Gen Z guy brings Vietnam's 'digital solution' to conquer the world

Hoang Khac Hieu, Head of Development Department 2, Government Solutions Center, Viettel Enterprise Solutions Corporation (Viettel Solution), although born in 1996, has presided over the implementation and development of important projects of the unit, bringing in large revenue.

Hieu also presides over the research and production of new products deployed in countries such as smart transportation, digital office, Trafficid product in the ITS ecosystem deployed in Peru; Dubai...

Hoang Khac Hieu has been a grassroots Emulation Fighter at Viettel Solutions for 4 consecutive years since 2021 and has achieved the title of "Emulation Fighter of the Whole Army" in 2024. He is also one of the 10 Outstanding Young Faces of Vietnam in 2024 .

VietnamPlus E-newspaper reporter had an interview with this talented and enthusiastic Gen Z guy.

Viettel opens up many opportunities

- Hi Hieu! Can you share your journey to Viettel Solution?

Khac Hieu: I majored in information technology at Hanoi University of Science and Technology. In my third year of university, I, like other students, started looking for internship opportunities. I joined Viettel's Smart Device Center (Viettel Smart), and they agreed to let me intern and my 'fate' with Viettel began from there.

During my internship, I participated in developing a mobile operating system for secure mobile devices. However, my orientation was software development, so in 2019 I joined Viettel Solution. Up to now, I have been attached to this place for 6 years.

Hieu and his colleagues deploy the solution in Dubai. (Photo: NVCC)

- The time you first joined Viettel was also the time the COVID-19 pandemic started. So did you and your colleagues have any 'useful' solutions?

Khac Hieu: A memorable milestone in my career is the "Green Channel" project. At that time, Vietnam applied the "5 no" policy, making it difficult for goods to circulate. My team set out to create a transparent mechanism to help goods circulate. "Green Channel" was born in that context, helping people and drivers solve traffic problems during the epidemic.

"Green Channel" was born to help people and drivers solve traffic problems in the complicated situation of the COVID-19 pandemic.

- Is the implementation of the 'Green Channel' project a premise for you to implement other smart transport systems?

Khac Hieu: When I joined Viettel Solution, I was assigned to manage, be in charge of, and develop the entire Traffic Safety and Order Penalty Monitoring System. The system applies AI to identify and detect traffic violations and license plate recognition.

The traffic fine monitoring system is a product that I consider my "brainchild" throughout my working process. Every time there is a new step forward in technology or user experience, I update it to help the product gradually become more complete.

At the end of 2023, the Center and my colleagues researched and selected strategic and outstanding products. Up to now, our group has expanded our products into a smart traffic ecosystem owned by Viettel. In that product, there are many other products, not just the Penalty Monitoring System.

Hieu and his colleagues at Viettel Solution. (Photo: Viettel Solution)

For example, we can apply AI technology to control traffic flow to regulate traffic lights effectively. That is a problem that aims to optimize traffic rather than punish people. Besides, there are some products such as maps of traffic congestion density, smart traffic sign systems or road structure management,...

We are also given the opportunity to access data, customers, etc. to build and create products that solve problems and 'pains' of modern cities.

When my team researched this product, not only Vietnam but also cities around the world were facing similar problems. If we have mastered problems like this, we can completely bring the product to developed and developing countries to introduce and seek business opportunities.

Hoang Khac Hieu believes that young people should not be afraid of new things. Be confident and take risks to face it. (Photo: Viettel Solution)

AI is the 'spearhead' for Vietnam to reach out internationally

- As far as I know, Hieu has deployed solutions such as Smart Traffic, Digital Office, Trafficid products in Peru as well as Dubai. What is the biggest challenge when deploying these solutions in these countries?

Khac Hieu: The first difference is definitely related to the legal aspects, especially in the field of transportation. Each country has different regulations. Even deciding which hand to drive on is a challenge when we implement it. For example, in Dubai, all cars and road signs use the Arabic script instead of Latin, so our team had to fine-tune, train, and reprocess the AI. Furthermore, the legal regulations require the project team to carefully research the laws in the host country to ensure proper implementation and construction.

- So does AI help much in the above?

Khac Hieu: AI supports us a lot. It is very difficult for us to compete with products or techniques that other countries have mastered. If we want to go global, we can only have products with high technology content like AI. Viettel's strength comes from research, especially AI. We have also cooperated with Viettel AI or Viettel Hightech to develop suitable products.

If we want to go out into the world, we can only have high-tech products like AI.
Hoang Khac Hieu

Such 'spearheads' help us enter the international market. Bringing products that are not our strengths but still conquer and convince customers to use them.

- What is Viettel Solutions' orientation to expand the international market in this field?

Khac Hieu: With these fields, we have a lot of experience in domestic implementation, especially the Smart City Product Ecosystem. This ecosystem covers more than smart transportation. For the Smart Transportation system alone, I have presided over and implemented more than 30 units and customers. There are projects worth up to hundreds of billions of VND. With such accumulated experience, we are confident that we can go abroad as IT solution consultants. Secondly, we have the capacity to implement that project.

The unit also identified that what is related to smart transportation and smart cities are products that have the opportunity for us to promote in foreign markets and now we are looking for many partners to deploy and cooperate with these solutions.

Besides, we also have other technologies such as IoT Platform. These are products that Vietnamese people can completely master and bring to new markets to deploy.

Hoang Khac Hieu was honored as Outstanding Young Vietnamese Face of 2024.

- Returning to Vietnam, according to Hieu, what is the biggest challenge when implementing solutions for the Government?

Khac Hieu: Solutions for the Government have very high standards. Technology products for the Government must meet information technology standards including information security, data assurance,...

To develop such products, my team requires investment in researching technologies to meet the problem. The second challenge is scale. Our products directly work with ministries and departments, which are all large-scale units that can impact the speed of national development.

- AI and Big Data are changing the way governments operate. How do you assess the impact of these technologies in Vietnam?

Khac Hieu: These technologies can be said to be "game changers." AI technology has made breakthroughs in the past 2 years. These factors will quickly affect every individual and organization. Our government has identified new technologies such as AI or semiconductor chips that will help Vietnam grasp well and help us move forward in the development process. Determining the right focus and goals like that will help us mobilize resources appropriately.

Vietnam is a very suitable country for technologies like AI. We have good quality human resources to develop. If we take advantage of it well, we will be a destination and one of the reliable markets for other countries to look to.

Young people need to face challenges

- For young people who want to pursue a career in technology and innovation, do you have any advice?

Khac Hieu: I have advice that in the current context, young people should be committed. We should dare to face challenges, dare to approach new things. Don't be afraid of new things. Be confident, commit yourself to facing it.

In the current context, young people should be committed. We should dare to face challenges, dare to approach new things.
Hoang Khac Hieu

Once you prepare yourself mentally to face every challenge, you can seize every opportunity. Opportunity only comes once and only to those who dare to stand up and take it.

- How does Hieu feel about being nominated for the title "Outstanding Young Face of Vietnam 2024?" What does this title mean to Hieu personally as well as to the young generation pursuing innovation?

Khac Hieu: When I received the Award, I felt very happy and surprised because sometimes I think I have many shortcomings and need to improve.

However, it is also a recognition and I think it is an important milestone marking a certain success for me on the path of development. I also think that if young people see things that can be learned from me, that is one of the things that makes me feel very happy.

- Thank you Hieu for this conversation!