Vietnam Explores Evolution of Grassroots Democracy in Digital Era

Vietnam is moving to bolster the practice of democracy in cyberspace in response to rapid advancements in science and technology and evolving social dynamics. The "Law on the Implementation of Democracy at the Grassroots Level" enacted in 2022 has, in principle, guaranteed citizens' democratic rights based on the tenet of "people know, people discuss, people do, people check, people supervise, people benefit." However, the digital era has introduced new challenges, particularly in implementing democracy online and addressing the misuse of democratic principles for sowing division, as well as combating false information, defamation, and slander that harms the reputation of organizations and individuals. In response, the Vietnamese government has decided to amend the existing law. The Ministry of the Interior has proposed to the National Assembly Standing Committee to include the draft law in the legislative program for 2026, with the aim of submitting it to the 16th National Assembly at its second session in October 2026. The proposed amendments emphasize leveraging digital platforms, open data, and online interactions as a "breakthrough solution" to promote and enhance democratic practices and improve interaction between state management agencies and citizens. This aligns with directives from the Politburo, which designates cyberspace as a crucial arena for ideological work and a channel for listening to the people. It stresses the importance of distinguishing between genuine concerns and organized disinformation campaigns, and avoiding the manipulation of public sentiment. The revised approach prioritizes combining democracy with discipline and legal authority. Digital tools will be incorporated within a legal framework to ensure information security, protect state secrets and personal data, and prevent illegal activities and manipulation of public opinion online. The review will also encompass related laws such as the Law on Access to Information, Cybersecurity Law, Data Law, Personal Data Protection Law, and Digital Transformation Law. Furthermore, the initiative aims to establish criteria and processes for implementing democracy on digital platforms, moving beyond superficial assessments to a practical, standardized, and transparent system. This will ensure the legal validity, authenticity, and information security of online "people know, people discuss, people do, people check, people supervise, people benefit" activities through electronic identification systems.