Under the 1^st stage of the national programme ‘Transmission and Terrestrial Television Broadcasting Digitisation by 2020’, Da Nang, Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong and Can Tho have been selected for ending analogue terrestrial broadcasting by late 2015 as the switchover to digital television begins.  Currently, people who live in the 5 centrally-governed cities can access up to 29 digital channels on DVB-T2 integrated TVs or via set-top boxes.

To date, the Viet Nam Television Station (VTV) has been broadcasting 6 digital channels (VTV1 to VTV 6) in Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang.  In particular, the free-of-charge VTV1, VTV3 and VTV6 high-definition channels are available on DVB-T2 integrated TVs or via set-top boxes.

The Da Nang Radio and Television headquarters

Meanwhile, Da Nang Radio and Television (DRT) is now trialling the digital broadcasting of its DRT2 channel daily from 6am to 11pm in the city.

The Vietnam Television Corporation (VTC), a pay-TV service provider, has been broadcasting 29 channels in 47 cities and provinces nationwide.  In particular, VTC is running the digital broadcasting of its TV programmes on the basis of the MPEG- 4 standard, which involves a method of compression of audio and visual digital data, in Da Nang and its neighbouring localities, including Quang Nam Province.

In a similar vein, the AVG digital television station is digitally broadcasting VTV1, VTV2, VTC1, VTC16, H1 and THP in  Ha Noi and Hai Phong, with VTV1, VTV2, HTV9, DRT2, along with the Can Tho Radio and Television channels, in Ho Chi Minh, Can Tho and Da Nang.

The television stations of VTV, VTC and AVG are focusing on improving the quality of their TV services and expanding the digital television coverage into other localities in the near future.

Under a recent agreement with VTV, DRT will broadcast other channels via a VTV-run digital transmitter located on the Son Tra peninsula.