Foreword by Detlef Briesen

Editors: Nguyen Manh Dung, Nguyen Thi Kim Chi, Nguyen Van Chieu, Bui Trang Huong

“The book explores Vietnam’s evolving governance and management practices in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and ongoing digital transformation. It highlights the increasingly active role of businesses, social organizations, and individual citizens working alongside government institutions to address complex socio-economic challenges. Governance in Vietnam is shifting from a state-centered model to a multi-actor system in which diverse expectations-both public and private-must be acknowledged and coordinated. This transformation is narrowing the divide between public and private sectors and promoting more horizontal relationships based on cooperation and equality. Governance is also becoming more interconnected and transboundary, shaped by regional and global dynamics such as green growth, digital innovation, and sustainability. The Fourth Industrial Revolution is profoundly altering how individuals, organizations, and governments function, necessitating new leadership mindsets and institutional restructuring. Vietnam possesses several comparative advantages in digital transformation within ASEAN, including a large population, rapid growth in the ICT sector, robust telecommunications infrastructure, and the flexibility to bypass outdated technologies due to late digitalization. Key policy documents - such as Resolution No.52-NQ/TW, Decisions No.749/QĐ-TTg and No.1658/QĐ-TTg - outline a strategic roadmap toward digital governance, green growth, and a knowledge-based economy by 2030. However, challenges remain: limited technological self-reliance, financial constraints (particularly among SMEs), and the need for institutional and cognitive adaptation. The increasing application of artificial intelligence in governance and business challenges traditional state functions and introduces new complexities in labor relations, communication, and social protection. As automation and AI displace existing job models, Vietnam must prioritize legal reform, digital infrastructure, and human capital development. Education, especially higher education, must pivot from knowledge transmission to anticipating and shaping future societal needs driven by AI, data, and digital economies. Ultimately, the book argues that Vietnam’s successful digital transformation hinges on inclusive governance, strategic foresight, and coordinated investment in both human and technological systems.”

Preface by Nguyen Manh Dung