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The plan, unveiled on June 17, seeks to drive the development of digital infrastructure, workers, data, strategic technologies, and cybersecurity during the 2026-2030 period. Under the scheme, large-scale strategic technology companies must meet several criteria simultaneously, including annual revenue of at least $1 billion and an average workforce of no fewer than 5,000 employees. 

Microsoft noted that AI adoption in Vietnam has increased stably from 21.2 per cent in the first half of 2025 to 26.5 per cent in the first quarter of 2026. In Southeast Asia, Vietnam trails behind Singapore at 63.4 per cent. Meanwhile, Vietnam outperformed most Southeast Asian peers in AI adoption, including Malaysia (21.8 per cent), the Philippines (20.1 per cent), and Thailand (12.4 per cent).

The HCMC People’s Committee has issued a plan to implement the city’s program on artificial intelligence (AI) research and development for 2026 under the 2020–2030 roadmap. A key target is to raise the rate of direct application and commercialization of AI research outcomes and intellectual property assets to more than 60%.

Starting July 1, Vietnam will prioritize investment in the development of 70 high technologies and encourage the development of 100 high-tech products as part of efforts to shape investment flows and accelerate growth in the digital economy. The policy is outlined in Decision No. 23/2026/QD-TTg issued by the prime minister, replacing Decision No. 38/2020/QD-TTg, which had been in effect for more than five years.

At least 300,000 firms will receive support for advanced technology adoption under a 2026-2030 SME digital transformation project recently approved by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. The project aims to support 500,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by 2030 at all activities, including at least 300,000 firms that will adopt digital solutions, platforms, and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

At the Vietnam Economic Forum 2026, organised by the Vietnam Institute of Economics and World Economy under the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, Nguyen Duc Hien, Deputy Head of the Party’s Policy and Strategy Commission, said the Politburo has tasked the commission with drafting a new development framework based on science, technology, innovation and digital transformation.

This is part of the semiconductor industry development strategy and the human resource development programme for the Vietnamese semiconductor industry in Ho Chi Minh City, issued in early March by Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee. It aims to effectively implement the semiconductor industry development strategy and the human resource development programme for the semiconductor industry and core digital technologies such as AI, cloud computing, the Internet of Things, Big Data, and Blockchain, making the city a leading centre in this industry.

The science and technology sector posted strong growth in January, with total revenue estimated at more than VNĐ464.1 trillion (nearly US$6.2 billion), up 23.3 per cent from the same period last year, the Ministry of Science and Technology said on Thursday. The sector’s contribution to the country's gross domestic product was estimated at VNĐ124.1 trillion, an increase of 33.3 per cent year-on-year, according to figures released at the ministry’s regular monthly press conference chaired by Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Bùi Hoàng Phương.