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When did Vietnam launch its national digital ID program?
Executive Summary
Vietnam’s national digital ID effort traces to multiple, overlapping milestones rather than a single launch date: the VNeID platform was first released in September 2021, the formal Project 06 rollout and policy push intensified in 2022, a key legal instrument (Decree No. 69) took effect on July 1, 2024, and eligibility for foreign nationals was opened on July 1, 2025. The answer depends on what “launch” means—initial platform release, legal mandate, or broadened coverage—so each date reflects a different phase of the national program. [1] [2] [3] [4]
1. The Early Public Face: VNeID’s September 2021 Release That Started Public Use
Vietnam’s public-facing digital ID service, VNeID, was introduced as a functional platform on September 10, 2021, marking the first visible consumer touchpoint of the national ID effort and enabling millions of citizens to access e‑services via a mobile app. This date represents the operational debut of a national digital identity product and is the datum most commonly cited when asking when the program “started” for ordinary users, because it shifted citizens from paper to a usable electronic service [1]. That rollout established the technical base used in subsequent legal and policy developments.
2. The Government Program and Policy Push: Project 06 and the 2022 Mobilization
Separately, Vietnam’s broader government programmatic framing—often referred to as Project 06—was publicly recognized in 2022 as the state’s formal initiative to build a unified national digital identity system with multi‑year targets through 2025 and 2030. Project 06 reflects the policy decision to systematize and scale the digital ID across public administration, finance, and service delivery, rather than merely launching an app. This explains references to a 2022 “launch” in policy analyses, which denote the institutional commitment and funding cycle rather than the consumer app availability [2].
3. Legal Codification and Expansion: Decree No. 69 Taking Effect July 1, 2024
A key legal milestone arrived with Decree No. 69 coming into force on July 1, 2024, which codified electronic identification and authentication rules and imposed obligations—such as corporate e‑ID requirements—that advanced formal, government‑mandated phases of the program. This decree represents the regulatory foundation that scaled administrative use and compliance, moving digital ID from pilot and consumer app phases into legally backed public‑sector integration [3]. Observers treating “launch” as regulatory activation therefore point to this mid‑2024 date.
4. Internationalization and Final Phases: Opening VNeID to Foreigners on July 1, 2025
The program’s geographic and user‑base expansion hit another milestone on July 1, 2025, when the government began issuing Level‑2 electronic identification accounts to foreign residents and opened VNeID registration for foreigners. This date signifies the program’s maturation to a point where it served non‑citizen residents and integrated into cross‑border and service‑access frameworks, altering how “national” is understood—no longer citizen‑only but inclusive of foreign nationals for services like flights and public utilities [4] [5].
5. Why Sources Diverge: Different Definitions, Agendas, and Data Points
Conflicting dates in reporting spring from different operational definitions of “launch” and from source agendas—technical platforms (VNeID) vs. policy commitments (Project 06) vs. legal enactment (Decree No. 69) vs. population coverage (foreigners added in 2025). Wikipedia and platform documentation emphasize the app’s first public release in 2021 [1], policy briefs and think tanks highlight 2022 institutionalization [2], statutory reporting points to 2024 legal enactment [3], and news about inclusivity and rollout milestones documents the 2025 extension to foreigners [4]. Recognize that some outlets compress these steps into a single “launch” narrative for simplicity or emphasis, which can create apparent contradiction.
6. Bottom Line for the Question Asked: Pick the Date that Matches Your Meaning
If “launch” means the first public release of Vietnam’s national digital ID platform, answer September 10, 2021. If it means the state’s programmatic mobilization under Project 06, cite 2022. If it means the legal codification that enabled broad administrative enforcement, use July 1, 2024. If it means the program reaching foreign residents and fuller operational coverage, use July 1, 2025. All four dates are factual milestones of the same national initiative but reflect different phases—technical, programmatic, legal, and coverage expansions [1] [2] [3] [4].