Bringing Vietnam to a strong rise in the digital and knowledge age

Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung speaks at the event. (Photo: TL)

Building technological autonomy in strategic areas

Speaking at the ceremony to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the post and telecommunications sector, the 66th anniversary of the science and technology sector and the 1st Patriotic Emulation Congress on the afternoon of September 29, Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung expressed his gratitude to the revolutionary predecessors, those working in the post, telecommunications, science and technology sectors through the ages who spared no effort, intelligence and blood to contribute to the building of science and technology, innovation and digital transformation of Vietnam today.

The Minister said that the spirit of "competing is patriotism" has helped generations of postal, telecommunications, science and technology officials overcome hardships, turn poverty into creativity, maintain the information network and light the fire of knowledge.

According to the Minister, in 1986, the 6th Party Congress initiated the Doi Moi process - a major historical milestone, opening an era of innovation and integration for the country, and also a turning point for the industry.

Science and technology have transformed Vietnam from a country with a lack of food into a country with self-sufficiency in food and a leading rice exporter in the world , building many large projects, such as the 500kV North-South power line, self-elevating oil rigs at a depth of 120m of water, building ships of more than 100,000 tons, building cable-stayed bridges, highways, organ transplants and vaccine production, mastering telecommunications network technology, high-tech weapons, ranking 44th in the world on the global innovation index.

Regarding post and telecommunications, Vietnam is a leader in digitizing telecommunications networks, launching satellites, opening the market, popularizing mobile, Internet and post and delivery services to the entire population, investing in telecommunications abroad, building digital infrastructure, developing the "Make in Vietnam" digital technology industry, implementing digital transformation, population databases, and identifying the entire population digitally through VNeID.

On March 1, 2025, the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Information and Communications will merge into the Ministry of Science and Technology. According to the Minister, the 2025-2030 term is the first term of the merged Ministry, the first term to implement Resolution 57 of the Politburo on breakthroughs in science and technology development, innovation and national digital transformation; the first term to comprehensively innovate in postal services, telecommunications, science and technology.

This is also the first term in which the three strategies of science and technology, innovation and digital transformation are under one roof, taking on the mission of being the central driving force to realize Vietnam's aspiration to become a developed country with high income.

In that spirit, the Minister emphasized, the Ministry of Science and Technology launched the first patriotic emulation movement of the industry in the new period, with a large and long-term orientation.

First, develop a knowledge-based economy based on science and technology, innovation and digital data.

Second, build technological autonomy in strategic fields in the spirit of "Make in Vietnam", because not mastering technology means not being able to maintain national sovereignty.

Third, turn Vietnam into an innovation center of the ASEAN region, the continent and the world, becoming a startup nation based on digital technology and innovation.

Fourth, build modern infrastructure and high-quality human resources for the Ministry's fields, including: science, technology, innovation, post and telecommunications, digital infrastructure, digital technology industry, digital transformation, intellectual property, standards-measurement-quality and nuclear energy, with special attention to artificial intelligence infrastructure, linked to digital sovereignty and Vietnam's digital position.

Fifth, science, technology, innovation and digital transformation must focus on solving the country's strategic problems, aiming to improve competitiveness, national governance, labor productivity, economic growth, ensure national defense and security, and improve people's quality of life, contributing at least 50% to double-digit GDP growth.

The connection between three parties: State-institute, school-enterprise, and honoring scientists and entrepreneurs is the key to directing science and technology to solve practical problems.

Delegates visit the exhibition at the event. (Photo: TL)

Sixth, science, technology, innovation and digital transformation are not just the work of a ministry, not just the career of a sector, but the common career of the nation and the entire people.

Space for gratitude and innovation

The 80th anniversary of the post and telecommunications industry and the 66th anniversary of the science and technology industry is an opportunity for the industry to review its history and pay tribute to previous generations, while affirming the pioneering role of science, technology, innovation and digital transformation in the country's development.

Representing the young generation speaking at the event, Dr. Vu Hoai Nam, lecturer of the Faculty of Artificial Intelligence - Academy of Posts and Telecommunications Technology, expressed his pride in following in the footsteps of his predecessors and colleagues who paved the way.

According to him, eight decades are not just numbers, but a process of dedication and aspiration to serve of tens of thousands of people, of generations of scientific intellectuals. Each new idea, each research project in the industry is imbued with the sweat and enthusiasm of many generations of engineers and scientists.

“It was they - the teachers and seniors - who paved the way for young people like us today to walk on the path of knowledge, access modern technology, and nurture the dream of conquering new heights,” Dr. Vu Hoai Nam expressed.

Dr. Vu Hoai Nam also said that the recent Resolution 57 and Resolution 71 of the Party and State have created new momentum for science-technology and education-training. For him, it is not only a direction, but also an encouragement, a commitment: the young generation will be given confidence, given the opportunity to go faster, further, to catch up with the flow of the times.

Experience studying and working abroad helps Dr. Vu Hoai Nam believe that Vietnamese intelligence is not inferior to international intelligence, the problem is that it needs mechanisms and trust to promote it.

"It is that belief that has brought me back, to contribute to the country with my colleagues," Dr. Nam said, pledging to continue researching, innovating, starting businesses, and integrating to bring Vietnamese technology further.

The 80th anniversary of the post and telecommunications industry, the 66th anniversary of the science and technology industry and the 1st Patriotic Emulation Congress is a reunion of many generations of leaders, scientists and engineers who have been involved in the development of the industry.

Not only an occasion of gratitude, the event also recreates the journey of the two postal and telecommunications, science and technology sectors through a thematic exhibition. The display area of images and artifacts is designed according to each period, from resistance, subsidy to innovation and integration.

Another highlight is the digital museum, which stores data of more than 162,000 industry officials through the ages. Visitors can look up information about themselves, their colleagues or leaders of each job. The memorial area is also built in a solemn location, containing information of more than 10,000 martyrs of post-telecoms and science and technology - a testament to the industry's sacrifices during the resistance wars.

The exhibition also features a set of stamps commemorating the 80th anniversary and a "golden book" recording characters, events and images along the way. The books are arranged in the shape of the number 80, symbolizing the journey of 8 decades and the aspiration to open new milestones.

With the participation of thousands of delegates, the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the post and telecommunications industry and the 66th anniversary of the science and technology industry marked the historical journey of the two industries, and at the same time opened up new momentum for post and telecommunications and science and technology to continue to play a pioneering role in the new era.

Immediately after the celebration ended, the Ministry of Science and Technology continued to implement a series of major programs and events in October, demonstrating its determination to turn the spirit of the event into concrete actions.

On October 1, 2025, the Ministry co-organized the National Innovation Day 2025 to connect the innovation ecosystem, promote links between state management agencies, businesses, institutes and international organizations.

On October 27-29, 2025, the ministry will host Vietnam International Digital Week 2025 in Ninh Binh and Hanoi - an annual international forum on digital technology, creating opportunities to expand global cooperation and connectivity.

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Source: https://nhandan.vn/dua-viet-nam-vuon-len-manh-me-trong-ky-nguyen-so-va-tri-thuc-post911508.html