In 2024, Vietnam's digital economy saw a major uptick in interest in artificial intelligence (AI).

Vietnam can unlock the digital economy across sectors through the effective use of AI-powered solutions.

The growth of Vietnam's esports market is highlighted in the Vietnam Esports White Book 2022-2023, which outlines global trends.

The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism VNAT has announced the new slogan and symbol of the Vietnam tourism promotion program for the new period of 2012-2015. As such, Vietnam has successfully chosen the way it will follow in the new stage of development, and what’s next?

A website at musicshow.vn which sells tickets for music shows nationwide was launched. The site has ticket booths convenient for audiences to buy.

The Science Council under the National Assembly Standing Committee for the 2011-2016 tenure made its debut in the presence of NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung.

Jetstar Pacific Airlines has agreed to let passengers pay fares o­n mobile phones, in a deal with o­nline payment service o­nePay, mobile phone carrier Vinaphone and M-Service.

The Science and Technology Press Awards 2012 were launched in Hanoi by the Ministry of Science and Technology.

A survey conducted by Yahoo! o­n the use of internet via smart phones and other mobile devices in Southeast Asia found that consumers in Vietnam spent o­n average US $24 a month accessing the internet while o­n the move, more than in any other country in the region.

Vietnamobile has announced new 3G tariff plans offering new services for customers. This marks a new stage in Vietnamobile’s development in a bid to provide customers the opportunity to interchangeably use either the network operator’s higher quality 2G or 3G services without paying more.With a 3G connection speed of up to 21.6Mbps, Vietnamobile offers the fastest 3G data speed in the country. Vietnamobile will focus o­n developing 3G in major cities with a target of 94 per cent coverage in HCM City, Da Nang and Hanoi.Elizabete Fong, Vietnamobile CEO said: “We aim to make quality telecommunication services affordable to everyone. Vietnamobile was launched in 2009 with the best voice rate and now we’ve made 3G available to our customers with the same principle. Our customers can enjoy both 2G and 3G seamlessly at the same price, same charging principles but at the fastest data speed in Vietnam.”

Vietnam e-Commerce Association (VECOM) conducted a seminar this week to review its o­n-line shopping website TuanMuaSamTrucTuyen.vn after it was launched between 14-27 November this year.Chairman of VECOM Le Danh Vinh said the website aimed to enhance the awareness and skill of o­nline shopping for consumers and to promote the image of domestic business while contributing to promote e-commerce development in Vietnam. To make e-commerce businesses more popular, all consumers should know more about the benefits and risks of o­nline transaction, he said.

Military-run Viettel Telecom Group will take over its failing rival, EVN Telecom, next January 1 in what is Vietnam’s first acquisition in the telecom industry.The government has given a go-ahead for the acquisition, Saigon Tiep Thi Newspaper quoted an unnamed Viettel executive as saying.Accordingly, all assets belonging to EVN Telecom, a subsidiary of the power monopoly Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN), including properties, network infrastructures, human resources, business partners, investment projects, as well as outstanding debts, will be taken over by Viettel.A Viettel representative said Viettel executives had promised to protect EVN Telecom’s customers and jobs, and fulfill all duties of the debt-stricken company.With the acquisition, EVN Telecom will manage to “transfer” as much as thousands of billions of dong in debt to Viettel, which is another state-run enterprise.The total debt of EVN Telecom since 2010 is around VND4 trillion ($192 million).Earlier Hanoi Telecom also sought the government approval to acquire the entire 3G frequency band, infrastructure, and optical cable system.But the proposal was rejected, and all technical infrastructures of EVN Telecom will be transferred to Viettel. Insiders have expressed concerns that the merger would create a monopoly in the telecom industry since Viettel holds the largest market share in the sector.EVN Telecom was the 6th biggest mobile service provider in Vietnam. After seven years of operation, the telecom was stuck with low subscribers and poor revenues and became a debtor to many companies including Viettel and Vietnam’s largest telecom operator VNPT.

A new monkey, a self-cloning skink, five carnivorous plants, and a unique leaf warbler are among the 208 species newly described by science in the Greater Mekong region that includes Vietnam in 2010 and highlighted in a new WWF report.Global conservation group WWF announced the report Monday, saying the newly described species include a “psychedelic gecko” in southern Vietnam.

The Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the US signed a joint declaration o­n the intention of cooperation in civil space and aviation activities in Hanoi.

Vinagame, Vietnam's leading internet company, signed a strategic co-operative agreement with Japanese social gaming company DeNA in Hanoi last week to export its social network game to Japanese market.Under the agreement, the game "Pig Farm" would be o­n the Japanese market through the social gaming website Yahoo!Mobage.DeNA and Vinagame are also working to change the language of another Vinagame game, "Sky Garden", to Japanese.

The Foreign Ministry’s National Border Committee has launched the English-language version of its website o­n Vietnam’s sovereign boundaries.The website covers news, events, and activities of Party and State leaders as well as localities relating to borderline management and national defence o­n both land and the sea.

Marketed four years ago, netbooks o­nce dominated the market. However, with the appearance of tablet PC and ultrabook, the type of “tiny laptop” has become less favorite o­n the market.

The General Statistics Office (GSO) and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) announced two websites for data o­n population and housing, as well as family planning and annual population movement in Vietnam.Data o­n the 2009 national census o­n population and housing is available at http://www.gso.gov.vn/khodulieudanso , while information o­n family planning and migration is at http://www.gso.gov.vn/khobdds.Visitors to these sites can access results of the population and housing census, as well as population forecasts, information o­n education in the country, migration and urbanisation trends and major target achievements.Speaking about the sites, UNFPA chief representative Bruce Campbell said the data provide a scientific basis for the Vietnamese Government to create suitable policies and programmes in order to fulfill the socio-economic development strategy for 2011-2015.He pledged to continue assisting the Vietnamese Government to improve the quality of information collection, analysis and dissemination.He also recommended that the Government, ministries, sectors, research institutes and enterprises use these statistical sources in policymaking and implementation at all levels. According to the 2009 census, Vietnam is now in a golden population structure period, with young people aged between 10-24 accounting for nearly o­ne third of the nation’s total population. UNFPA says the country can take advantage of the young workforce by ensuring that they all have access to basic social services, education and training. This will help them contribute to the country’s future socio-economic development.

The awards ceremony for ‘Vietnamese Talent Award 2011’ was held at the Vietnam-Soviet Union Cultural Friendship Palace in Hanoi.

The Department of Primary Education has now prepared a highly visual science text book for primary school children, covering various aspects of social and nature related subjects.

The Vietnam News Agency (VNA) and Japan’s Fuji TVjointly launched a website to promote Japanese businesses in Vietnamese and English languages. The launch took place o­nly o­ne day after Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung concluded an official visit to Japan . The “Catch Asia! Look Japan” programme, jointly implemented by VNA e-newspaper VietnamPlus and Fuji TV, aims to promote Japanese companies’ pioneering strategies and advanced technologies, as well as sharing information between Vietnam and Japan. The programme is expected to create favourable conditions for economic activities and contribute to sustainable socio-economic development of both Vietnam and Japan. The website, at www.catchasialookjapan.com and www.congtynhatban.info, provides the profiles of dozens of Japanese businesses operating or planning to operate in Vietnam, as well as the latest information o­n production and business circumstances, new technologies and long-term investment strategies of those companies in Vietnam and other countries, as well as their social activities. Speaking at the launch ceremony, VNA General Director Nguyen Duc Loi said that Japan has always been o­ne of Vietnam’s leading economic partners. For his part, Fuji TV Vice President Ryosuke Yokoi said for Japanese businesses, Vietnam is always a stable and attractive business and investment market. He also said Fuji TV is happy to cooperate with VietnamPlus to build a useful information channel for Japanese businesses and their Vietnamese partners, contributing to enhancing bilateral cooperation.

The Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) will help Vietnam manage and reduce landslide disaster in the transport sector.

The jury board of the 7th VietnamTalent Contest (2011) announced 17 information technology products selected for final examination at a press briefing in Hanoi o­n Tuesday.The IT sector entered a record of 204 products based o­n software and hardware.It is expected that contestants will gather in Hanoi o­n November 17-18 to make their presentations in contest for prizes.