For Vietnam, entering 2026 is not only a continuation of time, but also marks a new and important development stage, in which science, technology and innovation emerge as a red thread throughout the country's upward process.
For decades, the Vietnamese economy has been closely associated with the image of processing and assembling for foreign corporations. That model was once suitable for development conditions, helping to solve employment and accumulate initial resources. However, when there is room for growth, the requirement to transition to deep development in science and technology becomes urgent. Technology, from being a supporting field, has gradually become the central driving force for growth and improving national competitiveness.
The concept of "Make in Vietnam" is placed at the center of this mindset transformation. No longer just production in Vietnam, "Make in Vietnam" emphasizes that products are designed, mastered and developed by Vietnamese people, carrying Vietnamese intelligence and identity. In just 5 years, the number of digital technology businesses has increased rapidly, the revenue scale of the ICT industry reached about 1.16 million billion VND in 2024, and the imprint of Vietnamese businesses has become increasingly clear in the international market.
2026 also has special significance as it is the first year of implementing the Resolution of the 14th Party Congress, opening a new stage of development with the requirement for rapid, sustainable and breakthrough growth. In that context, the "reaching out" journey of Vietnamese technology businesses and the institutional driving forces to "advance" become two important slices reflecting the face of this pivotal year.
The journey of Vietnamese technology's rise
The fundamental change of Vietnamese technology in recent years primarily stems from changes in development thinking. "Make in Vietnam" was initiated as a strategy to shift from consumption to innovation, from import to mastery. The Ministry of Science and Technology plays the role of initiating and leading, promoting Vietnamese digital technology businesses to self-design, create and produce high-tech products right in the country.
The telling figures show the effectiveness of this shift. After 5 years of strategic implementation, the proportion of Vietnam's value in revenue in the information and communication technology sector has increased nearly 1.5 times. This reflects the substantial increase in the capacity to design, research and master technology, instead of just participating in the final stage in the global value chain.
Along with changing thinking, the ecosystem of Vietnamese technology businesses is growing stronger in both scale and quality. Vietnam currently has many businesses operating in the information technology sector. In 2025 alone, the number of digital technology businesses reached about 80,000, with more than 1.9 million employees. Revenue from foreign markets is estimated at 15 billion USD, showing that Vietnamese technology is no longer confined to the domestic market.
A clear proof of the ability to rise is the birth of a series of "Make in Vietnam" technology products and platforms. From 5G chips, AI Cameras to digital transformation platforms in healthcare, education and smart cities, the creative imprint of Vietnamese businesses is increasingly clear. In 2025, 71 digital technology products and solutions honored reflected the depth of research and development activities, as well as the ability to master core technology.
Leading enterprises play a key role in this journey. Viettel stands out with its 5G ecosystem owned by Vietnamese people, from research, design to manufacturing. The deployment of 30,000 5G stations nationwide, covering up to 90% of outdoor area and 70% of indoor area, along with the successful commercialization of 5G Open RAN technology, has made Viettel the only Vietnamese enterprise recognized by Gartner in Southeast Asia. Viettel's 5G equipment has also expanded to markets such as India, UAE or Turkey, affirming its international competitiveness.
Along with that, VNPT pursues a new generation network operator vision, focusing on mastering digital infrastructure, data and core technology, while maintaining the role of coordinating the national digital ecosystem. FPT made a mark by sharply reducing the processing rate, from 90% to 30% in 5 years, shifting to strategic areas such as: Artificial Intelligence, Semiconductors, network security and digital infrastructure. CMC is assigned national tasks on AI Cloud and virtual legal assistants, aiming to build common platforms for the public and business sectors. 1Matrix Company with VBSN multi-chain blockchain service network takes on the role of integrating blockchain technology into public and judicial management systems.
From the initial steps, Vietnamese technology businesses have gradually affirmed their position on the world technology map. More than 2,100 businesses have operated abroad, with export revenue accounting for about 80% of the total revenue of digital technology businesses.
Momentum to move forward in the pivotal year 2026
Stepping into the 21st century, digital transformation opens up a new development space. Not only is it applying technology, digital transformation is also a process of comprehensive innovation in management, production and social organization methods, taking data and digital technology as the foundation. Since the implementation of the National Digital Transformation Program in 2020, Vietnam has achieved many important results on 3 pillars: Digital Government, Digital Economy and Digital Society.
In that context, Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW issued by the Politburo on December 22, 2024 is considered a major turning point. The Resolution establishes science, technology, innovation and digital transformation as the main driving force for the new development model. The goals to 2030 and vision to 2045 show the aspiration to make Vietnam a digital technology industry center of the region and the world.
In just one year of implementation, Resolution 57-NQ/TW has created clear changes. The political system has been drastically involved, institutions and policies have been gradually improved. The National Assembly issued Resolution No. 193 on special mechanisms for S&T development and digital transformation; The Government issued Resolution No. 03 to implement the action program. Important laws such as: Law on Science, Technology and Innovation, Law on Artificial Intelligence have been passed, creating a comprehensive legal framework for strategic technologies.
2026 is identified as a pivotal year, the first year to implement the Resolution of the 14th Party Congress. The motto "Progressive action, spreading results" reflects the requirement to strongly shift from policy to result, from planning thinking to target and product thinking. An important highlight is considering data as a strategic resource. Completing the national digital architecture framework, common platforms and database systems is considered the foundation for modern management and sustainable development. Strategic technologies such as: Artificial intelligence, semiconductors, cloud computing, network security are clearly defined with a roadmap, associated with the specific responsibilities of each entity.
With the foundations that have been built in the "reaching out" phase, along with an increasingly complete institutional system to lead the "progressing" phase, 2026 has special significance in the development journey of Vietnamese technology. This is not only a year to master, but also the starting point for the aspiration to lead and contribute deeply to socio-economic development.
