Điện Biên makes efforts in digital literacy drive

ĐBP - Eighty years ago, mass literacy classes held under the dim glow of oil lamps helped millions of Vietnamese overcome illiteracy. Today, a new knowledge revolution - “digital literacy for all” - is taking shape nationwide, including in Điện Biên province. Less than a year after launching the movement, the integration of technology into daily life has already shown encouraging progress.

The most visible impact has come from community digital technology teams. Guided by the principle of “going door to door, guiding each person,” these teams have become the driving force behind the movement.

In the border commune of Si Pa Phìn - where more than 90% of residents are ethnic minorities - vast terrain, sparse population, difficult transport, and limited digital infrastructure present significant challenges. Despite these barriers, the commune’s community tech teams, made up of dozens of members, have seized every opportunity to bring digital transformation closer to the people.

Through village meetings and local programs, they have guided residents in using essential applications on electronic devices (mainly smartphones), such as setting up and using digital identity accounts (VNeID), bank accounts, and accessing public services online. People are also being shown how to carry out administrative procedures on the National Public Service Portal and make digital payments instead of using cash. Step by step, with practical, hands-on guidance, the doors to technology are opening in remote highland villages.

Residents carry out administrative procedures on digital platforms at the Public Administrative Service Center in Si Pa Phìn commune.

For Mùa Thị Ghênh in Pú Đao village, Si Pa Phìn commune, learning to use a smartphone is not just about gaining a new skill, it has made daily life more convenient. “I used to only know how to make calls. Going to the market meant carrying cash, and if I forgot, I had to go back home. Since being guided by local officials, I can now check information, video call my children, and even transfer money. I can also look up prices and weather to better plan my farming. It was difficult at first, but with repeated guidance, I’ve gotten used to it. Life is much more convenient now”, she shared.

The effectiveness of the movement is also evident across many aspects of daily life, including preparations for the election of deputies to the 16th National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2026-2031 term. Citizens’ digital capacity has been demonstrated by their ability to quickly access election-related information. Questions and discussions can now take place directly on social media groups, with timely and clear responses thanks to digital tools.

Vàng Thống Dia, a youth union member in Quài Tở commune, said: “Thanks to technology, we regularly update information on social media. It’s easier to follow election-related content. We know the election schedule, candidate lists, and important voting guidelines. This helps us stay informed quickly and feel more responsible when taking part.”

Another notable highlight is Điện Biên’s proactive introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) to students and teachers, helping improve the quality of education and training. The application of technology is being actively promoted across agencies, units, and localities in ways suited to their specific needs, contributing to more effective governance. At the same time, the province is strengthening IT capacity at the grassroots level by deploying skilled personnel, helping both officials and residents handle administrative procedures more efficiently.

However, the movement still faces internal challenges. Gaps in infrastructure, especially in areas with weak or no signal and limited electricity, along with disparities in education levels, remain significant obstacles. Looking ahead to 2026, Điện Biên views “digital literacy for all” as an ongoing process that must evolve into a culture of lifelong learning,  not just teaching basic skills, but empowering people to navigate and thrive in the digital environment. Party members and public officials are expected to lead by example, spreading the spirit of digital self-learning to every household. With collective effort, Điện Biên aims to transform itself in the nation’s digital era.

Lê Dung
Comment

You have 500/500 characters left

Please enter 5 or more characters!!!

Recent news

  • 'Building a safer summer for teenagers

    Building a safer summer for teenagers

    SOCIAL AFFAIRS -
    ĐBP - The summer holiday gives teenagers more time away from school, but it is also a period when juvenile law violations tend to increase. From underage driving to acts that threaten public order and safety, such incidents highlight the urgent need for early preventive measures through close coordination among families, schools, and law enforcement agencies.
  • 'Unlocking development resources

    Unlocking development resources

    ECONOMY -
    Faced with this reality, Điện Biên province is focusing on reviewing and untying backlogged projects and handling long-standing “bottlenecks” to unlock resources, creating new momentum for growth during the 2026–2030 period.
  • 'A command from the heart

    A command from the heart

    NEWS - POLITICS -
    ĐBP - In July, amid the blistering heat followed by sudden downpours, there are still people performing a special task at the Tông Khao Martyrs’ Cemetery. Every movement to exhume the graves of martyrs is executed slowly and cautiously, standing as a tribute to those who have rested here for more than seven decades.
  • 'Combating African swine fever for sustainable livestock development

    Combating African swine fever for sustainable livestock development

    ECONOMY -
    ĐBP - Pig farming remains one of the most important sectors of agriculture in Điện Biên province. With a total pig population of nearly 312,000, pigs are not only an essential source of food but also a valuable asset and form of savings for many households. However, the outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) since the beginning of 2026 has posed a major challenge to the province’s goal of developing a safe and sustainable livestock industry.
  • 'Increasing benefits, reducing burdens for people

    Increasing benefits, reducing burdens for people

    SOCIAL AFFAIRS -
    ĐBP - Starting from July 1, 2026, multiple new regulations of the Law on Health Insurance officially take effect, expanding benefits for participants toward more favorable and flexible medical examination and treatment. These adjustments do not only create conditions for the public to access quality medical services and alleviate the burden of treatment costs but also continue to affirm the role of health insurance as an important pillar in the social security system, heading toward the goal of universal healthcare.
  • 'Xa Dung brings resolution into reality

    Xa Dung brings resolution into reality

    NEWS - POLITICS -
    ĐBP - Returning to Phì Nhừ village, Xa Dung commune today, the green hue of newly planted coffee and macadamia areas in recent years is gradually blanketing the degraded cassava and corn fields. This transformation is the initial result of implementing the commune’s Resolution on agricultural restructuring. Bringing the Party’s Resolution into practice has created consensus among the People and step-by-step shaped a new economic development direction for the locality.
  • 'An anchor from new policy

    An anchor from new policy

    SOCIAL AFFAIRS -
    ĐBP - The Government’s Decree No.192/2026/NĐ-CP, taking effect on July 15, 2026, has introduced multiple special allowance regimes for the healthcare sector, including an increase in on-duty allowances and monthly support for village health workers. The policy is expected to create motivation for the grassroots medical workforce to feel secure in their work, upgrading the quality of public healthcare right from the frontline.
  • 'Key to sustainable agricultural development

    Key to sustainable agricultural development

    ECONOMY -
    ĐBP - Điện Biên is gradually making a significant shift from a production-oriented mindset to an agricultural economic mindset. At the heart of this transformation is the development of linkages among farmers, cooperatives, and enterprises, creating concentrated raw-material zones connected to processing facilities and consumer markets.
  • 'Executive Board of Điện Biên provincial Party Committee successfully concludes 14th conference

    Executive Board of Điện Biên provincial Party Committee successfully concludes 14th conference

    NEWS - POLITICS -
    ĐBP - Continuing the program of the 14th Conference of the Executive Board of Điện Biên provincial Party Committee (enlarged), this afternoon, July 3, under the direction of Trần Tiến Dũng, Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the provincial Party Committee, and Head of the provincial National Assembly Deputy Delegation, alongside the Standing Board of the provincial Party Committee, the conference continued with presentations, discussions, and voting to pass the Resolution of the 14th Conference of the Executive Board of Điện Biên provincial Party Committee for the 2025-2030 tenure.