Digital Transformation Influencing Civil Administrative Services at Grassroots Governance and Social Development

Abstract Developing countries have implemented their digital transformation initiatives thoroughly, particularly in the context of public services, but those countries have undergone daunting challenges such as digital inclusion, data governance, cybersecurity, and service interoperability in the process. This qualitative study employed a structural comparative legal approach, examining international frameworks such as the OECD Digital Government Index, the EU Digital Government Strategy, and the UN e-Government Survey 2024 to compare and contrast the current exemplified Vietnam’s e-Government initiatives. In addition, secondary quantitative data were systematically analyzed using the most-similar and most-different systems design to evaluate Vietnam’s National Digital Transformation Program at the grassroots governance level compared with international benchmarks. The results reveal that although Vietnam’s digital transformation has gained significantly with the development of international digital transformation frameworks in terms of e-Government services, challenges such as limited digital infrastructure, the digital divide, and cybersecurity gaps still exist, particularly in rural areas. Developing countries like Vietnam must invest in digital infrastructure, address digital literacy gaps, adopt interoperable systems, and strengthen data governance to enhance grassroots governance. It is also advisable for developing countries like Vietnam to comply with global frameworks and foster public–private collaboration so that they could achieve a more inclusive and efficient digital governance model to improve public service delivery, transparency, and social inclusion.