Tôn Ngọc Hạnh, vice president of the Vietnam Women's Union. VNA/VNS Photo

Tôn Ngọc Hạnh, vice president of the Vietnam Women's Union, speaks to Vietnam News Agency about assisting women in digital transformation.

In recent years, Việt Nam has taken bold steps in digital transformation. Could you assess the advantages Vietnamese women have reaped from the digital transformation?

In recent years, digital transformation has been given attention and implemented by authorities at all levels, sectors, and people at three pillars: Digital Government, digital economy, and digital society.

This process has resulted in practical benefits to people, including women.

The advantages have been amply demonstrated. In addition to enjoying services like public administration, healthcare, education and transportation equally, swiftly, and with higher quality, women and people can also use more advanced and current technologies.

That enhances living quality and saves time and effort. All women, even those with more challenging access circumstances like older women, women farmers and women living in distant places, have the chance to take advantage of this opportunity to obtain advanced services and knowledge.

Women now have easier and faster access to the market thanks to the digital economy.

Trading floors and information technology have helped many women grow their enterprises and increase their income.

Women used to work in traditional ways, but thanks to information technology, they can now quickly start their work anywhere in the nation or the world with the touch of a button.

In production, applying information technology in watering plants only requires using a smartphone, installing modern equipment and quickly pressing the control button. Click on and off during the stages of watering plants helps monitor the production of products and workers. Digital transformation brings many conveniences and benefits.

This progressive, modern change is important and necessary for everyone, including women.

Women often access technology and techniques slower than other groups. However, I think that in recent years, with this development trend, women have adapted quickly, gradually met society's requirements, and promptly kept up with growth. This has allowed them to take better care of their material and psychological needs as well as work more effectively.

In addition to reaping the rewards, people, especially women, also play a role in digital transformation.

Women, who make up over 50 per cent of the population, play a significant role in advancing the digital transformation process.

Numerous female leaders, scientists, digital technology professionals, and entrepreneurs are actively involved in digital transformation, contributing and taking on new projects.

Women are working to become tech-savvy and adaptable in all sectors and regions.

Women in remote areas scan banking QR code for payment. VNA/VNS Photo Trần Việt

How have women across the country kept up with digital transformation?

The grassroots associations of the union have organised hands-on events to promote the use of IT and involvement in the digital revolution.

The local organisations arranged training sessions and enhanced the IT application skills of group leaders, presidents and vice presidents, teaching them how to utilise membership management, statistics and synthesis software, among other applications.

The organisation has encouraged the use of IT in communication by implementing multimedia communication, using IT to cast votes and gather official and member opinions, and disseminating positive role models and ideals among women.

However, women also face numerous challenges. In rural areas and among ethnic minorities, women still have restricted access to information technology, knowledge, and skills. Their IT applications operate more slowly because they lack smartphones, technology, and reliable internet access.

The union has offered training for underqualified individuals. We are working on the national digital transformation project right now, hoping to get it authorised this year and help women in remote areas.

What has the Vietnam Women's Union done to support women accessing and adapting to digital transformation?

We have encouraged those who can equip themselves with smartphones for multi-purpose use – for work, daily life and online public services.

Women in challenging circumstances will receive financial assistance to purchase new ones.

I am aware of the abundance of helpful programmes. To support people in digital transformation and their participation in convenient online public services. The Ministry of Information and Communications, for instance, has started projects to provide smart devices to remote and border areas. This initiative aims to promote the digital economy, digital transformation and the development of a digital society.

In order to create a digital society, all citizens—including women—must have access to more services and more potent tools than just cutting-edge technology.

Even with the best current technology, efficiency and quality may not be achieved if people do not use it or use it to the fullest extent possible.

Our core staff at the Women's Union is prepared to travel to any location in order to support localities, help with IT training, and assist women in becoming skilled with today’s software.

Could you share solutions to prevent risks and support women to adapt to digital transformation?

The Vietnam Women's Union has always paid attention to how women can be more sensitive and alert to adapt and use technology effectively and with high quality, to serve themselves and their lives, and avoid risks.

The union has provided numerous training sessions on IT knowledge and skills, IT applications and cyber-risks related to data loss or exposure.

In order to prevent unfavourable outcomes, women should be aware of these dangers.

Data from the November 2023 workshop co-organised by UN Women and the Ministry of Public Security revealed that up to 90 per cent of victims in cyberspace are female.

Criminals' tricks are increasingly sophisticated. Due to the fact that legal regulations have not kept up with the rapid development of technology, there are subjective reasons behind that, such as lack of knowledge and skills and not having enough information about the field of digital transformation or credulity.

These are the main things that we believe women should be informed about.

Many steps must be taken to reduce the risks for women, including enhancing institutions, tightening penalties for fraud, and stepping up information sharing to help women understand the benefits and potential risks of the digital transformation and feel empowered to protect themselves and their loved ones.

Women need to be assisted in responding quickly to risks by hotlines, consulting advisory groups, technical assistance and legal counsel, among other means.

Every woman must actively seek out opportunities to learn and advance her skills. VNS