Vietnam has the highest number of internet users in the world.

The dynamic internet environment with the 12th largest number of users in the world and the 6th largest in the region is one of the examples of achievements in ensuring freedom of information, freedom of speech and press in Vietnam.

Entering the digital age, in the rapid development of the information environment and cyberspace, Vietnam is increasingly making efforts to ensure freedom of speech, freedom of the press and freedom of information for people in many fields.

The country with the 12th highest number of internet users in the world

After 25 years of officially connecting to the global Internet (since November 19, 1997), Vietnam has been making the most of the superior features of the Internet in building and developing the country and deeply integrating internationally in all social fields.

Since the 2018 Cybersecurity Law took effect, the number of social media users has continued to increase (Facebook and Google alone increased by more than 3 million accounts). As of September 2022, Vietnam had more than 72.1 million Internet users (accounting for 73.2% of the population); 72 million social media users, ranking 13th in the world in terms of number of users; the number of registered mobile subscribers reached 154.4.

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By the end of 2022, mobile waves will cover almost the entire country with a coverage of up to 99.85% of the population; of which 3G and 4G coverage serves over 98% of the population and has formed a global connection highway. The rate of mobile phone users by 2021 will reach 86.91%111.

As of September 2022, the number of Internet users in Vietnam was 72.1 million, accounting for 73.2% of the country's population, more than double the 30.8 million in 2013. With these numbers, Vietnam is the country with the 12th highest number of Internet users in the world and ranked 6th out of 35 countries/territories in Asia.

About 94% of Vietnamese users use the Internet regularly, with an average usage time of up to 7 hours per day. Infrastructure and Internet access speed in Vietnam increase every year. People can freely share and express information and personal opinions through the Internet, especially through social networks.

According to the 2020 Global Cybersecurity Index ranking by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Vietnam has made a strong breakthrough, rising 25 places within 2 years, to 25th place out of 194 countries and continues to make efforts to maintain and improve this ranking position in the long term.

Investing in access to information

The Law on Access to Information 2016 stipulates principles, order and procedures for implementing access to information; responsibilities and obligations of state agencies in ensuring citizens' right to access information.

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Within the framework of the three national target programs on Sustainable Poverty Reduction for the 2021-2025 period, New Rural Development for the 2021-2025 period and Socio-economic Development for Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas for the 2021-2030 period, the State allocates a certain budget for the poverty reduction component on information, helping to narrow the gap in information access between regions across Vietnam.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many support policies, exemptions and reductions in fees for ministries (Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education and Training...), businesses, people and the whole society have been implemented such as: increasing bandwidth and data capacity for people to study and work remotely or at quarantine points; incentives for forces participating in the fight against the epidemic on the front lines, discounting some service packages; 100% coverage of low-lying areas without mobile Internet connection in localities implementing social distancing and nationwide with a total cost of up to nearly 3,000 billion VND; 4GB/day free for 1 million students from poor and near-poor households when they are given computers for 3 months to study online...

Journalism develops diversely

The 2016 Press Law clearly stipulates citizens' freedom of the press and freedom of speech in the press, and the responsibility of the State and press agencies for citizens' freedom of the press and freedom of speech in the press. The Government issued Decree No. 09/2017/ND-CP dated February 9, 2017 detailing the statements and provision of information to the press by state administrative agencies.

The rapid development, diversity in types and richness in content of mass media in recent times is vivid evidence of freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of information in Vietnam.

As of December 2022, Vietnam has 816 press agencies, of which: 230 newspapers and magazines operate in two forms: print and electronic, 557 newspapers and magazines operate only in print, 29 newspapers and magazines operate only in electronic. About 18,000 people are granted press cards. Vietnam currently has one national news agency; 72 agencies operate radio and television.

These 72 radio and television agencies currently operate 79 radio channels and 198 television channels (compared to 78 radio channels and 179 television channels in 2018); 1,883 general news websites (compared to 1,607 in 2018), 911 social networks (compared to 420 in 2018) have registered to operate. At the grassroots level, the country currently has 666 district-level radio and television stations and 9,792 commune-level radio stations. As of December 2022, Vietnam has 57 publishing houses.

Total number of deposited publications: 33,707 publications (up 15.2% over the same period in 2021). As of November 20, 2022, 17/57 publishers have been granted confirmation of publishing and distributing electronic publications (accounting for 29.8% - exceeding the set target by 4.8%); forming a common electronic publishing platform for 12/19 publishers.