Vietnam stepped into the global spotlight on October 25-26, 2025 as world leaders, senior diplomats, and cybersecurity experts gathered in Hanoi for the official signing of a landmark United Nations treaty to combat cybercrime — the first global convention of its kind and the first UN convention ever opened for signature in Vietnam Vietnam last week held the Signing Ceremony and the High-Level Conference of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime, known as the Hanoi Convention, at the National Convention Center in Hanoi City. The convention seeks to establish a unified legal framework for preventing, investigating, and prosecuting crimes committed through digital technologies across borders. The event marked a historic moment for Vietnam, signaling both its deepening international integration and its growing influence as a trusted partner in global governance. Countering rising cyber threats Cybercrime has become one of the defining threats of the 21st century, inflicting trillions of dollars in losses worldwide each year. According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), online scams alone cost victims in East and Southeast Asia between US$18 billion and US$37 billion in 2023. From the 2017 ransomware attack that paralyzed shipping giant Maersk to the 2022 assault on Costa Rica’s […]