Vietnam accelerates legislation to boost AI
As Vietnam refines its innovation policies, the country is increasingly establishing itself as an attractive destination for the semiconductor and artificial intelligence (Al) industries.
The Hanoi Times — The Ministry of Science and Technology is finalizing a draft amendment to the Law on Science and Technology, which is expected to provide groundbreaking policies to spur innovation activities, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductors, said Nguyen Mai Duong, Head of the ministry's State Agency for Technology Innovation.
HeDuong made the announcement during the seminar titled "The Convergence of Semiconductors and AI: A Breakthrough Factor Creating a New Cycle of Opportunities" at the International AI-Semiconductor Conference 2025 (AÁIC25) in Hanoi on March 13.
Nguyen Mai Duong, Head of the Ministry of Science and Technology’s State Agency for Technology Innovation, delivers his speech at the event. Photos: NIC
Duong said that AI and semiconductors are key technologies and strategic drivers that will lead Vietnam into a new phase of development.
"We believe that with the convergence of AI and semiconductor technology, Vietnam is about to embark on a new cycle of opportunity where science, technology, and innovation will be key growth engines, allowing the nation to become a major player on the global technological map," he added.
Vietnam's innovation policies are being refined, including the issuance of Resolution 57-NQ/TW on December 22, 2024, which outlines breakthrough mechanisms for the development of science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation.
The draft law will introduce new policies and establish a legal framework for the development of science and technology in line with global progress.
It also aims to extend the scope of the law to the non-public sector to promote research, technology development and innovation.
Vietnam positions itself as innovation hub
Christopher Nguyen, Head of the AISC Conference Organizing Committee and Le Viet Quoc (R) from Google at Fireside Chat.
As Vietnam refines its innovation policies, the country is establishing itself as an attractive destination for the semiconductor and Al industries.
Vo Xuan Hoai, Deputy Director of the National Innovation Center (NIC), said that the government encourages global partners and enterprises to explore investment opportunities in Vietnam's innovation sector. He assured that the Vietnamese government is committed to providing the best conditions for investors and businesses in this field.
"We are working with leading global companies such as Qorvo, Cadence, Siemens, Samsung, Arizona State University, FPT, ARM, Dolphin, and Keysight to develop talent, provide integrated circuit (IC) design software support, train workforce, and transfer curriculum to over 40 universities in Vietnam. In addition, NIC incubates and supports Vietnamese semiconductor companies and startups, including Hyphen Deux, Infrasen, FPT, Viettel, Sovico, CMC, and CT Group," he said.
In the field of AI, NIC has also launched initiatives in cooperation with global leaders. Working with Google, NIC is providing over 30,000 AI scholarships for Vietnamese students. The agency is partnering with Meta and NVIDIA to develop an open-source Vietnamese dataset, which will be announced on March 14.
Christopher Nguyen, Founder and CEO of Aitomatic, Head of the AISC Organizing Committee, said Vietnam has the potential to become a critical link in the global supply chain. However, the country must address several critical challenges, including its regulatory environment.
Nguyen called for Vietnam to establish a clear and flexible legal framework to support the growth of AI and semiconductors and attract foreign companies. Other action should be strengthening policies on data protection, intellectual property, and related regulations.
Regarding human resources, Nguyen highlighted Vietnam’s advantage of a young population that quickly adapts to technology. However, there remains a significant shortage of high-level AI experts and semiconductor engineers.
Nguyen stressed the need to prioritize high-quality training programs that go beyond higher education. Collaboration between companies and universities is essential to provide students with hands-on experience and exposure to new technologies.
On technology infrastructure, he highlighted the role of investment in large-scale data centers, high-tech zones, and advanced computing networks as companies need a comprehensive technology ecosystem to implement AI applications and drive innovation in the semiconductor sector.
Unlocking Vietnam's AI potential through collaboration
A ceremony to announce the membership of several Vietnamese organizations in the AI Alliance takes place at the event.
Delegates at the event agreed that one of the solutions to the current bottlenecks is the cooperation between Vietnamese organizations and large foreign companies, which will provide Vietnam with access to advanced AI technologies and opportunities to join global cooperation networks and benefit from joint research and open source projects.
On the same day, a ceremony was held to announce the AI Alliance's membership of several Vietnamese organizations, including NIC, CMC Software, SmartOSC, AI for Vietnam Foundation, Fulbright University Vietnam, and GenAI Fund.
Anthony Annunziata, Director of AI Open Innovation at IBM, said that Vietnam's participation in the AI Alliance will position the country as a leader in AI and open source technology development. Vietnam is experiencing key trends that align well with global advances in AI.
Founded by IBM, Meta, and leading academic institutions, the AI Alliance with more than 160 members creates a global AI ecosystem that supports collaborative research, open source development, technology standardization, and responsible AI applications. It also promotes the development of artificial intelligence transparently, enabling businesses to access advanced AI technologies without relying on proprietary platforms.
