Vietnam to pass first artificial intelligence law and unveil national strategy
Vietnam, with its large population and robust digital infrastructure, is well-positioned for AI adoption but must carefully balance rapid growth with ethical concerns, workforce impacts and public trust.
THE HANOI TIMES — Vietnam is going to pass its first artificial intelligence (AI) Law by the end of this year, while also developing a new national AI strategy, a national action program, and a code of ethics for responsible AI.
Nguyen Manh Hung, Minister of Science and Technology, speaks at the AI in the Digital Era Forum on August 29. Photo: MoST
Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung revealed the information at the AI in the Digital Era Forum on August 29, adding that AI is a form of national infrastructure, on par with electricity, telecommunications, and the internet in previous decades.
He believed that whoever masters AI will gain a decisive edge in production, business, healthcare, education, governance, and even defense.
“We are standing before a historic doorway. With collective efforts, Vietnam can transform today’s opportunity into tomorrow’s success,” Hung said.
The minister said that with over 100 million people, a strong digital infrastructure, and a vibrant startup scene, Vietnam is poised to adopt and create AI solutions, yet faces ethical risks, job disruptions and trust challenges.
“AI must be developed quickly, but also safely and humanely. It must serve humanity, not replace it,” he said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Pham Duc Long said that developing AI is a mission not just for the state and businesses but for every citizen. Therefore, it is necessary to have a clear vision and strategy in the field.
Visitors interact with a robot at the Ministry of Science and Technology’s exhibition space, part of the 80 Years of Independence - Freedom - Happiness exhibition. Photo: VGP
He described AI as driving three simultaneous “races”: computing infrastructure, governance, and data.
Specifically, computing infrastructure forms the backbone of digital sovereignty; governance must balance innovation and risk; and data, often described as AI’s “fuel” is the most critical.
He pointed out that technology adoption has never been faster. While the internet took seven years to reach 100 million users, ChatGPT did it in two months. Over the past two years, the cost of using AI has dropped by 99%, fueling widespread adoption. “Three out of every four enterprises are already applying AI,” he noted.
Vietnam aims to be among Southeast Asia’s top three countries for AI research and development by 2030. Backed by the Politburo’s Resolution No. 57 and the government’s list of strategic technologies, AI is now one of 11 priority fields, with four focus areas: Vietnamese-language large models, virtual assistants, sector-specific AI, and AI-driven analytics.
The national strategy outlines investment in high-performance computing and centralized data infrastructure, AI literacy for the whole population, workforce development, and support for research and innovation.
From the private sector, Le Hong Viet, CEO of FPT Smart Cloud, said that AI is reshaping the digital race among enterprises. Citing IDC research, he noted that global AI software spending is projected to reach US$297 billion by 2027, growing 14% annually. Companies that succeed with AI are seeing an average return on investment of 3.7 times, with some achieving up to tenfold returns.
Viet suggested a five-step roadmap for enterprises, including building AI awareness, assessing readiness, aligning AI vision with business goals, selecting suitable projects, and scaling AI across the organization.
On this occasion at the forum, the Ministry of Science and Technology also announced five new initiatives, namely a science and technology exchange platform, a national innovation portal, a list of strategic national technologies, Techfest Vietnam 2025, and an annual Future of Science, Innovation & Digital Transformation Report starting in 2026.
