The launch ceremony, held in Ha Noi on May 29 and chaired by the Ministry of Public Security, was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra, alongside representatives from ministries, international organisations and major technology companies including Meta, TikTok, Google and VNG.
Connected online to 34 locations nationwide, the event drew nearly 10,000 participants, including officials, teachers, parents and students.
Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra said children today were growing up in an unprecedented digital era, where internet-connected devices provided vast opportunities for learning and global connectivity from an early age.
However, she warned that cyberspace also exposed children to harmful content, online abuse, scams, personal data breaches and other threats beyond their ability to manage independently.
“The protection and support of children in the online environment is no longer solely the responsibility of families, schools or authorities, but a shared task for the entire political system and society,” she said.
The programme, approved under a Prime Ministerial decision, marks a strategic step forward in Viet Nam’s efforts to safeguard children online following the implementation of the 2021-2025 phase.
Deputy Prime Minister Tra acknowledged progress in raising public awareness, strengthening the legal framework and promoting digital skills education. Technology firms had also become more active in developing child protection solutions, she noted.
Nevertheless, authorities warned that online child abuse and exploitation were becoming increasingly sophisticated and transnational, while digital literacy among some parents and teachers remained limited.
The Deputy Prime Minister called on ministries, schools, families, media organisations and technology platforms to work together to build a safer, healthier and more culturally responsible digital environment for children.
The Ministry of Health also pledged to strengthen legal reforms, expand public awareness campaigns and conduct research into the mental and physical health impacts of the online environment on children.
