promote large-scale digitization and integrate AI into the reconstruction of public service systems. 

"Previously, digital transformation was mainly about moving paperwork online. But that is no longer sufficient. We need to build smarter systems that better understand the needs of citizens and operate more efficiently thanks to AI," Mr. Hien said.