Vietnam connected to the internet more than 20 years ago. Though it joined the game a little late compared to other countries, Vietnam now has one of the world’s fastest internet growth rates. The internet has become a driver of national economic growth and international integration.

Vietnam is the top 20 countries for number of internet users - 68.17 million, or about 70% of the population. 94% of Vietnamese internet users use the internet frequently, averaging 6 hours a day. These statistics have been noted in numerous international reports on digital trends. On the UN’s E-Government Development Index, Vietnam scores higher than the average for Asia or for the world. Vietnam ranks 6^th for Southeast Asia, after the Philippines, Brunei, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. Vietnam jumped 31 places this year to rank 69^th in the world on the Telecommunication Infrastructure Index.

Vietnam now has more than 45,000 ICT businesses. Total revenue for the internet economy in Vietnam surpassed 14 billion USD in 2020, with e-commerce accounting for 7 billion USD.

Deputy Minister of Information and Communication Nguyen Huy Dung said: "More than 20 years ago, when Vietnam first connected to the internet, we stepped foot into a new space – cyber space. Since then we have gone on a long journey that has contributed to Vietnam’s socio-economic development."

Vietnam’s rapid internet development refutes suggestions that Vietnam lacks internet freedom. Ensuring freedom of speech and information access is a consistent policy in Vietnam, stipulated by Vietnam’s Constitution and laws, and implemented in actuality. The Vietnamese State consistently promotes internet development to serve national construction and development and meet the public need to exchange information, share learning, and coordinate work.

Vietnam has achieved remarkable things since it connected to the internet 20 years ago. It’s now time for Vietnam to move forward in the global cyber space. Vietnamese leaders are determined to take advantage of cyber space to boost national development and ensure the public’s right to access information.

Deputy Minister Dung said: "Vietnam will continue to expand internet access toward internet for all and the goal of national digital transformation, when each person will have a smartphone and each household will have access to high-speed cable internet. Vietnam is upgrading its digital infrastructure to meet the demand of IoT devices and machine-to-machine communication in order to make Vietnam a regional internet hub. Vietnam is developing an ecology of digital platforms to meet the demand of the Vietnamese people and integrate into the world."

The Vietnamese government has always worked toward universalizing the internet. Vietnam’s current policies and internet development orientation respect the people’s right to internet access and to express their opinions in cyber space, provided they comply with the law. Vietnam does not block the internet. It only prevents negative expression that undermines Vietnamese cultural identity and morality, national development, national security, or public law and order.