"Smart villages and hamlets," the core of "digital rural areas"

At the community center in Hamlet 2, Kim Lien Commune, a special bulletin board has been on display for over a year. No longer a paper notice board like before, each information box now contains a pre-installed QR code. With just a tap on their phone screen, residents can quickly access information about the local economy, politics, and culture, as well as digital applications that serve their daily lives.

In a purely agricultural village like Kim Lien, the appearance of a "digital bulletin board" is seen as a significant turning point in the journey of building smart villages. Mrs. Phan Thi Chau, 65 years old, excitedly said:"Since that digital bulletin board was installed, the villagers have always been able to quickly receive announcements from the village, commune, province, and even the central government. Every day, I and several other women in the village go to the community center to scan the board to check for the latest news; it's incredibly convenient. Village and commune officials also regularly provide guidance, so even elderly people like me know how to use the phone to check the information."

To effectively integrate digital applications into daily life, local authorities have leveraged available resources – with over 90% of the population using smartphones. From this foundation, community digital technology teams can easily reach out and provide hands-on guidance to residents on how to install applications, scan QR codes, or make cashless payments. Gradually, using smartphones to look up information, register for administrative procedures, or buy and sell agricultural products online has become commonplace – even for older people.

Mr. Tran Thanh Hai, Vice Chairman of the Kim Lien Commune People's Committee, said:“The commune has focused on investing in internet network systems and 4G/5G wifi modems at the village cultural centers to serve the people. In addition, we encourage people to use smartphones to create smart villages on a digital platform.”

Thanks to changes in the mindset and practices of the people, the digital transformation journey in Kim Lien commune is becoming even clearer, with the "community digital technology team" playing a core role.

Through applications like Zalo and Messenger, a communication channel has been established between village officials and residents. As a result, the gap between the government and the people seems to have narrowed, and policies and guidelines are disseminated more quickly and effectively. Most importantly, residents feel they are truly the main actors in the digital transformation of their rural communities.

Ms. Hoang Thi Mau, Secretary and Head of Hamlet 2, Kim Lien Commune, shared:“Initially, we faced many difficulties because we lacked funds and hadn't yet collected neighborhood funds. But after we announced it on the neighborhood's loudspeaker system, we received support from many benefactors. Then, the higher authorities also collaborated with the digital technology team to guide the residents, helping the team complete its mission.”

The story of Mr. Nguyen Tat Khuong from Van Hien commune is a prime example. Despite his advanced age and lifelong dedication to livestock farming, Mr. Khuong has completely transformed his economic mindset by learning how to use a smartphone. His phone is now not only for communication but also helps him research knowledge, learn new techniques, connect with business partners, and promote his products.“The Farmers’ Association opened training classes, where I received books, notebooks, and materials. They also taught me how to approach the topics, so I grasped them more quickly. Nowadays, thanks to the internet and smartphones, I can access information more easily. Secondly, I can understand the market better; it’s much easier to know what to raise or what to trade.”

In Van Hien commune, stories like that of Mr. Nguyen Tat Khuong – a farmer whose life has been transformed by technology – are no longer rare. And certainly, in many rural areas of Nghe An, smartphones, the internet, and digital applications have become an integral part of people's daily lives.

Thanks to these changes, the face of the new rural area is gradually taking shape – where technology becomes a bridge connecting communities, helping to improve the quality of life and governance at the grassroots level.

Mr. Tran Ngoc Canh, Secretary and Head of Tan Son 6 hamlet, Van Hien commune, added:“When there’s a meeting or information to be shared, we post it on the Zalo group so people can quickly get the information. Therefore, we no longer need to announce Party branch meetings or Front meetings over the loudspeaker; we just send messages to the group, so people can access the information very quickly.”

These changes demonstrate that digital transformation is the fastest way to overcome barriers of space and time, creating equal opportunities in accessing information, knowledge, services, and socio-economic activities. Mr. Pham Quang Sang, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Hop Minh commune, affirmed:“The commune is also trying to replicate this model, focusing on building a digital platform, strengthening training so that people understand the model better, and coordinating with relevant units. In particular, we are focusing on training in the application of science and technology, strengthening the development of sales websites and product livestreaming to further develop this model in the locality.”

Currently, all smart villages and hamlets in Nghe An province have free Wi-Fi access for residents at their community centers; over 90% of residents use 4G and 5G smartphones; and over 70% have received training and education to improve their digital skills and participate in using digital platforms, mobile applications, and online services provided by government agencies.