HÀ NỘI — The Government has approved Việt Nam’s National Data Strategy for the 2026–2030 period, setting out an ambitious roadmap to build a unified, secure and interconnected national data ecosystem and position the country among the world’s top 30 nations in data governance and artificial intelligence (AI).

Under Decision 1308/QĐ-TTg signed by Deputy Prime Minister Hồ Quốc Dũng, the strategy aims to develop synchronised national and specialised databases, shared data platforms and computing infrastructure under a common architecture. It seeks to ensure that data becomes a key driver of governance, economic growth and innovation while safeguarding personal data, privacy and national sovereignty.

The strategy outlines a series of targets to be achieved by 2030, beginning with the completion of the legal framework governing data management and use. All ministries, sectors and localities are required to finalise their own data strategies, governance frameworks and data architectures, while aligning their systems with a shared national data dictionary.

Authorities will also introduce annual assessments ranking ministries and local governments according to the quality and maturity of their data systems. Organisations processing more than one million data records will be subject to mandatory audits every two years.

A central pillar of the strategy is the development of national databases and shared data platforms. By 2030, all approved national databases, key sectoral databases and common datasets are expected to be digitised, standardised and cleaned to be "accurate, complete, clean and live". The data will be synchronised with the National Data Centre and managed through the centre’s data-sharing and coordination platform, except in special cases authorised for direct connections.

The Government also plans to operate a national integrated database that will enable public agencies to reuse information across systems, reducing paperwork and simplifying administrative procedures, aiming to replace documents with data. The database is expected to strengthen the country’s capacity for strategic analysis and forecasting to support policymaking.

As part of these efforts, Việt Nam will build three national data centres in accordance with Resolution 175/NQ-CP. The centres will be equipped with high-performance computing and AI infrastructure, providing State agencies, research institutions and eligible organisations with access to shared computing resources for large-scale data processing and the development of AI models.

The strategy also places a strong emphasis on data security and resilience. National data infrastructure will be integrated with essential telecommunications, energy and cybersecurity systems, while all critical data and digital platforms will be protected through multilayer backup mechanisms capable of restoring essential services within four hours in the event of disruptions or disasters.

AI is expected to play a central role in the country’s digital transformation agenda. The Government has set targets to standardise all open datasets published on the national open-data portal to ensure they can be reused effectively in public administration, AI training and innovation.

Datasets deemed essential for AI development, including those related to the Vietnamese language, the Internet of Things and real-time applications, will be cleaned, labelled and anonymised before being integrated into a national AI data repository.

The repository will support domestic enterprises engaged in AI and data technology, with the goal of developing and training at least 150 'Make in Vietnam' AI models, products and services.

This strategy further seeks to stimulate the growth of a domestic data economy and a regulated data market. Ministries and provincial authorities will be required to regularly publish high-quality open data, while the Government plans to establish at least five licensed data exchanges.

Authorities also aim to foster the growth of at least 1,000 enterprises specialising in data technology, analytics, digital platforms and AI, alongside 30 intermediary organisations involved in data collection, processing and sharing.

Several sectors have been earmarked for large-scale digital transformation. The strategy calls for the digitisation of 90 per cent of cultural heritage sites and nationally recognised monuments, alongside the creation of digital libraries and online platforms to promote tourism. All tourist attractions across the country are expected to be digitised and integrated into digital tourism ecosystems.

In social welfare, the Government aims to complete social insurance databases and integrate electronic employment records with information on lifelong learning and vocational training for all workers participating in the social insurance system.

The education sector is expected to digitise teaching materials and learning resources to support online education, while the health sector targets the establishment of electronic health records for all citizens.

The strategy also sets out plans to strengthen the skillset of the country’s data sector workers. Authorities aim to train at least 50,000 civil servants and public employees in data governance and analytics, while equipping around 300,000 workers with data and AI skills.

Việt Nam also plans to cultivate a core workforce of at least 5,000 data experts across Government agencies, businesses and research institutions, with more than 50 universities offering programmes in data science, AI and related fields.

On the security front, the Government intends to establish a national data security monitoring system operating around the clock, ensuring that more than 90 per cent of critical information systems comply with cybersecurity and data-protection standards. Mechanisms will also be introduced to monitor the entire life cycle of data, enabling citizens and organisations to track how their information is being used.

Looking ahead to 2045, the strategy envisions data becoming central to governance and policymaking, with all leadership and administrative activities of Party and State agencies supported by data, and at least 90 per cent of major decisions informed by data analytics and AI.

More than 90 per cent of essential public services are expected to be delivered proactively or personalised through data-driven systems, while citizen and business satisfaction rates are targeted to exceed 99 per cent.

By 2045, Việt Nam also aims to master at least 80 per cent of the core technologies and platforms needed for data storage, processing and protection, while achieving self-reliance in cloud computing, high-performance computing and AI infrastructure.

The country aspires to become a major regional hub for cross-border data storage, processing and exchange and to rank among the world’s top 30 nations in data governance and artificial intelligence. — VNS