Towards the Vietnam Port Digital Index: A Conceptual Readiness Framework for Digital Transformation in Emerging Economies

Decision 749/QD-TTg identifies logistics as a priority sector in Vietnam’s digital economy strategy toward 2030, placing increasing pressure on seaports to pursue digital transformation. Assessing digital maturity in this setting, however, remains difficult. Most international port digital maturity frameworks are developed for environments characterized by advanced infrastructure, automated data systems, and stable governance arrangements—conditions that are only partially present in Vietnam. This study proposes the Vietnam Port Digital Index as a conceptual readiness framework designed for emerging economies. The framework is developed through a three-stage process comprising literature-informed synthesis, conceptual clustering of capability pillars, and contextual screening against domestic governance and data constraints. Rather than treating technology adoption as a sufficient indicator of maturity, the Vietnam Port Digital Index explicitly incorporates organizational capacity and policy readiness as core analytical dimensions. The framework therefore provides a context-sensitive structure for understanding digital transformation in Vietnamese seaports and establishes a foundation for subsequent empirical operationalization and quantitative assessment.