The event is part of the “Not Alone” campaign, initiated by the Digital Trust Alliance under the auspices of UNODC, UNICEF, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Education and Training, and the Ministry of Health, in cooperation with the Ha Noi People’s Committee, the Department of Cybersecurity and High-Tech Crime Prevention (A05), and the National Cybersecurity Association.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Major General Le Xuan Minh, Director of A05 under the Ministry of Public Security, warned that “the rate of online child abuse and exploitation is rising worldwide.”
He revealed that since the beginning of 2025, the police have handled over 50 cases of online kidnapping, with 100% of victims aged 18–22 and 90% being female.
“These figures are both a wake-up call and a command for action,” he emphasised, calling for joint efforts from families, schools, technology companies, and international partners.
“The ‘Not Alone’ campaign is a timely effort, mobilising collective action to protect children and young people from online kidnapping and fraud,” said Major General Le Xuan Minh.
Within just a month of launch, the campaign has attracted participation from over 2,000 schools nationwide and reached more than 500 million online interactions, according to A05.
At the event, Michaela Bauer, UNICEF Deputy Representative in Viet Nam, underlined the significance of the festival, coinciding with the signing of the world’s first international convention on cybercrime in Ha Noi.
“This is a historic milestone, sending a strong message of shared commitment to peace, progress, and safety for all,” she said.
She added: “Thirty-five years ago, Viet Nam was the first country in Asia and the second in the world to ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Today, Viet Nam continues to take the lead in combating cybercrime to protect children and all people. The ‘Not Alone’ campaign and the online safety festival reaffirm that strong commitment.”
On November 1–2, Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square and part of Ha Noi’s walking street around Hoan Kiem Lake were transformed into a multi-sensory digital experience space, where visitors explored visual and audio installations, interactive simulations of online scams and abductions, and learned practical digital safety skills.
A large number of visitors explored and experienced interactive technologies at festival.
On the evening of November 1, the “Student Talent Minishow” brought together students from seven universities and high schools across Ha Noi, spreading Gen Z’s proactive spirit under the message “Not Alone.”
The highlight will be the “Not Alone” Music Gala on November 2 — a vibrant celebration featuring popular Vietnamese artists Den, Mono, tlinh, Quang Hung MasterD, Low G, Lam Bao Ngoc, and Quang Dang, delivering a powerful message of connection and safety in the digital world.
“We are not alone in this journey,” Major General Le Xuan Minh concluded. “When every individual and organisation acts together, the online world becomes safer for all.”
