Bringing digital skills to every village: New push to bridge digital gap

ĐBP - As 2026 begins, Điện Biên province has identified the “Digital literacy for all” campaign as a strategic task to narrow the digital divide, improve digital awareness and skills, and lay the groundwork for comprehensive digital transformation.

To ensure the campaign delivers real impact, the province has seconded and reinforced specialized civil servants and public employees to directly support communes and wards in addressing bottlenecks in online public services, data management and digital system operations. In education, 1,239 school administrators and 12,060 teachers have received training in artificial intelligence (AI). For local residents, digital knowledge is disseminated through conferences, village meetings, community digital technology teams and networks of “technology ambassadors”.

The movement has spread across sectors and industries. Province-wide, all 88 OCOP entities now promote their products on social media platforms, e-commerce marketplaces and sales websites; 138 products have been uploaded to ocop.dienbien.gov.vn; and more than 1,200 farmer members have been supported to open online transaction accounts. Digital social infrastructure continues to improve, with 94.4% of households notified of their digital addresses, 75% of residents using smartphones, and over 50% of the population holding electronic payment accounts.

In 2026, the campaign’s targets are comprehensive in both coverage and quality. On a broad scale, the province aims for 100% of officials, civil servants and public employees to receive job-related digital skills training; more than 80% of adults to be able to use fully online public services; and over 70% of rural households to know how to leverage digital platforms for production and product marketing. At a deeper level, the campaign seeks to foster digital thinking, digital habits and a digital culture within communities.

Staff of the Tủa Chùa transaction office of the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies (VBSP) introduce digital applications to customers.

However, challenges remain. Across the province, 33 villages still lack mobile broadband services (3G/4G), including 30 villages without access to the national power grid, while 255 villages have yet to be covered by fixed broadband internet. This reality shows that the digital divide is not only a matter of skills, but first and foremost an infrastructure issue. Uneven educational levels, language barriers in some ethnic minority areas, and hesitation toward technology also make it harder to change traditional transaction habits.

In Chiềng Sinh commune, for example, Huổi Nôm and Hua Sát villages remain without access to the national power grid, making it difficult for telecommunications companies to deploy transmission stations and, in turn, limiting the rollout of digital services. According to Đỗ Văn Sơn, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Chiềng Sinh commune, the lack of electricity prevents residents from accessing online public services and digital platforms for agricultural production and marketing, and also creates major difficulties for local authorities in their daily operations.

At present, fiber-optic broadband coverage in residential areas such as villages and residential clusters stands at around 88.5%, while smartphone usage is about 75%. From this reality, targeted support policies are needed to expand network coverage in disadvantaged areas, alongside stronger socialization efforts and the mobilization of resources from national target programs to ensure that “electricity comes first, connectivity follows.” Once infrastructure is in place and skills are strengthened, the digital divide can be gradually reduced.

A key solution is to improve the quality of community-based “digital core teams.” Community digital technology teams must operate in a practical and results-oriented manner. Hands-on, step-by-step guidance will help residents gain confidence in using technology. Training content should be flexible and tailored to each group. For farmers, the focus should be on product promotion and sales on e-commerce platforms and using social media to connect with customers. For women and older people, priority should be given to cashless payment skills. For students and young people, greater emphasis should be placed on accessing and using digital learning resources.

In Mường Ảng commune, the “Digital literacy for all” campaign is being implemented across all sectors. The commune People’s Committee has developed a detailed plan, clearly assigning responsibilities to each unit and linking them to performance results. All villages have signed commitments to carry out the campaign, requiring village heads and mass organizations to directly guide residents in using online public services and participating in digital platforms for production and business. The movement is gradually shaping a “digital market - digital rural” model, while strengthening digital skills education for students. Community digital technology teams play their role by “going door to door, guiding every household and every individual.”

According to Nguyễn Đức Quang, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Mường Ảng commune, the campaign’s goal goes beyond basic smartphone use or simple applications. More importantly, it aims to bring about a shift in awareness among every resident. When people clearly understand the benefits of the digital environment, they will proactively apply digital tools to production, business, learning and administrative procedures. Digital transformation, therefore, must start with changes in mindset and the formation of digital habits at the grassroots level.

With strong political commitment, coordinated action by authorities at all levels and active public participation, the “Digital literacy for all” campaign is expected to become a driving force in narrowing the digital divide, promoting socio-economic development and improving people’s quality of life in the digital era.

Thành Đạt
Comment

You have 500/500 characters left

Please enter 5 or more characters!!!

Recent news

  • 'Mường Mùn proactively protects forests

    Mường Mùn proactively protects forests

    ECONOMY -
    ĐBP - In the late days of May, when a prolonged heatwave covered the mountain slopes in Mường Mùn commune, from early morning, residents of Lúm village gathered in large numbers at the edge of the forest to clear vegetation and create firebreaks. Joining the residents were the commune’s forest rangers, police, and military forces. Piles of dry grass and rotten branches were carefully collected and disposed of to limit the risk of fire spreading during the peak of the dry season.
  • 'Troops in people’s heart

    Troops in people’s heart

    NEWS - POLITICS -
    ĐBP - Not only holding their guns firmly at the far Western border of the Fatherland, Điện Biên province’s armed forces are also a solid support for the people during natural disasters and in daily life.
  • 'Spreading “skillful mass mobilization” movement among local women

    Spreading “skillful mass mobilization” movement among local women

    SOCIAL AFFAIRS -
    ĐBP - With flexible and creative methods, recently, women’s organizations at all levels in Điện Biên province have implemented many “skillful mass mobilization” models suitable to local realities. Many models have been promoting effectiveness, contributing to ensuring social security, economic development, and building new rural areas.
  • 'Community stands behind Điện Biên’s exam warriors

    Community stands behind Điện Biên’s exam warriors

    SOCIAL AFFAIRS -
    ĐBP - The 2026 National High School Graduation Examination is drawing near. In Điện Biên province, alongside intensive review sessions, schools, youth organizations, and businesses have proactively developed support plans and mobilized resources to encourage and assist students as they prepare for this important exam.
  • 'Not surrendering to fate

    Not surrendering to fate

    SOCIAL AFFAIRS -
    ĐBP - We visited Đông Mệt 1 village, Mường Phăng commune in the late days of May. The sound of a wood planer echoed steadily in the small workshop right under the stilt house of Lò Văn Piếng.
  • 'Ensuring no interruption to project management activities

    Ensuring no interruption to project management activities

    ECONOMY -
    ĐBP - Implementing the policy of arranging and consolidating project management and land fund development boards under the 2-tier local government model, Điện Biên province has organized the arrangement and transfer of tasks from regional project management boards to provincial specialized boards and established several commune-level boards.
  • 'When local specialties reach OCOP level

    When local specialties reach OCOP level

    ECONOMY -
    ĐBP - With familiar ingredients from the Northwestern mountains and forests, the Thái ethnic people in Điện Biên have created a unique culinary culture with a distinct identity. From traditional dishes, specialties have now been elevated to OCOP products, becoming a bridge to bring indigenous flavors to tourists near and far.
  • 'Markets of compassion in Điện Biên

    Markets of compassion in Điện Biên

    SOCIAL AFFAIRS -
    ĐBP - In the highlands of Điện Biên, where villages still teeter amidst a multitude of difficulties, special markets are being opened by the joint hands of the community. There, there is no bargaining, no money changing hands, but they overflow with the warmth of human love. Therefore, the “zero-VND markets” not only bring material value but also become places where love is spread.
  • 'Stepping up the fight for food safety

    Stepping up the fight for food safety

    SOCIAL AFFAIRS -
    ĐBP - After one month of implementing the 2026 Action Month for Food Safety, Điện Biên province has recorded many positive improvements in ensuring food safety. Inspection and enforcement activities, combined with stronger public awareness campaigns for residents and business establishments, have helped tighten management and gradually build a safer food production and trading environment, contributing to the protection of public health.
  • 'An old but always “hot” issue

    An old but always “hot” issue

    SOCIAL AFFAIRS -
    ĐBP - As the 2025 - 2026 school year gradually comes to an end, more than 209,400 students and trainees in Điện Biên province are entering the summer break with many expectations for a joyful and rewarding summer.
  • 'Authenticating subscribers, enhancing safety in digital space

    Authenticating subscribers, enhancing safety in digital space

    ECONOMY -
    ĐBP - Authenticating subscriber information according to Circular No.08/2026/TT-BKHCN of the Ministry of Science and Technology on “Guidelines for authenticating terrestrial mobile subscriber information” is not only a mandatory requirement by regulation but also helps customers protect their legitimate rights and interests, limiting risks related to information spoofing.