AI breakthrough: Is Vietnam ready for new technology wave?
According to a recent report by Google, artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to benefit various economic sectors in Vietnam, with retail, healthcare, manufacturing, consumer goods, and infrastructure projected to gain the most.
Vietnam aims to have at least 5,000 engineers with advanced AI expertise by 2030 to support the semiconductor industry. (Photo: Vietnamplus)
Hanoi (VNA) - How can Vietnam harness the power of AI to drive economic growth and achieve its goal of becoming a high-income country by 2045? This was the main 𝔍topic of the “Shaping the AI Future for Vietnam” seminar, jointly organised by the National Innovation Centre (NIC), the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and Google, on November 15.
At the event, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Do Thanh Trung highlighted the critical role of AI in Vietnam’s socio-economic development strategy.
He said the Ministry has submitted to the Prime Minister for approval a programme on human resource development for the semiconductor industry by 2030, with a vision to 205.
The programme sets a target of training at least 5,000 engineers with advanced AI expertise by 2030 to serve the semiconductor industry.
The NIC has been tasked with collaborating with domestic and international partners to establish an AI training, research, and application centre.
The centre will support AI business incubation, research, application and in-depth training on AI with the goal of training 7,000 experts meeting international standards and incubating 500 startups by 2030.
NIC will support AI business incubation, research, application and in-depth training on AI with the goal of training 7,000 experts meeting international standards and incubating 500 startups by 2030. (Photo: Vietnamplus)
On the occasion, Google released a report on “AI Opportunity Agenda for Vietnam,” which highlights the huge potential of AI in Vietnam and estimates economic benefits worth up to 1.89 trillion VND (79.3 billion USD) from AI by 2030, making up nearly 12 percent of the country’s GDP.
To fully tap AI’s full potential, Google experts emphasise the need to strengthen Vietnam’s digital infrastructure, build an AI-ready workforce, and expand access to AI technologies across the economy.
The report also proposes strategies to close the digital and AI knowledge gap, enabling Vietnam’s workforce to effectively leverage AI for driving economic growth.
In addition, the report recommends that Vietnam implement effective policies to retain and nurture the country's talent pool, such as expanding access to digital education and promoting corporate training programmes.
According to the report, narrowing the digital skills gap is projected to contribute an additional 658.6 trillion VND (25.9 billion USD) to GDP by 2030.
A recent Google report shows that Vietnam could gain up 79.3 billion USD in economic benefits from AI. (Photo: Vietnamplus)
Google’s report also highlights Vietnam’s impressive economic growth, from a low-income to middle-income country and its goal of becoming a high-income country by 2045.
To realise this goal, AI is identified as a new growth driver, especially in the context of a rapidly developing digital economy.
In addition, AI has the potential to boost such sectors as e-commerce and logistics.
Andrew Ure, Google’s Senior Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy for Southeast Asia, expressed optimism about Vietnam’s AI potential, citing the country’s young, tech-savvy population and dynamic digital environment.
Vietnamese businesses are actively applying AI, especially in the financial sector. The government has issued strong support policies through the National AI Strategy, aiming to turn Vietnam into an AI innovation hub by 2030./.
By boosting cooperation with reputable partners across the globe, Vietnam is taking steps to gain a foothold in the world’s semiconductor and artificial intelligence (AI) industries.
As artificial intelligence (AI), along with machine learning (ML), big data and cloud computing make more in-roads among all sectors, it requires labourers to equip themselves with necessary technology knowledge and skills.
Vietnamese businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), must embrace digital and AI transformations to remain competitive and achieve sustainable growth, experts said.
Under the European Union (EU)’s global initiative on Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence (CoE), Vietnam has implemented numerous projects aimed at strengthening national capacity in detecting, preventing, and preparing for CBRN-related threats.
The course aims to promote knowledge exchange between scientific and educational schools from different countries, while deepening participants’ expertise in modern technology and technical education. It comprises two main specialisations of electronics-automation and nuclear technology.
ANTARA and VNA can design global-scale cooperation programmes or joint media campaigns, demonstrating the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Indonesia, as well as the cooperation between the two national news agencies.
As Vietnam’s digital transformation accelerates, both the frequency and severity of cyberattacks are growing. The National Cybersecurity Association (NCA) reported that in 2024 alone, there were some 659,000 separate cybersecurity incidents, impacting around 46.15% of government agencies and businesses.
A key highlight will be the technology cluster pavilion, showcasing top enterprises selected for their innovation, market potential, and practical applications. These firms will display flagship products and solutions, supported by government policies to strengthen the tech sector.
Since 2022, more than 500 Vietnamese startups have engaged in Google’s Startup Academy, Google for Startups Accelerator, and Google Startup Masterclass. Nearly 100 of these firms received support to develop and improve their products, benefiting more than 300,000 customers and creating over 300 new jobs through successful fundraising and team expansion amidst Vietnam’s competitive economy.
Over the past three decades, Binh Duong has cemented its status as one of Vietnam’s most dynamic industrial hubs, building a robust foundation in manufacturing, exports, and investment. The province now has 30 operational industrial parks spanning over 13,000 hectares, with an occupancy rate exceeding 90%.
The diplomat emphasised that Vietnam places the highest priority on the development of science, technology, and innovation, viewing them as critical drivers for the country’s advancement in the new development era.
The PM revealed Vietnam’s plan to develop nuclear power in the near future, and called on the Swedish side to assist Vietnam in developing and refining legal and policy frameworks for the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes; training and developing human resources; ensuring nuclear safety; and conducting training and drills to improve incident management capabilities.
More than an art showcase, the second “Technology with heart” contest seeks to inspire innovation and spotlight the humanistic values that technology can bring into daily life, expected to contribute to a sustainable digital future.
The average speed of the national mobile broadband network remained stable, with download speeds reaching 76.86 Mbps and upload speeds reaching 26.98 Mbps.
Under the MoU, AMD will support several key initiatives spearheaded by HCM City’s authorities, including piloting policies, co-hosting innovation events, and evaluating the investment environment within the Saigon Hi-Tech Park.
The centre is a joint initiative between Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology, with PTIT and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) serving as co-leads, and global telecommunications giant Nokia as founding industry partner.
The new centre, staffed by a team of scientists, researchers, and AI specialists working in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, forms part of Qualcomm’s global AI research group.
As a flagship initiative of the community project “Digital Literacy for All”, the programme forms part of a national scheme to equip 20 million young people with digital business skills.
The organisers hope the competition will help shape a generation of exceptional engineers who will make significant contributions to Vietnam’s scientific and technological progress in this era of transformation.
In the digital age and amidst the Fourth Industrial Revolution, IP plays an increasingly critical role, not only in safeguarding inventions but also in reducing copyright infringement and curbing piracy.
