AI set to drive growth in Vietnam's digital economy
Vietnam's digital economy is projected to grow 11-fold by 2030, reaching 220 billion USD, nearly half of the country's current gross domestic product (GDP).
Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam's digital economy is projected ꦍto grow 11-fold by 2030, r♔eaching 220 billion USD, nearly half of the country's current gross domestic product (GDP).
This forecast was shared at the launch of the Build for the AI Future initiative by Marc Woo, Managing Director of Google Vietnam, Google Asia Pacific, who stressed that artificial intelligence (AI) will be a crucial factor in realising this projection.
According to Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Duy Dong, the implementation of the national strategy for AI research, development, and application until 2030 has yielded promising results. Vietnam ranked 55th in the world on the AI Readiness Index in 2022, up seven positions from 2021.
However, there are currently only about 300 AI specialists in the local workforce. This shortage, coupled with limited access to high-quality training programmes, exacerbates the gap between market demand and available human resources. AI startups in Vietnam also face challenges such as limited access to experts and advisors, as well as insufficient infrastructure, platforms, and tools.
To address these challenges, the initiative focuses on the two pillars of talent development and business innovation.
The first pillar includes a digital talent development programme offering 40,000 scholarships across 10 courses, including the newly launched Google AI Essentials. It aims to equip the younger generation in Vietnam, including many faculties, staff, and students from over 80 universities and colleges nationwide, with the latest AI skills.
The second pillar seeks to drive innovation and develop solutions for local startups through Google for Startups Accelerator. It will provide business knowledge for the startup ecosystem, helping promising AI startups develop, commercialise, and expand their products into new markets.
Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Duy Dong affirmed that the initiative represents a strong commitment and support from the ministry and Google to advance Vietnam's AI ecosystem. It aims to equip the workforce with essential skills to seize opportunities in the AI era and assist innovative startups based on AI technology./.
Vietnam has more than 610,000 '.vn' domain names after 30 years of development, ranking second in the ASEAN region, 10th in the Asia-Pacific and 40th in the world, according to the Vietnam Internet Centre (VNNIC).
The rapid evolution of technology has brought a dark side: increasingly sophisticated ransomware attacks which not only target individual users but also cripple organisations and corporations, causing immense and often difficult-to-quantify damage.
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.
Ambassador Nguyen Minh Vu laid stress on the significance of the Hanoi Convention, particularly to the Asia – Pacific, to handling legal gaps in international cooperation against rapidly increasing global cybercrime.
