Digital Transformation in Vietnam’s Resource and Environmental Economics

The integration of digital technologies into resource and environmental economics has become critical for sustainable development in emerging economies. This paper provides a comprehensive assessment of digital transformation in Vietnam’s resource and environmental sectors, drawing on official Vietnamese government data and reports, as well as analyses by global development institutions. We examine the current state of digitalization in natural resource management and environmental governance, including official e-government initiatives, data infrastructure, and sector-specific applications. Key models, technologies and policies driving digital change are analyzed, with emphasis on innovations such as remote sensing, Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and big data analytics. The socio-economic impacts of these digital advances on environmental governance, resource management efficiency, and green economic practices are evaluated. We also identify major challenges and barriers—such as infrastructure gaps, limited digital skills, data fragmentation, and regulatory issues hindering effective digitalization. Finally, the paper proposes policy recommendations and strategic directions for Vietnam’s future digital transformation in resource and environmental economics, emphasizing capacity building, unified data platforms, inclusive digital literacy, and supportive legal frameworks. The findings indicate that Vietnam has achieved significant progress in digitalizing its environmental and resource sectors (e.g. smart irrigation, GIS-based monitoring, e-services), but sustained efforts and investments are needed to fully realize a digital and green economy.