Vietnam Accelerates National Growth with AI and Digital Transformation

With Hanoi's overall GRDP growing by 8.2% during the period, the digital economy contributed approximately 1.1 percentage points to the city's economic expansion, underscoring its increasingly substantive role in driving growth rather than remaining merely a policy objective. Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung has signed a decision approving the National Digital Transformation Strategy for 2026–2030, with a vision to 2045, setting out ambitious targets to build a prosperous, secure and human-centred digital nation while accelerating economic growth through data and AI. Continued investment in digital literacy, particularly for older people, ethnic minority communities and residents in remote mountainous areas, along with better training for frontline public servants, will be essential to ensure that everyone can confidently access and benefit from online public services. Raising the level of scientific and technological development is the only way to break out of the middle-income trap. Without it, Vietnam will remain stuck in low-value segments, said Dr. Le Xuan Sang, Deputy Director of the Institute of Vietnam and World Economy. Stronger networks linking government agencies, research institutes, universities, businesses and scientific organisations will provide a solid foundation for faster and more effective development of quantum technology, contributing to the sustainable development of each country and the region as a whole, said a Gia Lai official. Held annually since 2013, the Vietnam School on Astrophysics was established by the Rencontres du Vietnam Association and ICISE to train, mentor and inspire young scientists pursuing astronomy and astrophysics. The work has just been published in Nature Communications – one of the world’s leading prestigious scientific journals – opening up an important foundation for genetics research, precision medicine and preventive medicine in Vietnam. As a leading centre for science, technology, and innovation, Ho Chi Minh City is taking proactive steps to build capacity for the quantum computing era, with a strong focus on developing talents to seize arising technological opportunities. During a working visit to Austria from July 19-23, a VAST delegation led by Vice President Prof. Dr. Tran Tuan Anh held a series of meetings with leading research institutions and international organisations, including the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), the Austrian Academy of Sciences, the Vienna University of Technology (TU Wien), and the International Atomic Energy Agency. As a key activity within the technology component of the Gia Lai Quantum Year 2026, the event brings together nearly 100 contestants across 26 teams, including students, PhD candidates, young researchers, startups, and tech talents, alongside 50 domestic and international experts, mentors, and judges. HORECFEX Vietnam 2026 will take place on August 20–21 at the Ariyana International Convention Centre in the central city of Da Nang, showcase digital solutions and innovation aimed at improving efficiency and competitiveness across Vietnam's hospitality and tourism industry. For Assoc. Prof. Ta Duc Tung, the biggest gift overseas researchers can give isn’t simply handing over technology; it’s linking up knowledge, people and entire research ecosystems. For digital government, stronger investment is needed in shared digital infrastructure, particularly critical infrastructure, AI infrastructure and high-performance connectivity. The capital city of Hanoi aims for the digital economy to contribute around 40% of its Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) by 2030, with the Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park serving as the core research and development hub. The signing and implementation of the five projects mark a concrete step toward realising the Party and State’s policies on science – technology development, innovation and digital transformation, with the semiconductor industry identified as one of strategic technologies fundamental to national competitiveness and technological autonomy. Data has become a strategic asset and a key resource for socio-economic development, as well as a foundation of national competitiveness. As a result, effective data governance, utilisation and protection have become increasingly urgent for organisations and businesses. Building a national talent ecosystem is a long-term development strategy that will underpin Vietnam's competitiveness and innovation-driven growth. Building a national electronic archives system is not merely a matter of investing in technological infrastructure. It must be designed in an integrated manner from the outset, encompassing system architecture, governance procedures, and data protection mechanisms, to ensure long-term security, integrity, and data sovereignty. Vietnam’s biggest takeaway from Taiwan isn’t just cutting-edge technology alone, but how to build an entire semiconductor ecosystem from the ground up, said Dr. Vo Duc Thang, Assistant Professor at the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (Taiwan Tech) and President of the Vietnam Innovative and Intellectual Network in Taiwan (China) (VIN Taiwan) told the Vietnam News Agency. According to the Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety under the Ministry of Science and Technology, human resources will be among the decisive factors determining whether the country can successfully implement its nuclear power programme on schedule. To strengthen its competitiveness in attracting global talent, the city has introduced a comprehensive package of incentives, including housing assistance, transportation support, streamlined immigration and work permit procedures, improved research facilities, and favourable working conditions. Vietnam aims to become a developed digital nation where digital transformation is implemented comprehensively across all sectors and serves as the country's principal development model. The strategy envisions a modern system of national governance powered by data and AI, strong domestic capabilities in strategic digital technologies, platforms and products, and firm protection of national digital sovereignty. Vietnam possesses significant advantages for deeper participation in the global technology value chain. Its young engineering workforce, strong capacity to absorb new technologies and strategic location have made the country an increasingly attractive destination for technology-related foreign direct investment. Copyright, VietnamPlus, Vietnam News Agency (VNA) Editor-in-chief, Mr. Tran Tien Duan.