On 19 February, the Permanent Mission of Viet Nam to the United Nations, in cooperation with the Permanent Mission of Australia and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), co-hosted a seminar titled “The Road to Hanoi: Signing Ceremony of the United Nations Convention on Cybercrime”.

The event attracted the participation of over 100 delegates from UN member states and relevant international organizations.

In his opening remarks, Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Head of the Permanent Mission of Viet Nam to the United Nations, emphasized the significance of the newly adopted Convention in the context of increasingly complex global cybersecurity threats. He noted that rising cyber risks are directly impacting the security and development of all countries, and that the adoption of the Convention by the United Nations establishes a global legal framework for international cooperation in preventing and combating cybercrime.

Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang expressed gratitude to all countries that supported the selection of Hanoi as the venue for the official signing ceremony of the Convention during the UN General Assembly session in December 2024. He affirmed Viet Nam’s commitment to continuing close coordination with UNODC, the UN Office of Legal Affairs (OLA), and member states to ensure the Convention enters into force and is implemented effectively in the coming period.

Representatives from UNODC and OLA endorsed the Ambassador’s remarks, reaffirming their continued cooperation with Viet Nam. They also provided updates on the negotiation process, key provisions of the Convention, and procedural steps leading to the signing in Hanoi.

During the seminar, members of Viet Nam’s inter-agency working delegation, comprising representatives from the Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of National Defence, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, provided an update on the progress of preparations for the 2025 signing ceremony in Hanoi. They stressed that beyond the official signing and formal sessions, the event will include a wide range of activities to facilitate connection, dialogue, and cooperation among governments, businesses, and relevant stakeholders in response to cyber threats.

Through these activities, Viet Nam seeks to reinforce its role as a responsible member and trusted partner in the international community, actively promoting multilateralism and contributing to the shaping of global digital governance frameworks while safeguarding cybersecurity and national sovereignty in cyberspace.

Representatives of several countries and regional groups commended Viet Nam’s proactive efforts in preparing for the signing ceremony of the United Nations Convention on Cybercrime. They affirmed their intent to accelerate domestic procedures to sign and ratify the Convention, and pledged strong support and close coordination with Viet Nam to ensure the successful organization of the signing ceremony in Hanoi in 2025.

The United Nations Convention on Cybercrime was formally adopted by the UN General Assembly on 24 December 2024. The Convention comprises 9 chapters and 71 articles, covering a wide array of essential provisions. These include the criminalization of cyber offenses, ranging from unauthorized access and system interference to online child exploitation and laundering proceeds of cybercrime; definitions of jurisdiction and investigative powers enabling states to collect evidence and prosecute cybercrime cases effectively; procedural and law enforcement measures; international cooperation in investigations and prosecutions; and preventive measures, including capacity-building, awareness-raising, technical assistance, and information-sharing.

The adoption of the Convention is the result of a collective effort by all UN member states, with Viet Nam playing an active and constructive role throughout the negotiation process. For the first time, a multilateral international treaty of global significance in a priority area such as cybersecurity and digital governance will be signed in Viet Nam.

In accordance with international practice, this legal instrument will be referred to as the Hanoi Convention, reflecting the international community’s recognition of Viet Nam’s active and responsible contribution to the development of the Convention and its broader role in addressing global challenges under the United Nations framework.