Digitalization has been widely seen as an irreversible trend globally and an urgent task for Vietnamese cities to push for socio-economic development.

Students at the Hanoi College for Electro-Mechanics during a practical session.

The view was shared among experts at a scientific conference on November 21 to discuss solutions for Hanoi's digital transformation.

At the conference, the Chairman of the Hanoi Union of Science and Technology Association (HUSTA), Le Xuan Rao, highlighted the importance of digitalization which is identified as one of the three breakthroughs for Vietnam's socio-economic development in the 2021-2030 period.

Meanwhile, the Hanoi People's Committee has set a target for the city to establish a digital economy, society, and Government by 2030.

"Embarking on the digitization process would comprehensively transform the functioning and management of the state apparatus and create greater benefits for businesses and people," Rao said.

Rao stressed the growing significance of digitalization during the past two years when the Covid-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on socio-economic activities. Under the context, he welcomed Hanoi's positive progress in promoting the digital economy and society, with the city standing second nationwide in the Vietnam 2022 e-Business Index with a score of 85.9, up 30.2 against 2021.

Meanwhile, the rate of adults having smartphones is over 78%, creating a platform for digitalization in every aspect of life.

Rao praised the ongoing efforts of Hanoi's authorities in carrying out the Government's project No.06 on promoting citizen databases for e-identification and verification. "The project, once completed, would help change the way of social governance and improve the quality and efficiency in administrative works," he said.

However, the experts pointed to the low use of digital technologies in city agencies, districts, and businesses, considering the low level of digital skills of the workforce as one of the main factors.

Another shortcoming stems from a need for more awareness and preparation among public agencies to push digitization.

Director of information technology company DTT, Nguyen The Trung, said that the goal of digitization in each city/province should be to meet their fundamental needs during the development process.

"Each locality would have a different strategy and action plans for digitization, but at the same time, those plans should ensure their viability during the implementation phase," Trung added.

In the case of Hanoi, Trung called for the city to set up a digital platform to support business development, especially innovative startups and hi-tech firms, promote cultural development and sustainability, and develop digital skills for the public via digital educational models on the metaverse.

Vice Director of Hanoi's Department of Information and Communications Nguyen Tien Sy said as part of the overall efforts to mobilize resources for digital transformation in the city, the municipal Party Committee is finalizing a resolution on digitalization and smart city development in Hanoi until 2025, with a vision to 2030.

Once the resolution is issued, the local authorities would promptly draft action plans to carry out tasks under the resolution.

"Ensuring a successful digitalization would require the efforts of the entire society, from the Government to businesses and people," Sy said.