Editor’s Note: The final session of Vietnam’s 15th National Assembly concluded with a record number of laws on digital systems being passed. Observers have called it the “session of the digital era.” Among them, the Law on Digital Transformation is regarded as a foundational statute governing core issues such as the legal validity of digital data, digital assets, and regulatory sandboxes for technology policy experimentation. Right after the law was passed, The Saigon Times spoke with Mr. Tran Duy Ninh, director general of the National Digital Transformation Department (Ministry of Science and Technology), at a time when it is crucial for citizens and businesses to grasp the true spirit of digital transformation. The right to “refuse paper documents” The Saigon Times: At a recent workshop, you shared a view on the newly passed Law on Digital Transformation: “Processes must be optimized before digital transformation.” This is a very logical perspective, because otherwise we would merely be “digitizing a mess.” Could you elaborate on this point and explain whether the new law contains provisions that require ministries, agencies and local authorities to follow this spirit? – Mr. Tran Duy Ninh: This is not merely a technical requirement, but a core mindset […]