(VOVWORLD) - Thai Nguyen province has bee n implementing a series of solutions to accelerate IT application in ethnic minority communities, aiming to create a new milestone in the development of rural mountain areas. Applying IT and strengthening digital transformation in various aspects of life are helping to narrow the development gap between ethnic minority regions and other parts of Thai Nguyen. This effort is boosting socio-economic growth and significantly improving local residents’ life.
 Live-streaming programs help Thai Nguyen’s agricultural products expand their customers. (Photo: khuyennong.thainguyen.gov.vn) |
In August, the Thai Nguyen administration, in collaboration with relevant agencies, organized several livestream sessions, such as "Digital Custard Apple Tree and Thai Nguyen Agricultural Products 2025", "Top Agricultural Products – Bringing Produce to the City", and "Thai Nguyen Agricultural Products – Proud of Vietnamese Goods", to promote and sell local farm produce.
These programs successfully captured the attention of consumers inside and outside the province with many agricultural products sold out after these online sales events. Thanks to widespread Internet and 4G network coverage, even in remote areas farmers no longer need to transport goods to traditional markets or worry about finding buyers.
A number of local people have this to say:
“Online selling attracts many buyers. We no longer have to worry about finding markets for our products.”
“We can access social media and use TikTok or Facebook to sell products without needing much capital.”
Digital transformation is evident in all sectors, from agriculture, healthcare, and education to public administration and in every corner of Thai Nguyen’s mountain region.
At communal medical stations, healthcare workers can quickly retrieve electronic health records by scanning QR codes on people’s ID cards. Official announcements now reach hamlet residents much faster. At the commune level, administrative procedures are resolved more quickly.
A local person says, “Apps like VNeID and the hamlet’s Zalo groups are very convenient. Whenever there is information from the commune, people can easily get it through the app. Meetings and community work are simpler now, no more going door to door to notify each household.”
Another man comments, “It is very useful for our daily work. It reduces time and distance, cuts paperwork, and allows us to return results to the public more quickly.”
 In recent years, thanks to the application of IT and digital transformation, educational activities at schools in Thai Nguyen have significantly improved. |
A few years ago, digital technology was unfamiliar to villagers. Today, it has become an essential part of daily life in Thai Nguyen, including remote mountain areas. As of July, most communes and wards had stable fiber-optic and mobile network coverage. Remote villages now have 4G service.
Meanwhile, 5G coverage has begun expanding to schools, communal health stations, and concentrated production areas, creating a seamless digital environment that supports residents.
“The internet benefits the community in many ways. We can learn business skills online, support our children’s studies, and broaden our knowledge.”
“It has created favorable conditions for everyone, especially in regard to medical examination and treatment. Its convenience is even more important to people living in remote areas.”
Communes across Thai Nguyen’s mountain region have promoted digital transformation by helping poor ethnic minority people access telecommunications services and the internet, enabling them to use online public services, stay updated on Party guidelines and State policies, and increase the use of e-ID and non-cash payments.
In mid-2022, community digital technology teams were established in Thai Nguyen province to help promote digital adoption and help residents use smart technology applications.
Doan Xuan Truong, a member of the community digital technology team in Van Han commune, told VOV, “I shared what I learned during training sessions with other team members so we could jointly guide villagers at the community house. Once people receive this information, all administrative procedures become easier. Now, households in my hamlet can register births from home, which saves a lot of effort.”
To help young people in mountain areas keep up with digital technology, local Youth Unions, the education sector, and authorities are collaboratively implementing models such as “Digital Classes in Mountain Regions” and “Digital Creative Spaces for Youth.” These initiatives equip mountain youth with the digital knowledge and skills they need to stay competitive in an increasingly digital society.
Despite its difficult terrain and poor infrastructure, Thai Nguyen has emerged as a regional leader in digital transformation. Digital transformation is profoundly changing local life and technology is becoming a daily companion of local residents.