The proportion of adults using smartphones in Vietnam is 73.5%. Vietnam aims to increase the rate to 85% by the end of 2022, according to the draft National Digital Infrastructure Strategy to 2025. The Department of Telecommunications, under the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC), has noted that by the end of 2021, Vietnam had 91.3 million smartphone subscribers. By March 2022, there were an additional two million smartphone subscribers, bringing the total number to 93.5 million.
As per a press release from MIC, Hai Phong has the highest percentage of adults using smartphones with 78.4%, followed by Da Nang with 77.8%. The percentage of adults using smartphones in Ho Chi Minh City is 75.7% and 74.5% in Hanoi. Correspondingly, the provinces with a low percentage of the population using feature phones are Da Nang with 6.3%, Ho Chi Minh City with 7.9%, and Ca Mau with 7.3%.
Furthermore, some provinces still have a high percentage of the population using feature phones, for example, Long An with 12.6%, Tien Giang with 13.5%, Ben Tre with 15%, Nam Dinh with 12.8%, and Thanh Hoa with 12.4%. Other localities have a low percentage of adults using smartphones, such as Son La with 58.3%, Ha Giang with 56.1%, Lai Chau with 56.6%, and Dien Bien with 57.6 %. To achieve the goal of 85% of adults using smartphones, the Department of Telecommunications said that 8.6 million of the 10 million people using feature phones would need to shift to smartphones.
Earlier this month, the Deputy Prime Minister, Vu Duc Dam, signed a decision approving the national strategy for its digital economy and society development through 2025, with orientations to 2030. The plan aims to drive the country to overcome the status of a low-middle-income country by 2025, become an upper-middle-income country by 2030, and a high-income country by 2045.
As OpenGov Asia reported, the government assigned MIC to take prime responsibility for accelerating the development of the digital economy. The Ministry has also been tasked to direct and aid other ministries, agencies, and localities in implementing the strategy and annually update the Prime Minister with reports on their performances. Vietnam has set a target to increase the gross domestic product (GDP) share of the digital economy to 20% by 2025, according to a resolution passed by Politburo on guidelines for participation in the fourth industrial revolution.
The strategy identifies institutions, infrastructure, human resources, and businesses that play important roles in the development of the digital economy and society. The strategy sets out 17 groups of tasks and 8 groups of solutions, to help boost the penetration of digital technology and data into all aspects of business production, government operations, and people’s lives. The government maintains that the post-pandemic scenario presents opportunities that Vietnam needs to quickly seize. It must make concerted efforts to develop new business lines, open up new markets, and create more new jobs.
The task of developing the digital economy and society is a top priority in most of the country’s development strategies. Creating a robust digital society is also expected to make people happier, participate in more comprehensive social activities, and enjoy more favourable social security policies, contributing to making Vietnam a safe, humane, and digital country.
