The objective is clear: to help women master smartphone skills and access essential services such as healthcare, education, and agriculture, thereby improving access to information and enhancing their quality of life.

This activity is also in line with the overall direction of the National Target Program for Sustainable Poverty Reduction and in response to the movement "The whole country for the poor – Leaving no one behind," aiming to provide opportunities for people in mountainous areas to access technology and narrow the digital divide between mountainous and lowland regions.

The digital transformation model is spreading effectively.

Currently, Son La province has over 232,600 female members. Women's associations at all levels have intensified the dissemination of central and provincial policies and relevant documents on digital transformation to all members. The Provincial Women's Union has issued a plan for implementation, incorporating the application of information technology into the evaluation and ranking criteria for grassroots women's associations.

Ms. Quang Thi Van, Permanent Vice President of the Provincial Women's Union, said: The Provincial Women's Union directs all levels of the union to apply information technology in their activities, including the I-Office document management software system, websites, and social media platforms such as Zalo and Facebook. To date, 200 union branches have applied these software programs in their activities; and over 2,600 sub-branches use social media in their activities.

The Son La Provincial Women's Union organized a training course to enhance the IT application skills of 64 chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of district and commune-level Women's Unions.

From 2024 to the present, the Provincial Women's Union has organized four training conferences to improve digital skills and information technology application abilities for over 400 women's union officials at all levels. Simultaneously, it has provided training on digital transformation, information technology application, and safe social media use to over 3,200 officials and members. As a result, 100% of full-time officials at all three levels of the Women's Union are proficient in using basic software for their work.

In particular, in Yen Chau district, the Women's Union has established a digital transformation network with over 13,500 members. In Chieng Khoi commune, over 80% of members own smartphones. The Union has guided them on how to use QR codes to share documents and instructional videos. Many branches have created Facebook and Zalo groups attracting over 600 members, creating a channel for connecting and disseminating digital knowledge quickly and effectively.

Notably, this model is not limited to the Women's Union but has also spread to other organizations and associations at the grassroots level. Some branches have collaborated with the Youth Union and the Farmers' Association to provide digital skills training for people in their villages.

From the initial training sessions, many women became key figures in spreading the message and guiding members who were unfamiliar with technology. As a result, digital transformation is no longer a foreign concept but has become an integral part of daily life, from association activities and work management to agricultural product consumption. This is clear evidence of the effectiveness of the motto: "Women learn – women work – women share," transforming digital transformation into a powerful and widespread movement within the community.

Ms. Me Thi Xuan, Chairwoman of the Women's Union of Muong Giang commune, Quynh Nhai district, shared: "Through social media and Zalo groups, we quickly grasp information about the directives, organization of activities, and programs of the Union. We regularly share articles and information about activities, policies, and issues of public concern on the Facebook pages of the Provincial Women's Union. This helps members easily access useful information, promoting the development of women's emulation movements."

Digital transformation training – from awareness to practice

The Son La Provincial Women's Union organized a training course to enhance the IT application skills of 64 chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of district and commune-level Women's Unions. The training focused on: Instructions on data entry using the membership management software; methods for disseminating information and raising awareness about cybersecurity; and the application of IT in managing and operating the Union's activities.

Thanks to this, many Women's Union officials have changed their working habits: instead of printing paper documents, they can now share them online; instead of holding in-person meetings, they can communicate via Zalo and Facebook groups; and information reaches members faster and more promptly. This is also a concrete step in implementing the National Target Program on Sustainable Poverty Reduction, because women – a crucial force in household economic development – ​​now have more digital tools to improve their lives.

 

Digital transformation, the application of information technology, and the safe use of social media have helped many women in Son La earn additional income by promoting their agricultural products.

Digital transformation training courses for women in communes are organized regularly, tailored to the specific needs of each locality. The content is not broad but focuses on basic and practical skills such as: using smartphones to access online public services, search for health, education, and agricultural information, making cashless payments, and promoting agricultural products through social media.

Notably, the training program is also linked to the National Target Program for Sustainable Poverty Reduction and the "Nationwide for the Poor – Leaving No One Behind" emulation movement, emphasizing that digital transformation is a tool to help women in remote areas narrow the development gap and rise out of poverty sustainably.

Digital conveniences in the lives of women in mountainous regions.

Through digital transformation, women members in the mountainous areas of Son La have learned how to: Look up health information: vaccination schedules, medical examinations and treatments. Access educational knowledge: monitor their children's learning information through applications. Utilize agricultural information: weather forecasts, farming techniques, agricultural product prices. Use online public services and install VNeID for convenient administrative transactions.

Beyond simply accessing information, many women have turned technology into a tool for generating income. Numerous women's associations in Yen Chau and Mai Son districts have opened online stores, bringing local specialty agricultural products such as Yen Chau round mangoes, Ta Xua tea, and Son La honey to e-commerce platforms. Through this, products are not only sold within the province but also reach a wider market, providing a stable source of income.

In particular, basic digital skills such as using Zalo and Facebook not only help women exchange information quickly, but also contribute to spreading knowledge about healthcare, child rearing, and preventing social evils. From being hesitant to engage with technology, women in mountainous areas have now become "digital citizens," confidently asserting their role in the development of their families and communities.

Many members have also become "digital guides" in their communities, helping elderly relatives and friends access technology. A familiar sight in the highlands now is women learning together how to scan QR codes, create online sales groups, or download applications to look up production information. This is also how the movement "The whole country for the poor – Leaving no one behind" is realized, as women in the highlands are not disadvantaged in accessing digital technology.

Digital transformation is gradually narrowing the gap between women in remote areas and cities. From training courses to online groups, women in Son La have become more confident in applying technology to their lives. This not only helps women keep pace with the digital society but is also a practical part of implementing the National Target Program on Sustainable Poverty Reduction and the movement "The whole country for the poor – Leaving no one behind".