The Information Technology Journalist's Club announced the top ten domestic information and communication technology (ICT) stories of 2014 at a ceremony in Ha Noi on December 29.

The list of events is as follows:

Flappy Bird, developed by Nguyen Ha Dong, became a global phenomenon. — Photo baodatviet.vn

1. The Vietnamese-made mobile game Flappy Bird created a global fever. Released in late January for Android phones, iPhones and iPads, and created by Nguyen Ha Dong, a young independent game developer, Flappy Bird became a worldwide phenomenon. Though Dong later took the game down, saying it failed to bring excitement to players as he had expected, Google listed Flappy Bird as one of the top keywords searched in 2014. US entertainment website The Richest also named Dong one of the top ten internet millionaires in the world.

Users could not access to website of Dan Tri online newspaper, run by VCCorp, on October 13. — Photo vnexpress.net

2. Viet Nam Communications Joint Stock Corporation (VCCorp)'s system was hacked, causing losses of VND20 to 30 billion (US$1.41 million). On October 13, many online newspapers and websites managed and operated by VC Corp stopped working as a result of the hack.

MobiFone was detached from Viet Nam Posts and Telecommunications (VNPT) and transformed into a corporation in 2014. — Photo plo.vn

3. MobiFone separated from Viet Nam Posts and Telecommunications (VNPT), and became a joint stock company. On June 10, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung signed Decision No. 888/QD-TTg, approving a plan to restructure VNPT in 2014 and 2015. Control of Mobifone was transferred to the Ministry of Information and Communications. The change will help improve the corporation's efficiency.

The Prime Minister on November 18 approved MIC's approval to transform MobiFone into a corporation. At the beginning of December, Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Bac Son signed a Decision No 1798/QD-BTTTT to establish MobiFone Telecommunications Corporation.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung (fifth from right) at the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a Samsung factory in the northern province of Thai Nguyen in March. The South Korean group received an investment certificate to construct a $3 billion mobile phone manufacturing and assembling plant. — Photo khampha.vn

4. Samsung became the largest foreign investor in Viet Nam. In November the northern province of Thai Nguyen officially granted an investment certificate for Samsung Electronics Viet Nam to construct a $3-billion telephone-manufacturing and assembling plant. The project lifted Samsung's total investment in Viet Nam to $11.2 billion.

Ministry of Information and Communications organised a conference to give instructions on implementations of Resolution No 36-NQ-TW on October 9 in Ha Noi. — Photo mic.gov.vn

5. The Politburo issued Resolution No.36-NQ-TW, replacing Directive No.58-CT/TW on IT application. The resolution showed that ICT is considered an effective tool for spurring the development of a knowledge-based economy, and improving national competitiveness.

Haivl.com was shut down in October by the Ministry of Information and Communications for several violations. — Photo dantri.com.vn

6. The Ministry of Information and Communications shut down the website Haivl.com in October. It fined the website's managing company, APPVL Viet Nam, VND205 million ($9,700) for several violations: operating without a license, providing unlicensed online games and distorting history.

An advertisement for Ptracker ERP of Viet Hong Company. It was found to sell spy mobile software to thousands of customers. — Photo thanhnien.com.vn

7. Police and municipal inspectors found in June that Viet Hong Company was selling spy mobile software to thousands of customers: the Ptracker app for individuals and PtrackerERP for businesses. It installed the apps on 14,000 mobile subscribers' phones. The apps were used to collect personal information.

Governmental agencies are allowed to outsource IT services. — Photo hagiang.gov.vn

8. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung allowed State agencies to outsource IT services. At the first plenary meeting of the National Committee on IT Application in June, Dung gave the go-ahead to State-run agencies looking to outsource IT services. It helped State agencies cut expenses, while creating healthy competition in the sector.

Ride share app Uber launched in HCM City and Ha Noi triggers public debate. — Photo phunuonline.com.vn

9. The controversial taxi service Uber arrived in Viet Nam. Uber launched its service in HCM City in July and in Ha Noi in October, triggering public debate. Dung has instructed the Transport Ministry to work with HCM City authorities to determine Uber's legal status.

AAG submarine cable was found cut several times, causing slow internet speed in Viet Nam.

10. The Asia-America Gateway (AAG) undersea cable broke several times. Disruptions in the AAG cable line seriously affected Viet Nam's international internet traffic. The line stopped working for a week in March for maintenance, and then in July a section was damaged off the coast of Vung Tau. The cable broke again in September. The interruptions reduced internet traffic in Viet Nam by between 40 and 70 per cent. — VNS