Linking digital services to people’s rights and benefits
Resolution No. 66.22/2026/NQ-CP establishes principles, rights, responsibilities, and incentive policies to encourage people to participate in the digital environment. According to Major General Vu Van Tan, Director of the Police Department for Administrative Management of Social Order (C06) under the Ministry of Public Security, the development of digital citizens has made clear progress, moving from establishing digital identities to providing practical services.
To date, 100% of citizens have been issued personal identification numbers. The Ministry of Public Security has issued 86.4 million electronic identification accounts to Vietnamese citizens. Nearly 50% of citizens have personal digital signatures, helping save approximately 41,000–170,000 VND per digitally signed application and reducing processing time by 15–60 minutes.
VNeID has between three million and six million users a day, offers more than 77 utilities, has recorded over 500 million visits, and provides 19 groups of online public services. The proportion of administrative procedure applications processed online has reached 49.7%. Viet Nam’s E-Government Development Index ranking has risen 15 places to 71st out of 193 countries.
The policies implemented have linked digital citizenship development to direct benefits for the public. As of September 30, approximately 768,000 data searches had been conducted through VNeID to determine eligibility for policy benefits. More than 14,700 residence-related applications and some passport applications were exempted from fees. A total of 25 localities introduced zero fees for certain online public services, with the measure expected to save people and businesses approximately 37 billion VND a year.
VNeID has expanded beyond its role as an administrative application to become an interactive channel through which people can participate in and contribute to policymaking in the digital environment. The application has recorded more than 20.6 million citizen submissions on the draft amendments to the Constitution and nearly 3.3 million submissions on the documents for the 14th National Party Congress.
The development of digital services must go hand in hand with personal data protection and user safety in the digital environment. The 2025 Law on Cybersecurity and the Law on Personal Data Protection provide an important legal basis for data protection and cybersecurity.
The Ministry of Public Security, the banking sector, and telecommunications companies have worked closely together to carry out biometric verification for 268.7 million banking records and standardise nearly 149 million mobile subscriber records, in efforts to eliminate junk SIM cards and fraudulent accounts. Nevertheless, institutional frameworks and technical solutions can only be effective when implemented in a coordinated manner alongside management, supervision, and efforts to raise user awareness.
Responsibilities go hand in hand with digital skills
According to Major Ngô Dai Nam of the Cybersecurity Department (A05) under the Ministry of Public Security, citizens’ rights in the digital environment are always accompanied by the responsibility to comply with the law and respect the lawful rights and interests of others.
Digital skills involve more than simply knowing how to use smartphones, social media platforms, or online public services. They also include the ability to identify fake information, recognise online scams, protect accounts and personal data, and use technology in a safe and effective manner.
For cadres and Party members, responsibility in the digital environment also entails taking the lead, setting an example and maintaining discipline in public statements. The Party Central Committee has issued Regulation No. 207-QD/TW (dated July 26, 2026) on things Party members are prohibited from doing. The terms “artificial intelligence (AI)” and “digital platforms” have been included in Article 5 of the regulation, which prohibits Party members from using internet infrastructure, social media, digital platforms, or AI to create or disseminate false information.
Continued implementation of Regulation No. 85-QD/TW (dated October 7, 2022) on cadres and Party members establishing and using personal websites on the internet and social media, as well as Regulation No. 19-QD/TW (dated April 8, 2026) on political and ideological work within the Party, requires cadres and Party members not only to avoid violations but also to demonstrate responsibility in receiving and disseminating information.
Standing Vice President of the Viet Nam General Confederation of Labour Ngo Duy Hieu stressed: “Every cadre and Party member must maintain political steadfastness and remain alert to content showing signs of forgery or distortion. They should proactively verify sources and be ready to refute false viewpoints with facts and in a civilised manner. In the digital era, Party members set an example not only in real life but also through every action, comment, and interaction in cyberspace.”
Lac Duong Commune in Lam Dong Province covers a large area with a sparse population, most of whom are from ethnic minority groups. Bui Quoc Huan, Deputy Secretary of the Commune Party Committee and Chairman of the Commune People’s Committee, said: “The Lac Duong Commune Party Committee has determined that incorporating these regulations into Party cell meetings must be directly linked to political tasks and practical thematic sessions".
The locality is focusing on renewing regular and thematic Party cell meetings, linking them to the identification of fake news, information security, and self-reflection, as well as self-correction in online conduct. At the same time, Party members are being urged to take the lead in using electronic Party member handbooks and applying AI in official duties, while ensuring rigorous verification and absolute accuracy, avoiding mechanical dependence on technology and preventing the disclosure of confidential information.
The Party committee is strengthening inspection and supervision, closely monitoring ideological developments, and using conduct in the digital environment as a criterion for assessing Party members’ performance each year.
To ensure that the digital transformation process “leaves no one behind”, the “Digital Literacy for All” movement is being rolled out nationwide. The “Digital Literacy for All” platform has incorporated 170 courses and attracted more than 3.6 million participants. Around 93,500 community digital technology teams, together with grassroots forces, are helping people acquire practical skills such as using VNeID, submitting applications online, making digital payments, and looking up and checking personal information.
According to Tran Van Chin, Chairman of Arobid Technology Joint Stock Company, digital skills should be taught through easy-to-understand guidance linked to everyday needs, particularly for older people and those with limited access to technology. Technology can only deliver its full value when people understand its benefits, have the necessary skills, and participate proactively. The measure of digital transformation is whether people can live more safely, work more efficiently, and access more opportunities.
To mark Viet Nam Digital Citizen Day on October 15, everyone should take the initiative to learn digital skills, protect personal data, and behave responsibly online.
