Vietnam’s Imprint in Shaping a Safe Global Cyberspace

Viet Nam Proactively Contributes to Shaping the “Common Rules of the Game”

The emergence of the “Ha Noi Convention” takes place in a context where the world is witnessing an alarming escalation of cybercrime — a form of non-traditional security challenge characterized by rapid proliferation, high sophistication, and increasingly far-reaching consequences.

If in the past cybercrime was often associated with small, loosely organized hacker groups, today many criminal organizations operate as transnational “enterprises,” targeting critical infrastructure of nations: finance, energy, personal data, national security, and even social trust.

Cyberspace has thus become a “new front” of global security. Incidents involving data theft, ransomware, system takeovers, online fraud, identity impersonation, and similar acts not only cause material damage but also deepen fractures of trust, undermine digital transformation momentum, and directly affect people’s lives as well as the functioning of the economy.

According to reports of the United Nations, millions of cyberattacks occur globally each day. During the 2021–2024 period, East Asia and Southeast Asia faced rising cybercrime rates, causing estimated losses of over USD 37 billion. On a global scale, damages caused by cybercrime amount to trillions of US dollars annually. Meanwhile, the international legal framework remains inconsistent, and mechanisms for cross-border coordination still contain numerous gaps, enabling criminal groups to exploit “jurisdictional loopholes” to conceal themselves and shift their areas of operation.

This reality poses a clear requirement: no country can single-handedly address cybercrime. It is a borderless problem, and the solution must necessarily be international cooperation — with mechanisms for information sharing, standards for handling electronic evidence, judicial cooperation, technical assistance and capacity-building, and a common voice on responsibility, ethics, and the rule of law in cyberspace.

From these practical requirements, in 2019, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution initiating the process of drafting a comprehensive international convention against cybercrime. It was a difficult negotiation process lasting five years, as this is a sensitive field linked to sovereignty, security, human rights, development interests, and differing approaches among various groups of countries. Achieving consensus therefore carries significant importance, demonstrating the determination of the international community in the face of a common threat.

On December 24, 2024, the United Nations General Assembly officially adopted the full text of the Convention. The Convention comprises 9 chapters and 71 articles, marking the establishment of the first global legal framework on cooperation in preventing and combating cybercrime within the framework of the United Nations. The instrument not only focuses on defining criminal acts and enforcement mechanisms, but also lays the foundation for modern methods of judicial cooperation, adjusts traditional criminal investigation methods to suit the information and communications technology environment, enhances the sharing and use of electronic evidence, provides technical assistance and capacity-building, and at the same time upholds the principles of ensuring human rights and respecting national sovereignty.

Within this broader context, Viet Nam is regarded as a proactive, active, and responsible country. Viet Nam not only strictly implements its international commitments, but also makes substantive contributions to promoting a document that is harmonious, feasible, and balanced between combating cybercrime and safeguarding the fundamental principles of international law.

Notably, the “Ha Noi Convention” is not only the result of multilateral negotiation efforts, but also a recognition by the international community of Viet Nam’s role, prestige, and resilience in addressing global issues. Many experts have observed that the United Nations’ selection of Viet Nam, specifically Ha Noi, as the venue for the opening for signature clearly affirms Viet Nam’s position as a trusted partner in multilateral cooperation mechanisms.

From a professional perspective, Tran Anh Tuan, Head of the Legal Consultancy and Information and Communications Division of the Institute of International Economics and Law, stated: “The Ha Noi Convention affirms Viet Nam’s position in the era of national advancement — an era in which we confidently participate in shaping international law and contribute to peace, security, and sustainable development.”

However, as many opinions have emphasized, the adoption of the Convention is only an initial success. The decisive issue lies in its implementation: whether countries share genuine goodwill for cooperation, whether they possess sufficient determination to translate commitments into action, and whether they are capable of narrowing coordination “gaps” in practice. Lawyer Nguyen Xuan Dung (Ha Noi Bar Association) observed that the major challenge of the next phase is how to ensure that cooperation becomes substantive, effective, and continuous; for Viet Nam, it is necessary to further improve institutions and the legal system, while enhancing capacity to coordinate more deeply with international partners in the uncompromising fight against cybercrime.

Viewed more broadly, the “Ha Noi Convention” also conveys a profound message: in the digital world, national sovereignty is affirmed not only by geographical borders, but also by the capacity to protect data, safeguard systems, and shield citizens from online risks. Building a safe cyberspace is therefore a prerequisite for rapid and sustainable development, and a foundation to ensure that digital transformation is not disrupted by shocks arising from cybercrime.

With more than 78.4 million Internet users (around 80% of the population) and over 72 million social media users, Viet Nam is entering a phase of rapid acceleration in its digital economy, digital government, and digital society. Alongside these opportunities, however, risks are also increasing. In 2024, authorities uncovered more than 6,000 cases related to online fraud, causing losses of approximately VND 12 trillion. These figures serve as a reminder that the fight against cybercrime is not a distant issue concerning only major technological powers; it is an immediate concern directly affecting the security, property, reputation, rights, and well-being of citizens.

In this context, the “Hanoi Convention” is both a source of pride and a reminder of responsibility. It is a source of pride because Viet Nam has been recognized and trusted by the international community. It is a reminder of responsibility because, from this milestone onward, the country must take the lead in ensuring effective implementation, refining domestic legislation, strengthening enforcement capacity, and enhancing public communication and education so that citizens are equipped with the skills to protect themselves in cyberspace—thereby contributing to a shared goal: technology must serve people, and development must place people at the center.

Ha Noi – A Global Convergence Point in the Digital Era

If the “Hanoi Convention” marks Viet Nam’s imprint in shaping common rules, then the selection of Ha Noi as the venue for its opening for signature affirms another dimension: Ha Noi’s role as a global meeting point for dialogue, connectivity, and international consensus in the digital era.

It was no coincidence that the United Nations chose Ha Noi. Over many years, Viet Nam’s capital has been recognized as a symbol of peace, stability, hospitality, and international integration. Ha Noi possesses the essential conditions to host an event of global stature: professional coordination and organizational capacity, a stable political and social environment, respect for international law, and an open spirit of cooperation.

More importantly, Ha Noi embodies Viet Nam’s distinctive “diplomatic identity”: flexible yet steadfast, sincere and open-minded. In Ha Noi, dialogue is encouraged, differences are respected, and consensus is nurtured on the foundation of shared interests. This spirit closely aligns with the multilateralism that the United Nations upholds.

The Opening Ceremony for Signature and the High-Level Conference of the Convention at the National Convention Center, under the theme “Combating Cybercrime, Sharing Responsibility, Towards the Future,” stands as vivid proof. The event was attended by leaders and high-level representatives from around 110 countries and numerous international organizations, with 60 countries sending representatives to sign the Convention. These figures not only reflect the significance and appeal of an important legal instrument, but also demonstrate that Ha Noi has become a trusted venue for the international community to come together in addressing common challenges.

Within the framework of the event, the message of international solidarity and respect for the rule of law was strongly emphasized. In his welcoming remarks, President Luong Cuong affirmed that this was a historic event, marking the beginning of a new era of global cooperation in cyberspace. He stressed that cyberspace is both a new domain for development and a new frontline of global security, where opportunities and challenges are intertwined; therefore, technological progress must go hand in hand with ethics and responsibility.

According to the President, the Hanoi Convention conveys three clear messages: affirming the commitment to ensuring safety and security in cyberspace on the basis of international law; promoting the spirit of sharing, partnership, and mutual support; and underscoring the ultimate goal of serving the people—so that technology benefits society and no one is left behind in the process of digital transformation.

On the United Nations side, Secretary-General António Guterres expressed his honor at attending this historic event and thanked Viet Nam for its pioneering role and internationally recognized organizational capacity. He described the Hanoi Convention as the first global criminal justice treaty in more than two decades, establishing a common legal framework for countries to cooperate in combating cybercrime. The Secretary-General also called on all countries to promptly ratify and implement the Convention, turning commitments into concrete action, and affirmed that the United Nations would stand ready to accompany and support member states through its specialized agencies.

These remarks demonstrate that Ha Noi is not merely a place where signatures were affixed, but the starting point of a spirit of cooperation—a spirit of consensus in a world still marked by differences. Amid intense geopolitical competition and differing perspectives on cybersecurity among various groups of countries, reaching agreement on a global convention is in itself highly significant. That this consensus was initiated in Ha Noi further highlights the image of Viet Nam’s capital as a symbol of dialogue.

From a diplomatic perspective, many observers view this as a success of Viet Nam’s multilateral foreign policy. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Hoang Giang emphasized that successfully advocating for the United Nations to select Ha Noi as the venue for the signing ceremony, and for the Convention to bear the name “Hanoi Convention,” represents an important milestone—reflecting Viet Nam’s resilience, credibility, and leadership capacity in a rapidly evolving international environment.

Ms. Pauline Tamesis, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Viet Nam, shared that the event reflects Viet Nam’s leadership role, strategic vision, and strong commitment to multilateralism, with the United Nations at its core. Mr. Artur Liukmanov, Director of the Department of International Information Security at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, remarked that Viet Nam fully deserves to be chosen as the host of the first-ever United Nations signing ceremony for a convention on combating cybercrime in more than two decades.

Notably, Palestinian Ambassador to Viet Nam Saadi Salama, Head of the Diplomatic Corps in Viet Nam, affirmed that the United Nations’ selection of Ha Noi reflects the international community’s confidence in Viet Nam as a stable country with strong credibility in multilateral cooperation. According to the Ambassador, the “Hanoi Convention” is the first global treaty to bear the name of Viet Nam’s capital, marking an important milestone for the country on the map of international cooperation and reaffirming Viet Nam as a responsible member of the United Nations, consistently proactive in promoting international collaboration for peace, security, and sustainable development.

For Ha Noi, this milestone carries lasting significance. The capital is not only the nation’s political and administrative center, but is also steadily asserting its role as a hub of connectivity for a deeply integrated Viet Nam. Through international conferences, forums, and major global events, Ha Noi is increasingly recognized as a dynamic, innovative, and connected city—one capable of inspiring peace, cooperation, and sustainable development in a rapidly changing world.

In that broader picture, the “Hanoi Convention” stands out as a defining highlight. Its value does not lie solely in the written text. A convention truly comes to life only when it is effectively implemented—when it becomes an instrument to protect people, safeguard trust, and sustain the momentum of development. And Ha Noi—where this journey began—will remain a symbol of a shared aspiration: the aspiration for a safe, humane, and equitable cyberspace, where technology is guided by law, ethics, and responsibility.

From the pride inspired by the “Hanoi Convention,” one can more clearly discern the image of Viet Nam in the digital era: an independent, self-reliant nation, deeply integrated into the world, ready to shoulder responsibilities and contribute to shared global norms. From Ha Noi as well, one can more distinctly sense the momentum of a capital city rising to new heights—a meeting point for dialogue, where consensus is fostered and where nations come together to lay the foundations for a safe and sustainable digital future centered on people.