As an influential member of the European Union, Estonia has actively supported Viet Nam in the signing of the EU–Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and was among the first EU countries to ratify the EU–Viet Nam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA). Estonia is also a global exemplar in national digital transformation, science and technology, artificial intelligence (AI), innovation, digital government, digital society and citizenship, and cybersecurity — all areas in which Viet Nam has a strong interest for cooperation.
The Estonian Government and people gave Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh a warm and sincere welcome. The two prime ministers, Pham Minh Chinh and Kristen Michal, held a highly successful meeting conducted in a spirit of openness, friendliness, and mutual understanding.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressed his pleasure at visiting the beautiful, hospitable country of Estonia — a European model of innovation, start-ups, digital government and digital citizenship. He proposed that Estonia strengthen cooperation, information exchange, and share valuable experience in digital transformation, digital economy, e-government development, digital infrastructure, data centre establishment, and high-quality human resource training — areas in which Estonia has strengths and Viet Nam has pressing needs. Such cooperation would contribute to Viet Nam’s fast and sustainable socio-economic development.
Prime Minister Kristen Michal affirmed that this visit marked a historic milestone in bilateral relations, as Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh is the first Vietnamese government leader to visit Estonia. He confirmed Estonia's desire to deepen cooperation across all fields with Viet Nam and pledged to stand alongside the country in its digital transformation, innovation, science and technology, AI, cybersecurity, and education and training.
Prime Minister Michal expressed high expectations for the success of the Viet Nam–Estonia Business Forum, which he hoped would open promising avenues of cooperation between the two countries. He also noted that the two sides had signed an agreement on cooperation in digital transformation and the digital economy.
Estonia is a compelling example of successful digital transformation, which has led to significant changes, improving citizens’ lives, boosting the economy, and creating jobs. The country’s digital government saves approximately 2% of GDP annually.
Estonia has also shared its experience in digital and cybersecurity initiatives globally, supporting projects in more than 150 countries. Estonian IT companies have brought valuable cooperation opportunities, particularly in digital solutions, green technology, and start-up innovation.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh reaffirmed that Estonia is a role model for breakthrough development, entrepreneurship, digital government, and digital citizenship in Europe. He stated that the two countries had reached a strong consensus on upgrading their relationship to a new, deeper, more comprehensive, and more effective level. The two sides signed an agreement to promote digital government, digital society, and digital citizenship.
The Prime Minister expressed his hope that Estonia would soon send a team of experts to assist Viet Nam in this field, thereby creating momentum and inspiration for Viet Nam’s development in digital transformation, innovation, and science and technology. Notably, Estonia is capable of leading the world with its intellect in digital governance and the digital economy.
He stressed that Viet Nam must strive to “catch up, move forward together, and take the lead” in this domain. In an interview with the press, Hannes Hanso, Estonian Ambassador to China, Viet Nam, Mongolia, and Thailand, stated that Estonia is the most advanced digital country in the world, with 100% of public services accessible online and extensive experience in international cooperation in this area.
Estonia has also become a high-income country with excellent education and healthcare systems, a successful market economy, and advanced science and technology sectors. Therefore, it is willing to share its experience and cooperate with Viet Nam.
The Viet Nam–Estonia Business Forum focused on strengthening economic ties, especially in the digital realm. Estonian enterprises have strong advantages in innovation, information technology, digital transformation, the digital economy, fintech, AI, smart logistics and digital seaports.
Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna agreed with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's view that both sides should promote fast, time-efficient cooperation with tangible outcomes. He affirmed that Viet Nam could trust Estonia as a reliable gateway to the EU market. Although geographically distant, Viet Nam would find in Estonia a dependable environment, as Estonia is known for keeping its promises and delivering on commitments.
Estonia is one of the world’s most advanced digital nations and, starting next year, will become the first country to provide universal AI education. Vietnamese enterprises can participate in Estonia’s digital ecosystem without needing a physical presence in the country.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that Viet Nam would serve as a hub and gateway for Estonian businesses and investors to access the dynamic ASEAN region, while Estonia would act as a gateway for Vietnamese businesses into the Baltic and Northern European markets.
During his visit to the e-Estonia Centre — a global symbol of digital government — the Prime Minister and leaders of several Vietnamese ministries directly posed questions to the centre. He asked for insights into how digital transformation in a country of 1.3 million people like Estonia differs from that of a country of 100 million like Viet Nam. What advice would the centre give Viet Nam to catch up with Estonia in digital transformation?
Representatives of the e-Estonia Centre explained that digital transformation with applications, tools, and utilities for 1.3 million people and 100 million people does not have much difference, and that applications from 1 million people can be replicated to 100 million people very easily, the problem is having good and secure infrastructure, decentralized data system and easy, user-friendly applications.
When the Prime Minister proposed sending a working group to Viet Nam for 1–2 weeks to share digital transformation experience, the centre's leadership responded enthusiastically, offering not just 1–2 weeks but a full month of support.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh also visited Cybernetica — a pioneering force in Estonia’s digital economy and a global leader in e-government solutions, cybersecurity, and digital infrastructure.
Cybernetica is recognised as one of the principal architects of e-Estonia, responsible for developing core elements of the ecosystem, including the e-voting system, X-Road data exchange platform, and digital identity technology. The company has implemented e-government solutions in over 35 countries.
During the working session, the Vietnamese Prime Minister and officials discussed with Cybernetica the application of digital solutions in institutional reform; legal frameworks; the balance between digitisation and personal data protection; public–private partnerships; and digital infrastructure investment.
