Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Bui Hoang Phuong addresses Vietnam Digital Summit 2026

Digital transformation starts with real-world challenges

At the Vietnam Digital Summit 2026, recently held in Ninh Binh, Deputy Minister Bui Hoang Phuong shared a notable view: “Digital transformation is not the digitization of old processes, but the creation of new approaches through digital technology with greater efficiency.”

As digital transformation becomes an unavoidable global trend, this statement reflects a shift in Vietnam’s development mindset. In its early stages, digital transformation was often associated with investing in equipment and software, building databases, or deploying technology platforms. Today, the focus has shifted toward creating real value.

According to Deputy Minister Bui Hoang Phuong, Vietnam has built important foundations for national digital transformation. The institutional framework continues to be strengthened. In 2025, 10 laws were revised and several decrees and circulars were issued, including key legislation such as the Law on Digital Transformation, the Law on Digital Technology Industry, the Law on Data, and the Law on Artificial Intelligence.

Vietnam has also developed modern digital infrastructure, with 5G coverage reaching more than 90% of the population. The country has built major national databases and deployed shared digital platforms, including the national population database and VNeID. At the same time, the application of artificial intelligence in government agencies and across society is being actively promoted, alongside digital skills training programs, support for business digital transformation, and efforts to improve digital literacy among citizens.

The panel discussion at Vietnam Digital Summit 2026 

Alongside these efforts, the use of artificial intelligence is expanding rapidly across government agencies, businesses, and daily life. Programs to develop high-quality human resources, improve digital skills among citizens, and support digital transformation for small and medium-sized enterprises are also moving forward.

However, these are only necessary conditions. The key to success lies in correctly identifying real-world challenges and bottlenecks in order to develop new solutions based on digital technology.

“What matters most for successful digital transformation is starting with the practical difficulties and challenges faced by citizens, businesses, and government agencies, then developing new approaches and processes based on digital technology,” the Deputy Minister said.

For businesses, this represents a fundamental change in mindset. Digital transformation does not start with buying software or investing in infrastructure. It starts with a basic question: what problems does the business need to solve, and how can technology help solve them?

Creating value beyond technology

According to Deputy Minister Bui Hoang Phuong, gaps still exist between policy and implementation, between infrastructure investment and the value it generates, and between expectations and digital trust among citizens and businesses.

In practice, many government agencies, organizations, and businesses have invested heavily in digital transformation, but the results have often fallen short of expectations. This is largely due to an excessive focus on technology, while innovation in operating models and process improvement has received less attention.

“The goal of digital transformation is not to carry out old tasks in a digital environment, but to perform those tasks better: faster, simpler, more transparent, and more efficient,” the Deputy Minister said.

Officials and delegates tour technology booths at the Vietnam Digital Summit 2026

This message is particularly relevant as Vietnam enters a period of rapid digital economy growth. The success of digital transformation should not be measured by the number of platforms created or the volume of digitized records, but by the real value it delivers to society.

That value may be reflected in faster administrative procedures, lower operating costs for businesses, more convenient access to public services for citizens, or improved governance efficiency through the use of data.

The theme of the Vietnam Digital Summit 2026, “Developing digital platforms and digital services, shifting activities to the digital environment,” therefore goes beyond the application of technology alone. It reflects a broader shift in development approaches, from traditional administration to modern governance driven by data and artificial intelligence.

In this process, businesses are both beneficiaries and key drivers of change. Their ability to innovate business models, invest in digital capabilities, and build a culture of innovation will play an important role in shaping future competitiveness.

The message delivered by Deputy Minister Bui Hoang Phuong at the event was more than a policy direction. It was also a call for the next phase of Vietnam’s digital transformation, one in which technology serves people, solves real-world problems, and creates lasting value for the country’s development.