Digital Outcome Disparities Among Vietnamese University Students

University students, who represent the key future workforce in Vietnam's digital economy, face complex challenges in adapting to the National Digital Transformation Program (2025-2030). Particularly, research shows a noticeable gap in how students access, use, and benefit from digital technologies. While many studies have examined digital access and skills disparities in Vietnam, limited research explores how students' digital engagement translates into real-world benefits. This study is grounded in Van Deursen and Helsper's framework, which extends Van Dijk's theory, to investigate whether the use of digital technologies in different domains creates disparities among Vietnamese students. A cross-sectional survey was design ed, recruiting 140 university students from various majors and geographical backgrounds at an emerging technological university in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. The questionnaire, adapted from Pukdeewut, comprised three main sections: demographics (7 items), prior digital engagement (5 items), and digital outcomes (13 items measured on a 5-point Likert scale). The results of this study highlight new dimensions of digital inequalities, revealing that students do not benefit equally from digital tools for financial and administrative purposes. This suggests a missed opportunity for digital economic mobility and a lack of engagement with government services- both crucial factors for Vietnam's transition to a digitally-driven workforce and economy. The findings underscore the need for Vietnam's digital transformation efforts to extend beyond infrastructure development and digital access, ensuring that students can effectively engage with technology for real-world success.