Hanoi (VNA) - Over 20 years ofdevelopment, the Internet in Vietnam has made impressive advances, permeatinginto every part of daily life and changing people’s habits, noted Truong Minh Tuan,Minister of Information and Communications at an event marking Internet Day2017.

The Vietnam Internet Association (VIA)organised Internet Day 2017 on the 20th anniversary of the Internet in Vietnamin Hanoi on November 22.

The event was a special occasion to lookback on the growth of the Internet in Vietnam, while offering suggestions tofurther promote its development to bring prosperity to the nation in thefuture.

Speaking at the event, the minister notedthat 20 years ago, November 19, 1997 marked an important milestone in thehistory of the Vietnamese information and communication industry, when Vietnamofficially connected to the Internet.

According to the minister, to ensure thecontinued development of the Internet in Vietnam, the part played bytelecommunication and information technology infrastructure must beacknowledged.

“From the 1990s, Vietnam is known for itsearly deployment of 2G networks and continued spread of 3G and 4G, with moderntelecommunication and Internet infrastructure, covering the nation from citiesto rural areas, mountainous provinces to the islands,” he said.

According to statistics from the beginningof this year, Vietnam has more than 50 million Internet users, accounting for54 percent of the population, higher than the global average at 46.64 percent.

Vietnam is also listed among countries withthe highest number of Internet users in Asia.

Compared to more than 31 million users in2012; 17 million in the past 10 years and 205,000 people in the early days ofthe Internet in Vietnam, it can be said that the country has made impressivestrides, the minister said.

The Ministry of Information andCommunications is also trying to promote the development of informationtechnology, the digital content industry and the application of added value onthe Internet, along with the development of fields such as advertising, games,e-commerce and e-payment.

“Along with the achievements of Internetinfrastructure businesses such as Viettel, VNPT, FPT or CMC, many big digitalcontent companies such as VTC, VNG and VCCorp have firm positions domesticallyand are reaching out to the world,” said the minister.

Many applications developed by domesticbusinesses and individuals have resonated internationally, such as Flappy Birdand Monkey Junior.

In governmental agencies, hundreds ofonline public services have been deployed at level 3 and level 4, Tuan noted.

Many ministries, agencies and localitieshave even opened official accounts on social networks to interact with citizensquickly and effectively, which has received a positive response.

“This is a foundation for Internetapplications at higher and more complicated levels, such as e-government, smartcities, smart traffic and smart education,” he said.

The minister also noted that as Vietnamsteps into the 4th industrial revolution, all industries and fields must godigital.

To be able to do this, Vietnam needs tofocus on promoting the development of information technology,telecommunications and Internet infrastructure, digital content and theapplication of added value in the country sustainably.

"In the future, we need to implementpolicies and solutions to support and encourage Vietnamese enterprises toconfidently embrace Industry 4.0," Tuan said.

However, the Internet also presents anumber of challenges.

Currently, the amount of maliciousinformation appearing on the Internet and social networking is increasing,especially fake and distorted information, which insults personal andorganisational dignity.

In addition, issues such as cyber attacks,unsafe information, spam, malware and blackmail aimed at businesses, agenciesand organisations in Vietnam, are increasing in number, scale and complexity.

Therefore, the Ministry of Information andCommunications and related ministries and agencies have been implementingmeasures to prevent and handle the violations.

At the ceremony, the VIA also announced the10 most influential people who have played a significant role in thedevelopment of the Internet over the past 20 years.

They include Mai Liem Truc – former deputyminister of Post and Telematics; Truong Gia Binh – chairman of technologycompany FPT; Nguyen Trung Chinh – chairman of CMC Corporation; Nguyen Manh Hung– general director of the military-run telecom group Viettel; Tran Manh Hung –chairman of Vietnam Post and Telecommunication Group (VNPT); Vu Hoang Lien –chairman of VIA; Le Hong Minh – chairman of VNG Corporation; Nguyen Tu Quang –Chairman of BKAV Technology Group; Le Nam Thang – former deputy minister ofInformation and Communications and Thang Duc Thang - Editor-in-chief ofVnExpress.

Five enterprises which have had a significanteffect on the Internet in Vietnam were named as VNPT; Viettel; FPT TelecomJoint Stock Company; MobiFone Telecommunications Corporation and CMCCorporation.-VNA