Ho Chi Minh City targets digital economy to account for 30% of GRDP this year

Ho Chi Minh City aims for the digital economy to contribute 30% of GRDP this year, doubling the result achieved in 2025. This target is set in the Plan for implementing measures to promote the development of the digital economy in 2026 issued by the City’s People’s Committee. The city’s economic driver expects the digital economy to gradually become a key growth engine in the coming period. The 30% GRDP contribution target for 2026 is higher than the local target announced at the end of last year (18.5% of GRDP). At the same time, it is more than twice the result achieved in 2025, at 13.43%. The contribution of the digital economy is measured by the indicator 'the share of value added by the digital economy' in national GDP or GRDP at the local level, including the contributions from the 'core digital economy sectors' and the digitization of other sectors. Core digital economy includes seven sectors: electronics manufacturing, computer equipment, optical products; wholesale of computers, equipment and software; wholesale of electronic equipment and components, telecommunications; software publishing; telecommunications; programming; data processing and information portals; repair of computers and repair of communications equipment. According to the Statistics Office, the share of value added by the digital economy in Ho Chi Minh City’s GRDP has gradually improved, from 11.07% in 2021 to 13.42% in 2025, but remains lower than Hanoi (17.34%) and Hai Phong (22.28%) among centrally run cities. Across 34 provinces and cities, four localities had a digital economy share in GRDP above 20% last year: Bac Ninh (46.30%), Thai Nguyen (29.53%), Hai Phong (22.28%), Phu Tho (22.71%), which are major electronics manufacturing hubs. To achieve the target for digital economy development, the city government will promote the application of science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation in key economic sectors such as high-tech manufacturing, logistics, and e-commerce. Specifically, the plan aims for 5G coverage to reach 95%, e-commerce to account for at least 13.4% of total retail sales, 93% of ports adopting digital platforms, and an increased share of enterprises and factories using smart manufacturing systems. The city authorities will focus on completing institutional frameworks, developing digital infrastructure, promoting multi-sector digital economy, training a high-quality workforce, and building an innovation ecosystem. The city also encourages public–private partnerships, attracting investment, and strengthening domestic and international linkages.