Vietnam-Austria Relations: Unlocking the Potential for Cooperation in Key Areas
	Desire to Bring Austrian Orchestra to Vietnamese Audience

Delegates discuss at the forum. (Photo: VOV)

The forum brought together policymakers, businesses, and technology experts from both countries to promote policy dialogue, strengthen connectivity, and explore concrete cooperation opportunities in cybersecurity.

According to reports presented at the forum, cyber threats in Vietnam continue to increase in both scale and sophistication. In 2024 alone, Vietnam recorded more than 13,000 cyberattacks, causing losses exceeding USD 800 million. Entering 2025, thousands more attacks targeted the information systems of government agencies, organizations, and businesses, with ransomware attacks surging sharply and affecting more than 3,000 enterprises. Not only large corporations, but also many small and medium-sized enterprises, service providers, and interconnected supply chains have become targets of cybercriminals.

Speaking at the forum, Ha Van Bac, Deputy Director General of the Department of Cybersecurity and High-Tech Crime Prevention, stated that cyber threats are rapidly increasing in both scale and complexity. As of January 2026, Vietnam had more than 85.6 million internet users, accounting for approximately 84.2% of the population and ranking 12th globally. According to him, this represents both enormous potential for digital economic development and an increasingly urgent need to ensure national cybersecurity.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Austria Vu Le Thai Hoang emphasized that Vietnam is entering a phase of rapid and sustainable development driven by science and technology, in which digital transformation and innovation serve as key growth drivers. He affirmed: “Technology is only truly sustainable when built on a foundation of trust, and that trust begins with security.”

According to Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang, Austria possesses strong expertise in cybersecurity, with the Austrian Institute of Technology playing a leading role in major European Union cybersecurity capability networks while also closely cooperating with the International Atomic Energy Agency in the field of nuclear cybersecurity. Meanwhile, Vietnam has a dynamic digital economy and strong political commitment to promoting digital transformation. This is considered an important foundation for the two countries to move from dialogue toward implementing concrete cooperative actions.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Austria Vu Le Thai Hoang speaks at the forum. (Photo: Nhan Dan Newspaper)

Austrian Ambassador to Vietnam Philipp Agathonos affirmed that cybersecurity is currently one of Austria’s top priorities, alongside innovation and technological development. He noted that a secure digital environment is an essential foundation for economic growth and social stability, while highly appreciating initiatives such as the International Digital Security Forum (IDSF) and European Union cooperation programs under Horizon for promoting international cybersecurity cooperation.

Dieter Hempel, Head of the Austrian Economic Cooperation and Development Agency (AED), stated that the Austrian side had recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Cybersecurity Association of Vietnam, laying the groundwork for concrete cooperative activities such as human resource training, technical exchanges, and joint project implementation. He emphasized that Austria’s goal is to share its best practices and models with partners while working directly with expert teams to achieve practical results.

At the international level, Vietnam is also increasingly asserting its proactive role in cybersecurity. Hosting the signing ceremony of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime in Hanoi, also known as the “Hanoi Convention,” has been regarded as an important milestone in efforts to promote international cooperation against cybercrime. In addition, Vietnam has strengthened coordination with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the International Atomic Energy Agency to enhance its capacity to respond to cybercrime and non-traditional security challenges.

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