Vietnam Unveils NDAChain: A State-Backed Blockchain Powering National Digital Identity and Records

Vietnam has launched NDAChain, its first national blockchain platform, aimed at securing and streamlining the country's digital transformation.

Positioned as the technological backbone of Vietnam’s digital economy, NDAChain is designed to power everything from identity verification to multi-sector data management—solidifying the country’s leadership in blockchain innovation across Southeast Asia.

This state-led initiative marks a critical shift toward secure and scalable infrastructure that supports decentralized identity systems, digital contract execution, and cross-sector recordkeeping.

Developed by the National Data Association (NDA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Security’s Data Innovation and Exploitation Center, NDAChain is built to authenticate digital transactions and manage records across both public and private entities.

The platform directly addresses longstanding challenges of centralized systems—namely cybersecurity vulnerabilities, limited scalability, and weak international interoperability.

Nguyen Huy, head of technology at the NDA, described NDAChain as a vital “protective layer” for Vietnam’s real-time data, calling it “critical” to the country’s vision for a digitally integrated society and economy.

The network is expected to instill a decentralized trust framework that supports not only e-government services but also key industries such as finance, healthcare, logistics, and education.

Hybrid Blockchain Architecture with Institutional Oversight

Rather than adopting a fully open-source architecture, NDAChain operates as a Layer-1 permissioned blockchain, combining centralized governance with decentralized capabilities.

The system is maintained by 49 validator nodes, jointly operated by state bodies and major Vietnamese companies including SunGroup, Zalo, Masan, MISA, Sovico, and VNVC.

Permissioned blockchain networks are structured with access controls that limit participation and functionality to verified entities.

This design offers a balance of transparency and control, enabling stronger regulatory compliance and data integrity while sacrificing some degree of decentralization.

On NDAChain, these vetted node operators share a distributed ledger that records transactions, automates processes via smart contracts, and enables identity verification—fully integrated with Vietnam’s national ID system.

The network relies on a Proof-of-Authority (PoA) consensus model, which is bolstered by zero-knowledge proofs to reinforce security and protect sensitive data from unauthorized access.

Paving the Way for Decentralized Identity

A central feature of NDAChain is its decentralized identity (DID) framework, known as NDA DID. This solution empowers users to verify counterparties, sign contracts digitally, and access services securely—all without relying on traditional centralized ID systems.

Accompanying the blockchain infrastructure is NDAKey, a mobile application designed to enable instant identity verification.

With this tool, Vietnamese citizens will be able to protect themselves from scams and fraud, while businesses benefit from faster onboarding and improved trust in digital interactions.

By implementing NDAChain, Vietnam is taking a major leap toward a secure, efficient, and interoperable digital ecosystem.

The platform’s hybrid architecture offers both the transparency of decentralized systems and the control necessary for government-led innovation.

This national blockchain strategy reflects a pragmatic and forward-looking approach—balancing the benefits of cutting-edge Web3 technologies with the oversight required to protect institutions and citizens in the digital age.