AsemconnectVietnam - The digital economy is becoming a crucial growth driver for Vietnam, aiming to account for 30% of GDP by 2030.

However, the gap with reality remains significant, requiring breakthroughs in institutions, investment, and production transformation.
Rapid growth, but not yet meeting expectations
In the Vietnamese economic landscape of recent years, the digital economy has emerged as a bright spot, reflecting the inevitable shift in the digital age. Major documents such as the Resolution of the 13th National Congress of the Party, Resolution No. 52-NQ/TW dated September 27, 2019 of the Politburo on some guidelines and policies for proactively participating in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Resolution No. 29-NQ/TW dated November 17, 2022 on “Continuing to promote industrialization and modernization of the country until 2030, with a vision to 2045”, and Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW on breakthroughs in the development of science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation all consistently identify the digital economy as a pillar in the national digital transformation process.
The goal of the digital economy accounting for approximately 30% of GDP by 2030 not only demonstrates political determination but also reflects expectations for a new growth engine that will gradually replace traditional factors. This orientation was further affirmed at the 14th National Congress of the Party with the requirement to strongly promote science and technology, innovation, and comprehensive digital transformation.
According to data from the General Statistics Office, in 2025, the size of Vietnam's digital economy was estimated to reach approximately US$72.1 billion, equivalent to 14-14.2% of GDP, a significant increase compared to US$43.8 billion in 2020. This growth rate showed considerable resilience in the context of an economy still facing many pressures from global fluctuations. Many sectors such as e-commerce, cashless payments, financial technology, online education, smart logistics, and digital services continue to maintain high growth rates. E-commerce, in particular, is becoming one of the important distribution channels of the economy. Consumers are increasingly familiar with online shopping, digital payments, and fast delivery services.
Notably, the digital economy is no longer developing only extensively but is gradually deepening. The level of digitalization is increasingly spreading across many sectors such as commerce, finance, public services, and energy. At the local level, some provinces and cities have emerged as "bright spots" where the proportion of the digital economy in GRDP exceeds 20%, and in some places even reaches over 40%.
Removing bottlenecks to unleash the digital economy
In the context of a global economy facing numerous uncertainties, from geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions to energy fluctuations, Vietnam's traditional growth drivers such as exports, investment, and consumption are all under pressure. The digital economy is expected to become a "new growth space," helping the economy reduce its dependence on external factors.
However, the current development of the digital economy still reveals many limitations. One of the biggest bottlenecks is the relatively modest flow of investment capital into high technology. Of the total FDI capital, the proportion invested in high-tech sectors is only about 5%, while the majority remains focused on processing and assembly activities. This results in low domestic added value, and Vietnam still mainly participates in low-value stages of the global production chain.
In addition, the development of the digital economy across sectors is unbalanced. While the service sector, especially finance, banking, and e-commerce, is rapidly advancing in digital transformation, the manufacturing sector, particularly processing and manufacturing industries, is moving more slowly. Many smart manufacturing models and digital factories are still in the pilot phase and lack the widespread impact to become mainstream trends.
At the National Scientific Conference “Vietnam’s Economy in 2025 and Prospects for 2026: Promoting Digital Economic Development in the New Era,” Professor To Trung Thanh from the National Economics University stated that the digital economy should be understood as the process of developing an economic model based on data, digital technology, and innovation, and as a comprehensive restructuring of the economy in the digital age. Therefore, the key point in developing the digital economy is shifting from a “digitization” mindset to a “restructuring of the economy based on digitalization.” Simultaneously, key solutions for developing the digital economy were proposed, such as: perfecting the institutional and legal framework for the digital economy; developing core technologies and attracting high-quality FDI; restructuring industry to increase the localization rate; promoting widespread digital transformation; and enhancing the technology absorption capacity of businesses.
According to experts, Vietnam is facing a great opportunity amidst the restructuring of global value chains and the emergence of new growth drivers in the digital age. If this period is well-utilized, the economy could experience a strong breakthrough.
CK
Source: VITIC/tapchitaichinh.vn