As reported, in developed counties like Korea, Japan, Singapore and Malaysia, the internet usage ratio stands at 60-80 percent. In newly emerging markets China, Vietnam, Philippines and Indonesia, the rate was only 20-30 percent with high growth.

Especially, Vietnam is considered to be highest Internet service growth gainer in the region. Ten years ago, Vietnam's Internet usage rate is much far higher than other Asian countries. Currently, Vietnam has caught the level of internet service usage of newly emerging markets.

According to Vietnam Internet Centre, about 25.5 million Vietnamese people were using internet in late 2009, accounting for 26 percent of its population. From 2003 to 2009, the number of Internet users here reached 3.1 million a year. 2009 was the first time Vietnam posted the growth of below 10 percent in number of internet users.

Among the surveyed cities in Cimigo's report, Hanoi led in terms of Internet coverage and Internet access rate. Lukas Mira, Cimigo's online director said, while 60 percent of Hanoi's population access Internet, HCM City at 50 percent, Hai Phong, Da Nang, Nha Trang and Can Tho at only 40 percent.

Statistics showed that about a half of Internet users have studied at universities, 8 percent graduated and 10 percent at vocational schools. Forty percent of Internet users in two big cities of Hanoi and HCM City are in the group of intelligentsia and officers, 13 percent are workers. Up to 90 percent read online news via Internet, Cimigo reported.

Thoi Bao Kinh Te Vietnam - April 2, 2010