Hanoi, June 19, 2025 – The Europe Today: Vietnam is intensifying its pursuit to become a regional and global leader in artificial intelligence (AI) by 2030 or earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyễn Chí Dũng affirmed on Wednesday. Speaking at the official launch of the ‘AI for the Future’ 2025 programme at the National Innovation Centre (NIC), the Deputy Prime Minister urged enhanced collaboration from both domestic stakeholders and international partners.
Highlighting the country’s youthful, dynamic, and tech-savvy population as a core strength, Deputy PM Dũng underscored that Vietnam’s digital transformation is underpinned by four key Party resolutions. These include:
- Resolution 57, focusing on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation;
- Resolution 59, promoting international integration in a new global context;
- Resolution 66, advancing legislative and regulatory reforms; and
- Resolution 68, strengthening the private sector as a driving force of economic development.
Together, these policy pillars embody Vietnam’s renewed reformist mindset and reflect its alignment with global development trends.
The Deputy Prime Minister welcomed Google’s collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and NIC, calling it crucial to the country’s growing AI ecosystem and directly in line with Resolution 57’s emphasis on innovation.
Amidst increasing global competition for talent and investment in AI, semiconductors, and green technology, Dũng described this juncture as a “golden opportunity” for Vietnam to harness innovation as the cornerstone of sustainable and inclusive growth.
Vietnam currently ranks 44th out of 133 countries in the 2024 Global Innovation Index, bolstered by NIC’s contributions to policy reform and cross-sectoral collaboration between government, academia, and business.
Strengthening AI Infrastructure and Talent
Since launching its national AI strategy in 2021, the Vietnamese Government has named AI one of 11 strategic technologies and identified 32 priority product groups. These steps aim to attract investment from global tech leaders such as Google, Meta, and NVIDIA, while also encouraging domestic firms like Viettel, FPT, and CMC to expand their digital infrastructure and data centre capabilities.
“Science, technology, and innovation are not merely engines of economic development—they are fundamental to building a prosperous Vietnam,” Deputy PM Dũng said. He emphasized their role in improving labour productivity, boosting national competitiveness, protecting the environment, addressing climate change, and enhancing quality of life.
He called upon Google to maintain close collaboration with NIC, Vietnamese businesses, universities, research institutions, and experts to co-develop a strategic AI vision with clear goals and practical implementation.
Key Priorities for Việt Nam’s AI Future
Deputy PM Dũng outlined several strategic priorities:
- Establishing a national AI research and training centre;
- Developing a high-quality AI workforce;
- Launching a national AI literacy campaign;
- Fostering an AI-driven innovation ecosystem;
- Crafting a robust legal framework for safe, ethical, and responsible AI deployment.
Google Partnership and Startup Support
NIC Director Vũ Quốc Huy noted that NIC and Google have been working jointly on initiatives focused on digital talent development, startup support, and developer training. “The new initiatives represent not only a continuation but an expansion of our shared vision,” he said, emphasizing efforts to equip the next generation of innovators with the skills necessary for AI-driven growth.
The new phase of the ‘AI for the Future’ initiative includes two flagship components:
- Google for Startups AI Bootcamp; and
- AI Solutions Lab — both designed to support Vietnamese AI startups and foster innovation.
To date, the programme has supported over 500 startups through various training and accelerator efforts.
Google: Việt Nam Poised to Lead AI in the Region
Marc Woo, Managing Director of Google for Vietnam and Asia Pacific, expressed confidence in Vietnam’s potential to emerge as a regional AI powerhouse. He cited two main reasons: the country’s vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem, which now hosts over 4,000 startups, and the widespread public adoption of AI tools, with 70% of internet users reportedly using AI in their work.
From only 60 AI-related startups in 2021, the number has surged to 278 in 2024, reflecting accelerating local innovation. With strong coordination between the Government, business community, and public sector, AI is projected to contribute US$120 to $130 billion to Vietnam’s economy by 2040.
“Vietnam’s potential is limitless—but to realise it, we must build it together,” Marc Woo said, reaffirming Google’s long-term commitment to working alongside the Government to ensure that AI development delivers positive and equitable outcomes in line with Vietnam’s national AI strategy.
