The "telling numbers" from the mountains and forests.

It's not just about revenue growth, but also about the revival of seemingly extinct traditional crafts, the new status of women in the family, and the resounding impact of Vietnamese identity on the global stage.

In the office of the Eco Tay Bac Cooperative in Gia Phu commune, Son La province, Ms. Lai Thanh Phuong couldn't hide her joy as she looked at the revenue chart. Since successfully applying her digital skills, the cooperative's fanpage is no longer a "neglected place." Revenue has increased by 10-20%, but what makes her most proud is that individual customers from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and even international customers have found them through social media.

"Previously, black garlic vermicelli and herbal yeast were only sold in district markets, but now the products are proudly displayed on the shelves of clean specialty stores in the lowlands. This result is thanks to my ability to make videos and tell the story of garlic and vermicelli on TikTok and YouTube."Ms. Phuong shared

From her humble village, Lai Thanh Phuong confidently started livestreaming to sell products on social media platforms.

That "sweet reward" is not just cash, but the belief that village women can absolutely conquer the modern market with their own hands and creativity.

Similarly, at Tat Nang hot springs, thanks to the application of computer software and electronic invoicing, Ms. Ngan Thi Nga, Director of the Tat Nang Tourism and Agriculture Cooperative, no longer has to shoulder countless unnamed tasks. She has saved a lot of valuable time to take care of her family.

The use of AI to promote services has yielded immediate results for the cooperative, attracting thousands of visitors daily, including many tourists from France, Spain, Israel, and other countries. The presence of international tourists in the remote Phu Mau village is the most valuable proof that the "digital highway" has completely opened up, connecting the village to the world.

Digital technology has helped the Tat Nang Tourism and Agriculture Cooperative welcome thousands of visitors every day, the majority of whom are international tourists.

For Ms. Ha Thi Thao from Khao village, Tuong Ha commune, Son La province, technology does not diminish cultural identity, but rather gives it wings to soar. From someone struggling with bundles of medicinal herbs and woven fabrics that no one would buy, Ms. Thao has now built a sustainable value chain and developed local tourism.

She has helped connect them with a stable market, enabling the women in the village to earn an additional 2-3 million VND per month from weaving brocade and welcoming tourists. For women in the highlands, that's a life-changing amount.

"Seeing the mothers and sisters smiling brightly because they have both preserved their ancestors' craft and earned money to support their children's education, I know I have chosen the right path.",Ms. Thao confided.

Through her social media posts, Ms. Ha Thi Thao has also created stable jobs for many ethnic minority women in the local area.

Remarkably, the greatest and most profound fruits of this transformation lie in the "power" within each family. As Ms. Nguyen Thi Linh, Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Tuong Ha commune, Son La province, assessed:"The mindset of women, especially those born in the 80s and 90s, has completely changed. They are no longer dependent."

"C"Highway" provides seamless access from the village to the world.

Gender equality is naturally established through the economy. When women master technology and control their income, their voices in the family carry more weight.

Husbands, initially skeptical, have now become valuable "partners," proud to see their wives managing the cooperative and confidently speaking at startup forums. This is not just the success of an individual, but the progress of an entire ethnic community such as the Muong, Thai, and Mong in Son La province.

The husbands have become invaluable "partners".

The achievements of Ms. Ngan Thi Nga, Ms. Ha Thi Thao, and Ms. Lai Thanh Phuong are not simply about revenue or international orders, but about their self-confidence. When a woman from the highlands confidently scans a QR code or uses AI to describe the beauty of her local mineral springs, she is not just selling a product; she has let go of her fears to create a future of self-reliance.

According to Ms. Vu Quynh Anh, one of the major challenges for digital integration and digital transformation today is that micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) need to change their mindset, equip themselves with digital skills and digital business capabilities to seize business opportunities. Poor connectivity among stakeholders in the ecosystem has exacerbated these challenges, hindering collaboration to promote sustainable growth and innovation in these provinces.

Vulnerable groups such as ethnic minority women and people with disabilities still face difficulties in accessing information, services, and social networks. Integration and digital transformation play a crucial role in enabling these groups to build communities and strong relationships, both economically and socially.

Women from ethnic minorities are gradually overcoming "gaps," striving to develop economically and move towards genuine and sustainable gender equality.

The journey onto the "digital highway" will be long, with areas of signal gaps and barriers in infrastructure and skills. But once the "digital flame" has been ignited by the concerted efforts of the Fatherland Front, the Women's Union at all levels, organizations, and dedicated experts, it will never be extinguished.

For ethnic minority women who are entering the digital "highway," the distance is no longer measured by the number of kilometers through the forest, but by their efforts to develop economically and move towards genuine and sustainable gender equality.