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.

Fourteen species of rare fish have been discovered in caves in the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, in the central province of Quang Binh. The fish were detected during a recent project that recorded the diversity of the fish stock in the area, which was conducted by Vietnamese Ichthyologist Nguyen Thai Tu and his team. Of the species discovered, several are listed in the World’s Red Book and o­ne of them, the Mo fish (Lobocheilos sp), a unique species that o­nly lives in a cold water environment, was also found at Son Doong Cave in the park. Phong Nha - Ke Bang is considered a huge biological museum for Vietnam as numerous species of rare and precious flora and fauna can be found there

Mobilephone sales during the second quarter of the year dropped 18 per cent compared to the previous quarter, according to the International Data Company (IDC).The number of sales for basic mobilephones fell by 20 per cent, while smartphone sales dropped by 4 per cent.Nokia led the mobilephone market with 50 per cent of sales, and Samsung had the highest market share for smartphones.IDC predicted that Vietnamese- and Chinese-made phones would ultimately take the highest market share for basic mobilephones and inexpensive smartphones.While handphone sales slumped, computer tablet sales rose by 110 per cent in the second quarter.The Apple iPad tablet leads the segment, with sales rising by 170 per cent compared to the first quarter.Apple holds a market share of 78 per cent in the tablet category. IDC said that Samsung's Galaxy Tab had suffered a loss of sales to Apple's iPad.

The Bkav network security company announced that it has successfully blocked bogus incoming calls from satellite telephones. In order to do this, users are advised to install Bkav Mobile Security software in their mobile phones using the website mobile.bkav.com.vn. Alternatively, those who use Android operating systems can download the software from Google Play. Alternatively, people who use BlackBerry’s can access it from App World while iOS users can do the same from Cydia. o­nce installed, Bkav Mobile Security will automatically run an up to date version o­n a regular basis. The scam involved users receiving ‘missed calls’ o­n their phones, sent by international numbers which belong to the Global Mobile Satellite System (GMSS). When users call back, they themselves are charged hundreds thousands of VND in fees, even though the phones at the other end just ring. Mobile operators are unable to refund these fees as international numbers are not under the management of any single country

The Hong Kong Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) in Vietnam officially inaugurated its new o­nline financial library.

The Hanoitimes - The State Bank of Vietnam has posted o­n its website a draft circular that would ban both Vietnamese and foreigners from carrying gold bars and gold materials when they enter or leave the country.

Inferior in term of financial capability, less professional in the management of e-commerce websites, Vietnamese fashion product distributors fear they may be defeated o­n the home market.

Telephones and spare parts ranked second among Vietnam’s top ten export earners in the first eight months of this year.   The General Department of Customs’ latest statistics showed they enjoyed a record year-on-year rise of 123 percent to 7.977 billion USD in export revenue.

A battery-operated musical robot named ‘Tosy’, produced by the TOSY Robotics Company in Vietnam, will be introduced at the CEATEC Japan 2012- Cutting Edge IT & Electronics Comprehensive Exhibition from October 2-6.

Vietnamese telecoms companies are no longer reliant o­n foreign partners, resulting in the withdrawal of foreign-invested companies from the domestic telecoms market, said an official in a report published by Vietnam Investment Review.Le Nam Thang, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications, said Vietnamese telecommunications companies now have the necessary conditions to develop by themselves. These conditions include capital, experience and workforce.

A national conference for young science and technology talents and the ‘Golden Globe’ Youth Science and Technology Awards 2012 will be held in early November, announced the Secretariat of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee at a press conference in Hanoi.

The Ministry of Science and Technology MST is moving ahead with the plan to open technology product trading floors after 2015.

The Hanoitimes - Vietnamese telecoms companies are no longer reliant o­n foreign partners, resulting in the withdrawal of foreign-invested companies from the domestic telecoms market, said an official in a report published by Vietnam Investment Review.Le Nam Thang, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications, said Vietnamese telecommunications companies now have the necessary conditions to develop by themselves. These conditions include capital, experience and workforce. Many domestic telecom companies do not lack capital and it is easier for them now to access advanced technology, Thang said. In the past, foreign-invested telecommunications enterprises such as Comvik , SK Telecom, VimpelCom, and Hutchison Telecommunications penetrated deeply into the Vietnamese market. However, three of these four investors have already withdrawn quietly from the market, with Comvik International Vietnam AB (CIV), a Swedish Telecom operator belonging to the Kinnevik Group, being an example. In 1995, under the flagship of Millicom International Cellular SA, CIV, together with Vietnam Mobile Services (VMS), the company established the Mobifone network in Vietnam under a Business Cooperation Contract ( BCC ), with capital contribution of 200 million USD. Thanks to this partnership, Mobifone became o­ne of the major mobile telephony operators in Vietnam and provided GSM and GPRS services to close to 2.5 million customers, with turnover of 400 million USD in 2005. However, this cooperative relationship o­nly lasted until the end of 2005 when the BCC was terminated. The withdrawal of SK Telecom (a wireless telecommunications operator of the Republic of Korea controlled by the SK Group) and VimpelCom (a Russia-based international operator) was different from Comvik International Vietnam AB. These two companies decided to stop their operations in Vietnam due to ineffective business. After nine years of ineffective operations in Vietnam , SK Telecom in partnership with the Saigon Post and Telecommunications Services Corporation was forced to withdraw from the Vietnamese market. Similarly, VimpelCom also had to say good bye to the Vietnamese telecoms market after ending its GTel Mobile joint venture with partner Gtel Transmit and Infrastructure Service o­ne Member Co. Lt. In April this year, VimpelCom had to sell its 49 percent stake in the Beeline brand to Gtel, making the latter a wholly locally owned firm. Under the deal, Gtel Company paid around 45 million USD for the buyback after year-long negotiations. The mobile service provider will launch a new brand to replace Beeline. At present, the Hong Kong-based Hutchison Telecommunications International Limited is the o­nly foreign-invested company operating in the telecommunications industry in Vietnam , Vietnam Investment Review said. "However, the company accounts for just an 8 percent market share, and is having difficulties developing infrastructure to provide 3G services," the paper added. Vo Tri Thanh, Deputy Director of the Central Institute of Economic Management, however said that the withdrawal of foreign investors in the telecommunications area should prompt a review of the domestic market as well as competitive activities in order to make proper adjustments for better development. "The Vietnamese telecommunications market still has a lot of potential to exploit, and is still attractive to many foreign companies and corporations involved in the telecommunications area," Thanh said. Thanh's judgement was proved by the fact that British Telecommunications and Thailand's True Corporation recently expressed their interest in developing their businesses in Vietnam

A delegation from the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) visited India from September 9-17 and met with representatives of several government departments to carry out the bilateral co-operation programme o­n technology.

Vietnam will co-operate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and other international oganisations in all nuclear energy related issues for peaceful purposes, said Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Quan at the 56th annual IAEA General Assembly in Austria.Vietnam always attaches importance to co-operation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and other international organisations in all nuclear energy related issues for peaceful purposes, Quan has said.

Nearly 200 businesses from 22 nations and territories are attending international trade show Elenex Vietnam 2012, which opened in HCM City o­n September 19.

Around 200 companies will take part in this year’s Elenex Vietnam exhibition in HCMC from September 19-21 under the arrangement of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The Hanoitimes -  The Vietnam Post and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) and its Chinese partner, the China Mobile Communications Corporation, have launched a trans-national optical cable network to connect with China.

The Hanoitimes -  Some telecom conglomerates have revealed their plans to jump into the pay-TV market. They might not anticipate the barriers they would meet when implementing the plan.

Hanoi’s Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park is warming up with the Baxco-Potomac Biotechnology Vietnam for its three projects in the park.Baxco-Potomac Biotechnology Vietnam is a joint venture between China’s Potomax Biotechnology and the US’ Baxco Pharmaceutical. The firm showed their interest in building three projects in Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park after visiting there late last month.The park’s Investment Department director Tran Dac Trung said the joint venture had just signed a memorandum of understanding o­n implementation of these projects. However, the total investment capital and the size of these projects were under wraps.The projects comprise a biochip manufacturing for the medical sector, an organic insecticide manufacturing project and a flower and finger flower production project.In addition to genetic applications, the biochip is being used in toxicological, protein, and biochemical research. Biochips can also be used to rapidly detect chemical agents used in biological warfare so that defensive measures can be taken.Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Van Lang said that biochip technology appeared in Vietnam about 10 years ago and was used in some hospitals.He confirmed Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park would have strong health sector support as Vietnam wanted to boost biochip technology to meet domestic demand and export overseas.The Vietnamese government has been cooperating with the Japanese government to build Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park’s infrastructure.“At present, Japanese party is still consulting technical planning and expect to finish by the end of 2012. In March this year, the Vietnamese government signed an agreement to receive official development assistance (ODA) funds from the Japanese government worth 30 billion Japanese Yen ($371 million) for developing the park’s infrastructure to be expected to complete in 2015,” said Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park vice management board Pham Dai Duong.Hoa Lac High-Tech Park located in Hanoi’s Thach That district was founded in 1999, covering 1,600ha.The park targets to develop information technology, especially software development, bio-technology, mechanical-electronic engineering, micro-electronics, new materials, nano technology and environmental friendly technologies.

The Hanoitimes -  The Prime Minister has asked relevant agencies to investigate several websites that distort the situation in Vietnam, speak ill of the Party’s leadership, and incite social disturbances against the administration.