Page 196 - ISC PROCEEDINGS 21.4

FROM E-GOVERNMENT TO AI-ENABLED GOVERNANCE: EVIDENCE FROM
INTERNATIONAL INDICES AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS FOR VIETNAM

1
Nguyen Minh Nga* , Hoang Hong Phuc , Vu Thuy Linh , Dong Thi Phuong 4
2
3
1, 3, 4 Hanoi Open University, Hanoi, Vietnam.
2 Thang Long University, Hanoi, Vietnam.
(*E-mail: nmnga@hou.edu.vn)

ABSTRACT
The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming digital
governance and accelerating the transition from traditional e-government toward AI-
enabled public administration. This study examines Vietnam’s position in this transition
by integrating three global indicators: the United Nations E-Government Development
Index (EGDI), the World Bank GovTech Maturity Index (GTMI), and the Government AI
Readiness Index. Drawing on the Technology–Organization–Environment (TOE)
framework combined with Institutional Theory, the study conceptualizes digital
government development as a three-layer structure consisting of e-government
foundations, GovTech integration, and AI readiness. Using comparative descriptive
analysis based on recent international datasets, the study evaluates Vietnam’s
performance relative to selected ASEAN countries. The results show that Vietnam has
achieved notable progress in digital infrastructure and GovTech implementation, but
remains comparatively weaker in AI readiness. By integrating multiple international
measurement systems within a unified analytical framework, the study identifies a
structural gap between digital government development and AI capability, thereby
providing new empirical evidence on the challenges facing Vietnam’s transition toward
AI-enabled governance.
Keywords: AI-enabled governance; digital government; govtech; AI readiness;
Vietnam.

1. Introduction
Digital transformation is reshaping how governments organize administrative
processes and deliver public services. Over the past two decades, many countries have
adopted e-government systems to digitize administrative procedures and expand online
public services. More recently, the focus has shifted toward broader forms of digital
governance that rely on integrated digital platforms, data sharing, and advanced analytics
to improve policy design and public sector performance (Mergel et al., 2019; OECD, 2025).
Within this transformation, artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly viewed as a key
enabling technology, allowing governments to automate administrative processes,
support policy analysis, and provide more responsive public services (Wirtz et al., 2019).
As digital technologies evolve, the evaluation of digital government capacity has
also expanded. Early studies typically assessed e-government development based on the
availability of online services and ICT infrastructure. More recent research emphasizes the
need to examine broader layers of digital capability, including e-government
infrastructure, GovTech systems, and national readiness for AI adoption (Janssen et al.,
2020; Zuiderwijk et al., 2021). In response, several international organizations have
developed global indicators that measure different aspects of digital governance, most

195