IT units at ministries and localities are responsible for updating their digital architecture frameworks to align with the national digital government framework. Illustrative photo: M.H
The Ministry of Science and Technology has officially issued “Vietnam Digital Government Architecture Framework, Version 4.0,” which will serve as the foundation for ministries, sectors, and localities to adjust their respective digital architecture frameworks to better align with current realities.
The digital government architecture framework provides a comprehensive overview of the components and relationships within the national digital government system.
Much like a detailed map, it enables stakeholders to visualize ongoing efforts and future tasks to ensure system connectivity, interoperability, and to avoid duplication.
On March 30, the National Digital Transformation Agency under the Ministry of Science and Technology called on specialized IT units at ministries, sectors, and localities to urgently propose, study, and develop their own ministerial or provincial-level digital architecture frameworks (version 4.0), in line with the newly released national framework.
The agency also provided specific guidance: the new ministerial/provincial version 4.0 must be developed by upgrading and updating the previous version of each unit’s digital architecture.
The goal is to ensure alignment with new organizational structures - especially in light of ongoing provincial mergers and administrative restructuring, including the removal of some district- and commune-level entities.
As part of the government’s Action Program to implement Resolution 57 on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation, the Ministry of Science and Technology officially issued “Vietnam Digital Government Architecture Framework, Version 4.0” on March 25.
Beyond providing guidance for ministries and provinces, the new version aims to standardize and implement the national digital architecture uniformly from central to local levels.
Key goals include enhancing system connectivity, promoting data sharing, optimizing the use of IT resources within and among state agencies nationwide, improving IT investment monitoring and evaluation, and strengthening standardization, cybersecurity, and personal data protection in the digital government rollout.
According to the National Digital Transformation Agency, one of the major updates in version 4.0 is the revised overview diagram and detailed component descriptions.
These changes reflect updates made to comply with the 2023 Electronic Transactions Law, which will take effect in July 2024.
The framework also incorporates new guidance aligned with Resolution 57 issued on December 22, 2024, by the Politburo.
Relevant updates have been added to the section outlining core principles for building ministerial and provincial-level architecture frameworks.
In parallel, the Ministry of Science and Technology - through the National Digital Transformation Agency - has revised and clarified the descriptions of each framework component to better reflect the actual roles and functions of individual ministries.
Additionally, reference models have been updated across five key areas: business operations, data, applications, technology, and cybersecurity.
The 4.0 version also provides clear instructions for ministries and localities on the basic elements of their digital architecture frameworks and core principles for construction.
These guiding principles include alignment with the national framework and related legal documents; consistency with national goals for IT application and digital government development; and synergy with Vietnam’s broader socio-economic development strategies.
They also emphasize cost-effective investment, digital and technological infrastructure development based on principles of modernity, synchronicity, safety, security, and efficiency.
