Cybersecurity: An urgent need for national security assurance
Lieutenant General Nguyen Minh Chinh, Director of the Department of Cybersecurity and High-Tech Crime Prevention and Control (A05) under the Ministry of Public Security, and Permanent Vice President of the National Cybersecurity Association, speaks at the event. (Photo: VietnamPlus)
Hanoi (VNA)🌼 - As Vietnam accelerates its digital transformation, a critical mission has emerged: safeguarding national cyberspace. This is no longer merely a technical issue but an urgent necessity for ensuring national security, social stability, and public trust in digital technologies.
At the 2025 annual meeting of the National Cybersecurity Association (NCA) on April 11 in Hanoi, experts, policymakers, and business leaders engaged in in-depth discussions on the challenges and solutions for cybersecurity in the modern age.
In his remarks, Lieutenant General Nguyen Minh Chinh, Director of the Department of Cybersecurity and High-Tech Crime Prevention and Control (A05) under the Ministry of Public Security and NCA Permanent Vice President, noted that the Politburo had issued Resolution No. 57. The decree includes breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation, focusing on effective cybersecurity, safety measures, and countermeasures against high-tech crimes.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Ba Son, A05 Deputy Director, cyberattacks and cyber-espionage by hacker groups are becoming increasingly dangerous. High-tech crimes are growing more sophisticated, employing ever more cunning methods and tactics.
Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Ba Son, Deputy Director of the Department of Cybersecurity and High-Tech Crime Prevention and Control (A05) under the Ministry of Public Security. (Photo: VietnamPlus)
Le Cong Trung, head of the Business Unit Security at MobiFone, highlighted the rising trend of cybercrime involving information theft, particularly from browsers, Facebook accounts, and sensitive personal data for profit.
According to a survey by the NCA, online scams cost Vietnamese users approximately 18.9 trillion VND (over 728 million USD) in 2024, with one in every 220 smartphone users falling victim to fraud, MobiFone added.
Le Cong Trung, head of Business Unit Security at MobiFone (Photo: VietnamPlus)
Director of Banking and Financial Solutions at NGS Consulting Nguyen Duc Bang said in 2024, cybercriminals earned an estimated 4.5 trillion USD, making them the third-largest “economy” in the world after the US and China.
Nguyen Duc Bang, Director of Banking and Financial Solutions at NGS Consulting. (Photo: VietnamPlus)
The NGS Consulting representative further cautioned that with the rapid advancement of AI and the boundless nature of the global internet, cybercriminals and fraudsters are becoming increasingly sophisticated, employing unpredictable and complex techniques.
Echoing this view, Vu Anh Tu, Chief Technology Officer of FPT Group, observed that in the AI era, artificial intelligence is both a weapon for attack and a shield for defence.
According to him, 90% of global cybersecurity platforms have now integrated AI. Governments are investing heavily in AI-powered cybersecurity operation centres, while AI-driven cybersecurity startups continue to attract significant capital.
He urged organisations and businesses to form intelligent cybersecurity alliances and establish multi-layered Supplier Control Obligation (SCO) platforms applying AI to automate alerts and responses.
According to Vu Ngoc Son, head of technology at the NCA, agencies and businesses in Vietnam must continue to strengthen their cybersecurity capabilities. Currently, over 20% of agencies and enterprises lack dedicated cybersecurity staff, while 35.56% report insufficient personnel. The nation is projected to face a shortfall of more than 700,000 cybersecurity professionals.
Vu Ngoc Son, head of technology at the National Cybersecurity Association. (Photo: VietnamPlus)
One of the proposed solutions from the NCA is to develop the nCademy platform, which will provide cybersecurity training and certification. The goal is to foster a learning community, raise awareness, and support in-depth research in cybersecurity.
Notably, the Ministry of Public Security has proposed consolidating and updating the legal framework for cybersecurity by merging the 2018 Cybersecurity Law and the 2015 Law on Network Information Security into the 2025 Cybersecurity Law. This aims to align with the ministry’s expanded functions and responsibilities in the cybersecurity domain. The proposed law is expected to undergo a fast-track review process and be presented to the 15th National Assembly for discussion and approval during its 10th session in October 2025.
In parallel, the Personal Data Protection Law is currently under review by the Government and will be submitted to the National Assembly Standing Committee for comments, before its anticipated approval at the 9th session of the 15th National Assembly in May.
A05 has begun drafting a decree detailing specific provisions of the 2025 Cybersecurity Law under the fast-track process, to follow shortly after adoption./.
These solutions aim to help European companies and organisations proactively protect their systems against evolving cyber threats, minimise data loss risks, and ensure business continuity.
The Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) transferred its responsibility of ensuring cybersecurity to the Ministry of Public Security (MoPS) during a ceremony held in Hanoi on February 28.
Cybersecurity is expected to remain a significant challenge for Vietnam in 2025, as the rapid development of technology and the expansion of the digital economy continue to heighten the risk of cyberattacks.
Under the European Union (EU)’s global initiative on Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence (CoE), Vietnam has implemented numerous projects aimed at strengthening national capacity in detecting, preventing, and preparing for CBRN-related threats.
The course aims to promote knowledge exchange between scientific and educational schools from different countries, while deepening participants’ expertise in modern technology and technical education. It comprises two main specialisations of electronics-automation and nuclear technology.
ANTARA and VNA can design global-scale cooperation programmes or joint media campaigns, demonstrating the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Indonesia, as well as the cooperation between the two national news agencies.
As Vietnam’s digital transformation accelerates, both the frequency and severity of cyberattacks are growing. The National Cybersecurity Association (NCA) reported that in 2024 alone, there were some 659,000 separate cybersecurity incidents, impacting around 46.15% of government agencies and businesses.
A key highlight will be the technology cluster pavilion, showcasing top enterprises selected for their innovation, market potential, and practical applications. These firms will display flagship products and solutions, supported by government policies to strengthen the tech sector.
Since 2022, more than 500 Vietnamese startups have engaged in Google’s Startup Academy, Google for Startups Accelerator, and Google Startup Masterclass. Nearly 100 of these firms received support to develop and improve their products, benefiting more than 300,000 customers and creating over 300 new jobs through successful fundraising and team expansion amidst Vietnam’s competitive economy.
Over the past three decades, Binh Duong has cemented its status as one of Vietnam’s most dynamic industrial hubs, building a robust foundation in manufacturing, exports, and investment. The province now has 30 operational industrial parks spanning over 13,000 hectares, with an occupancy rate exceeding 90%.
The diplomat emphasised that Vietnam places the highest priority on the development of science, technology, and innovation, viewing them as critical drivers for the country’s advancement in the new development era.
The PM revealed Vietnam’s plan to develop nuclear power in the near future, and called on the Swedish side to assist Vietnam in developing and refining legal and policy frameworks for the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes; training and developing human resources; ensuring nuclear safety; and conducting training and drills to improve incident management capabilities.
More than an art showcase, the second “Technology with heart” contest seeks to inspire innovation and spotlight the humanistic values that technology can bring into daily life, expected to contribute to a sustainable digital future.
The average speed of the national mobile broadband network remained stable, with download speeds reaching 76.86 Mbps and upload speeds reaching 26.98 Mbps.
Under the MoU, AMD will support several key initiatives spearheaded by HCM City’s authorities, including piloting policies, co-hosting innovation events, and evaluating the investment environment within the Saigon Hi-Tech Park.
The centre is a joint initiative between Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology, with PTIT and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) serving as co-leads, and global telecommunications giant Nokia as founding industry partner.
The new centre, staffed by a team of scientists, researchers, and AI specialists working in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, forms part of Qualcomm’s global AI research group.
As a flagship initiative of the community project “Digital Literacy for All”, the programme forms part of a national scheme to equip 20 million young people with digital business skills.
The organisers hope the competition will help shape a generation of exceptional engineers who will make significant contributions to Vietnam’s scientific and technological progress in this era of transformation.
In the digital age and amidst the Fourth Industrial Revolution, IP plays an increasingly critical role, not only in safeguarding inventions but also in reducing copyright infringement and curbing piracy.
Ambassador Nguyen Minh Vu laid stress on the significance of the Hanoi Convention, particularly to the Asia – Pacific, to handling legal gaps in international cooperation against rapidly increasing global cybercrime.
