Vietnam Renames Cyber Security Agency

Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security has announced the renaming of the Department of Cyber Security and High-Tech Crime Prevention to the Department of Cyber Security. This name change, effective September 15, is in accordance with Government Decree No. 10/2026/ND-CP, which amends and supplements Government Decree No. 02/2025/ND-CP dated February 18, 2025, stipulating the functions, duties, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Public Security. The department was initially established as the Department of Cyber Security under the Ministry of Public Security on August 28, 2014, with Lieutenant General Hoang Phuoc Thuan appointed as its first director. Four years later, it merged with the Department of Police for Prevention and Control of High-Tech Crimes, becoming the Department of Cyber Security and High-Tech Crime Prevention, with Lieutenant General Nguyen Minh Chinh assuming the role of director. Now, on September 15, 2024, it has been renamed the Department of Cyber Security, with Lieutenant General Le Xuan Minh as its director. On the same day, the Ministry of Public Security also announced the establishment of the Department of Information Technology and Cryptography, merging the Department of Information Technology with the Department of Telecommunications and Cryptography. This new entity comprises 12 divisions and is headed by Major General Le Khac Thuyet. This organizational restructuring is seen as part of efforts to strengthen Vietnam's cyber space management and its capacity to combat technology-related crimes. Under its one-party system, Vietnam prioritizes information control and social order maintenance, making cyber security a critical national agenda. As Vietnam experiences rapid economic growth, the risks of cyber attacks and data breaches have also increased, necessitating organizational enhancements. Furthermore, in the context of relations with China, aspects of cybersecurity cooperation and tension reduction cannot be overlooked.