The introduction of the Internet to Vietnam

In 1994, Professor Dang Huu, then Minister of Science and Technology, played a key role in convincing vietnams leadership to allow the launch of the Internet in the contry.

“I wanted to use the Internet and recognized the real need for details, so I worked to persuade the Party and Government to open it,” Huu stated.

“Several individuals actively supported me, including Phan Dinh Dieu, Nguyen Dinh Ngoc, Chu Hao, and mai Liem Truc. We understood that working without the Internet was increasingly difficult, especially when needing to contact people overseas. Telephone and fax were simply too expensive.

Furthermore, we needed to access information for research. Since an official Internet didn’t exist yet, we relied on unofficial methods to connect internationally. The more we used the Internet, the more essential it became. We even discussed the concept of a knowledge-based economy, and we knew you couldn’t achieve that without Internet access.”

Even before Vietnam officially permitted the Internet, its economic benefits were recognized. In 1996, Hoang Anh Gia Lai enterprise invested in two engineers and two computers, using the Internet daily to gather market and trade information for wood products.

Huu explained that Vietnam had the technical capacity to introduce the internet earlier, but security concerns created hesitation.

Key takeaways

• Professor Dang Huu was instrumental in advocating for the Internet’s introduction to Vietnam in 1994.
• Early adopters recognized the Internet’s importance for communication, research, and economic development.
• Concerns about security initially delayed the official launch, despite existing technical capabilities.
• Businesses like Hoang Anh Gia Lai proactively utilized the Internet for market research even before its official legalization.

Published: 2025/10/12 00:54:42