Top leader calls for modernising Party ideological work amid digital transformation

Party General Secretary and State President Tô Lâm is spearheading a digital transformation of Vietnam’s ideological work to move from reactive to proactive governance. According to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA), the strategy utilizes AI and digital data ecosystems to forecast public sentiment and safeguard the Party’s ideological foundation in cyberspace.

How will AI and data change political communication in Vietnam?

The new strategy shifts political communication from manual dissemination to a data-driven model. General Secretary Tô Lâm stated that a digital data ecosystem must be developed to integrate public opinion, journalism, and grassroots feedback. This system aims to ensure interoperability and security while providing direct support for leadership decisions.

By utilizing artificial intelligence, the Party intends to improve forecasting and early warning capabilities. This allows officials to identify “opinion hotspots” and harmful information before they escalate. The goal is to move away from dealing with issues after they arise and instead provide guidance from an early stage.

Why is the shift from reactive to proactive ideological work necessary?

Modern cyberspace allows false content and perception-manipulation campaigns to spread rapidly. According to the VNA report, the strategy prioritizes the identification of technology-generated false content and livelihood-related issues that could be distorted.

A proactive approach means using data to understand developments in real-time. This prevents the Party from simply reacting to crises. Instead, it focuses on “dialogue and persuasion” to build public confidence before distrust takes root. This mirrors global trends where governments use sentiment analysis to gauge public mood, though Tô Lâm emphasized that these tools must remain guided by ethical standards.

For more on how digital governance is evolving in Southeast Asia, see [Link to related article on regional digital policy].

What role does the public play in this new digital ecosystem?

The strategy redefines the public as active participants rather than passive recipients of information. General Secretary Tô Lâm called for the mobilization of “positive influencers,” intellectuals, artists, and trusted figures to disseminate accurate information.

This approach seeks to build a “positive information ecosystem” where the people help rebut wrong information and uphold the right. By engaging a broad section of society, the Party aims to shape a strong public support base directly within cyberspace, rather than relying solely on official state channels.

Can technology replace political leadership and ethics?

Despite the emphasis on AI, General Secretary Tô Lâm explicitly stated that technology cannot replace “political steadfastness, theoretical foundations, or revolutionary ethics.” He warned against turning ideological work into an “overly technical exercise.”

The strategy posits that while data provides the “what” and “when,” the “how” still depends on the persuasive ability and exemplary responsibility of Party members. The human element—specifically the capacity for dialogue—remains the primary tool for ensuring social consensus.

This creates a hybrid model: AI handles the monitoring and early warning, while human leaders handle the ethical guidance and political persuasion. According to the VNA, this requires a new contingent of officials who possess both “digital competence” and “political mettle.”

Frequently Asked Questions

To track the official progress of these directives, visit the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) portal.