Coming to become the "second destination" of the semiconductor industry
Vietnam currently has 174 FDI projects in the semiconductor sector with a total registered capital of nearly 11.6 billion USD. Along with that, with a long-term vision and strong support from the Government, many Vietnamese technology enterprises have boldly invested in research and development as well as international cooperation to grasp advanced chip design technology, gradually bringing Vietnam deeper into the global value chain of the semiconductor industry.
At the Policy Forum "Vietnam proactively develops the semiconductor and artificial intelligence industry in the new era" held in March 2025, Politburo member and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stated that human resources are the biggest challenge, but Vietnam is making efforts to train in a high-quality direction, focusing on basic research, using English as a second language and promoting lifelong learning. Accordingly, Vietnam is actively training 100,000 semiconductor and AI engineers in the coming time.
Resolution No. 57/NQ-TW of the Politburo sets a goal of improving technological qualifications, helping some fields of science and technology reach international standards. In addition, the semiconductor industry development strategy to 2030, vision to 2050 and the semiconductor industry human resource training program are also being strongly implemented to attract investment and promote the innovation ecosystem.
According to Deputy Minister of Finance Nguyen Duc Tam, thanks to these policies, Vietnam has achieved impressive progress, notably being selected by the US as one of six countries participating in the CHIPS Act, contributing to the global semiconductor supply chain. Major technology corporations such as Google, Meta, NVIDIA, Samsung, Viettel, VinGroup, FPT and CMC have actively cooperated with the National Innovation Center (NIC) to promote research and application in the field of AI and semiconductors.
Long-term plan on infrastructure, human resources and policies is needed
According to Mr. Truong Gia Binh - Chairman of the Board of Directors of FPT Corporation, Vietnam is becoming a potential destination for cooperation in artificial intelligence and semiconductors. Mr. Truong Gia Binh emphasized that Vietnam has a strategic position in building a partnership in AI and semiconductors. The rapid development of the technology industry in Vietnam has attracted the attention of many large corporations in the world. This creates opportunities for economic development, while helping Vietnam gradually affirm its position on the global technology map.
Sharing the same view, Mr. Christopher Nguyen - Director and Co-founder of Aitomactic also said that with the advantage of geographical location, young human resources and investment incentive policies, Vietnam has the potential to attract leading technology corporations to set up factories and research centers.
However, according to Mr. Christopher Nguyen, Vietnam needs to solve some important challenges to be able to truly "rise up" in this field. Vietnam has an advantage with a young population, rapidly absorbing technology, but still lacks AI experts and highly qualified semiconductor engineers. Quality human resource training programs need to be prioritized. These programs should not stop at the university level, but instead need cooperation between businesses and universities to create conditions for students to practice and access new technologies.
Vietnam needs to build a clear and flexible legal framework to support the development of AI and semiconductors. At the same time, it creates a transparent playground, attracting foreign enterprises. Completing policies on data protection, intellectual property and related regulations will help the AI and semiconductor industry develop more sustainably" - Mr. Christopher Nguyen recommended.
