Before the Internet, Vietnam in the Đổi Mới (Renovation) era was largely an information island. Sending an international email was a pipe dream, and scientific knowledge took months to arrive via postal mail. The country was isolated, and access to global information was severely limited.

1991 – The First “Drops of Rain”

A historic, albeit minor, event occurred. Researchers at the Institute of Information Technology (then under the General Department of Post) successfully established a trial dial-up connection between a computer in Vietnam and one in Australia. This was not the Internet, but it proved one crucial thing: the technical barrier could be overcome. It was the first proof of concept that Vietnam could, eventually, connect to the global network.

1994 – The Birth of .vn and Email

The true milestone arrived on November 19, 1994. The Institute of Information Technology (NetNam) officially launched the first public email service in Vietnam. They also secured the nation’s sovereign domain name: .vn, which is still in use today. At this point, only a few major research institutions and universities (like Hanoi University of Science and Technology) could access this service. The government, showing early vision, issued Decree 21/CP to encourage the development of computer networks, creating the first legal framework for what was to come.

November 19, 1997 – THE GOLDEN MILESTONE

On this day, Prime Minister Phan Văn Khải signed a landmark decision officially authorizing Vietnamese enterprises (namely VNPT and NetNam) to provide public dial-up Internet services nationwide. Vietnam was now formally connected to the global Internet.

The Reality of Early Internet

• Speed: A paltry 14.4 Kbps (thousands of times slower than today’s 5G).
• Cost: Exorbitant – approximately 300,000–400,000 VND per month (nearly a third of an average worker’s salary).
• The Experience: Users had to endure the screeching symphony of a modem handshake to get online.
• Users: Internet users were considered an elite “VIP” group.

Historical Significance: 1997 did not bring the Internet to the masses, but it created the essential legal, technical, and infrastructural “launchpad” for everything that followed. It was the turning point that transformed the Internet from a research experiment into a public service.

2000–2005: The Era of the Quán Net (Cyber Café)

• What it looked like: Cyber cafés sprouted up on every street corner, filled with bulky CRT monitors and cheap computers. They were constantly packed with students and young people.
• The digital life: This was the age of Yahoo! Messenger and public chat rooms. Socializing, flirting, and making friends all happened through slow, typed messages.
• Online gaming exploded: Titles like Audition, Gunbound, and the legendary Võ Lâm Truyền Kỳ (a local version of Legend of the Sword and Fairy) dominated computer screens across the country.

2003: The ADSL Revolution

The arrival of ADSL (broadband) was a game-changer. The screeching modem was gone. For the first time, families with means could have an “always-on” connection, fast enough to download movies (even if it still took hours). The Internet began moving from cafés into homes, changing the way Vietnamese families consumed media and information.

Social Impact

For the first time, ordinary Vietnamese people had access to a vast ocean of information beyond state-controlled newspapers and television. This democratization of information gave rise to new social phenomena: “Internet addiction,” online gaming culture, the first generation of local hackers, and early online forums where citizens could discuss topics previously confined to private conversation.

This period marks the point where the Internet ceased to be a novelty and became the backbone of daily life, economy, and society.

2011–2015: The Rise of Facebook & the Smartphone

• Facebook (despite periodic disruptions) became the “common home” for Vietnamese netizens. From teenagers to grandparents, everyone had an account for sharing photos, updating statuses, and crucially, selling goods online.
• The smartphone revolution (affordable Android phones and iPhones) put the Internet in everyone’s pocket. You no longer needed a café; the digital world followed you everywhere.
• Zalo, a Vietnamese messaging app, emerged as a domestic alternative to WhatsApp, rapidly gaining hundreds of millions of users.

2016–2017: 4G & the E-Commerce Explosion

• 4G networks were deployed, offering speeds fast enough for smooth HD video streaming and live broadcasting.
• Digital marketplaces like Shopee, Tiki, and Lazada matured. Farmers sold produce via Facebook Live. A new class of KOLs (Key Opinion Leaders) and influencers emerged.
• Ride-hailing apps like Grab, Gojek, and Be fundamentally changed urban transportation, displacing traditional taxis and xe ôm.

Profound Impact

The “sharing economy” took root. Online payments, e-wallets (MoMo, ZaloPay), and discount codes became routine. Entire new professions were born: SEO specialists, Facebook ad runners, professional video streamers, and TikTok content creators. The gig economy arrived, with freelancers connecting to clients across the globe through platforms like Upwork and Fiverr.

2020: The COVID-19 Catalyst – An Unplanned Leap Forward

The pandemic forced a massive, society-wide experiment in digital survival. Online learning, Zoom meetings, remote work, health declarations, and vaccination apps went from fringe concepts to everyday necessities almost overnight. The Internet was no longer a convenience; it was critical national infrastructure. Millions of workers and students who had never used video conferencing before became daily users within weeks.

2023–2025: Fiber, 5G, and the Digital Economy as a Pillar

• National Coverage: Fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) now covers even remote mountainous areas and island districts, bridging the urban-rural digital divide.
• 5G Rollout: The commercial launch of 5G is paving the way for smart cities, autonomous vehicles, and remotely controlled industrial robots.
• The Goal: The government has set an ambitious target: for the digital economy to constitute 30% of GDP by 2030. Millions of small businesses and cooperatives are migrating to e-commerce platforms.
• AI and Big Data: Vietnam is investing heavily in artificial intelligence research, with the “Make in Vietnam” AI strategy aiming to place the country among the top four in ASEAN.