AGP Executive Report

Connectivity: Vietnam’s fixed broadband reached 301.48 Mbps, ranking eighth worldwide and ahead of South Korea, according to Ookla’s August index. AI Partnerships: A Hanoi forum brought Vietnamese and Australian businesses, researchers and universities together to turn cooperation on AI, semiconductors and digital technology into projects. Separately, FPT and NAVER Cloud plan to collaborate on AI factories and GPU-as-a-service across the region. Satellite Internet: Saigontel has secured a licence to distribute satellite telecom services, including Starlink, in Vietnam. Homegrown AI: CMC is showcasing Vietnamese-developed AI tools for public services and business management.

Research Spotlight: Vietnamese researcher Nguyen Nam Nhat was named winner of Nikon’s Small World in Motion contest after the original entry was disqualified for breaching its generative-AI rules. His video shows a roundworm and a single-celled organism. Satellite Connectivity: Saigontel has secured a licence to distribute Starlink services in Vietnam, a move aimed at expanding satellite internet access for businesses and production sites. AI Push: Vietnam’s FPT and NAVER Cloud plan to develop AI factories and GPU-as-a-service offerings across Asia-Pacific, while CMC is showcasing homegrown AI tools for public services and business management. Smarter Cities: Hanoi is seeking public feedback on a plan for cashless parking, electronic fee collection and real-time data links to government systems. Digital Links: Vietnam and Australia are stepping up cooperation in AI and digital technology, as Hanoi ranks among the world’s five fastest cities for mobile internet.

Satellite Connectivity: Saigontel has won approval to distribute Starlink internet in Vietnam, including satellite links for factories, ships and areas hard to reach with ground networks. AI Infrastructure: FPT and South Korea’s Naver Cloud will explore AI factory projects and GPU-as-a-service in Vietnam and other Asia-Pacific markets. Vaccine Export: AVAC Vietnam shipped the final 100,000 doses in a 300,000-dose commercial order to the Philippines, following approval for unrestricted sales there. Materials Research: Researchers at Hung Yen University used atomic-scale simulations to study how a high-entropy alloy coating protects copper from wear, with findings published in the Journal of Materials Science. Homegrown AI: CMC is also showcasing Vietnamese AI tools for public services and business management, as the country seeks to expand local technology capabilities.

AI & Public Services: CMC showcased homegrown AI tools for government services and business management, as Vietnam seeks to turn local technology into practical applications. Digital Government: Vietnam handed Laos its population-management and digital-ID system; Hanoi is also piloting a smart-street model, while a national legal database project has been approved. Science & Agriculture: Officials see science and technology as key to developing Vietnam’s medicinal-plant industry and improving the competitiveness of farm products. Semiconductors: Investment is flowing into Vietnam’s chip sector, but local firms still face hurdles joining global supply chains. Energy & Infrastructure: Data-centre growth is raising energy concerns, underscoring the need to align digital expansion with power capacity.

AI and Jobs: Vietnamese clerical workers face high exposure to AI automation, as tools take on routine work such as data entry, reports and scheduling. Waste-to-Energy: Ho Chi Minh City is shifting its largest waste facility toward energy recovery as it grapples with more than 14,000 tonnes of household waste a day. Science Legacy: Physicist Nguyen Nguyen Phong joined a secret research team in 1972 to help counter US magnetic mines, drawing on expertise developed at home and abroad. Homegrown AI: CMC showcased Vietnamese-built AI for public services, including a platform to help commune officials find regulations and handle administrative tasks. Smart Streets: Hanoi’s Old Quarter is piloting free Wi-Fi, bilingual heritage information via QR codes, an AI chatbot and digital maps, alongside contactless payments and e-services for local businesses. Digital Exports: Vietnam has handed Laos a population-management and digital-ID system, extending the country’s technology cooperation abroad.

Digital Government: Vietnam has handed Laos a population-management and digital-ID system, extending its digital-government cooperation. Hanoi has also launched a smart-street pilot in the Old Quarter, combining free Wi-Fi, AI chatbots and digital heritage guides with QR and contactless payments for local businesses. AI and Skills: A survey of 375 employers found recent graduates meet expectations in only one of seven workplace skills: technology use. Even there, 94% of employers now expect stronger digital and AI proficiency. Data Centres: Vietnam’s data-centre capacity is projected to rise from 580 megawatts in 2025 to nearly 980 by 2030, but power supply and grid infrastructure could constrain growth. The country plans $136.3 billion in power-system investment over 2026–30. Innovation: Ho Chi Minh City is proposing matched venture-capital funding to help AI startups, while Vietnam’s push to accelerate science and technology breakthroughs faces a wider challenge: linking domestic firms more effectively with foreign investors and global supply chains.

Research to Farms: Vietnam’s National Assembly chief urged the Vietnam National University of Agriculture to link research and training more closely with production, turning scientific advances into practical gains for farmers and the economy. Digital Exports: Vietnamese businesses are using online storefronts and detailed product data to connect with overseas buyers; a new trade platform is set to go live before HCMC Export 2026 on Oct. 22. Upgrades in post-harvest treatment, cold storage and processing are also helping products meet export standards. AI and Innovation: Ho Chi Minh City is proposing matched venture funding for AI startups, while the government says it has completed more than 66% of tasks under Resolution 57 on science, technology and digital transformation. Semiconductor Investment: Samsung Electro-Mechanics plans to invest US$1.85 billion more in Thai Nguyen, reinforcing Vietnam’s role in advanced manufacturing and semiconductor supply chains.

Digital Government: Vietnam launched a commune-level app to help local officials, businesses and residents find digital tools suited to practical needs, drawing on a catalogue of 1,591 solutions from 360 providers. Legal Tech: A newly approved national legal-data project aims to put all legal documents in machine-readable formats by 2027 and build a linked repository to support AI-powered search and analysis. AI and Startups: Ho Chi Minh City is proposing matched venture capital to spur AI startups, while a Vietnamese PhD student has been named among 20 recipients of Apple’s 2026 AI fellowship. High-Tech Investment: Draft tax rules would offer strategic-technology and hi-tech research centres a 10% corporate tax rate for up to 25 years, plus an initial tax holiday.**

Research: Nine scientists working at Vietnam-based institutions made Elsevier’s global top 10,000 most influential researchers list. Vietnam has 75 researchers in the top 100,000, two more than last year. Data Centres: Vietnam is drawing investor interest as operators look beyond Johor, with full foreign ownership allowed and provincial licensing simplified. The region’s data-centre boom also raises concerns over energy, water use and sustainability. AI and Education: More than 800 delegates from 40 countries met in Hanoi to discuss adapting education to AI, including stronger digital skills, critical thinking and responsible use of the technology. Digital Finance: A Visa survey found 67% of Vietnamese respondents intend to use stablecoins within five years, among the highest levels across 14 Asia-Pacific markets; only 16% of consumers regionwide had used them in the past year.

AI and Education: Vietnam is weighing tighter oversight of AI-generated short films as educators in Hanoi urge schools to adapt to AI while safeguarding data, academic integrity and critical thinking. Digital Infrastructure: Hanoi is modernising its power grid with science, technology and data to improve management. Fintech: Vietnam’s startup sandbox has dropped a dual-qualification requirement for founders, easing entry for fintech innovators. Semiconductors: Foreign investment is strengthening Vietnam’s role in chip testing, packaging and advanced materials, with Samsung and other firms expanding capacity to serve AI-driven demand. Engineering Talent: Robotics initiatives are bringing more students into engineering as Vietnam looks to build its innovation workforce.

AI Oversight: Vietnam is weighing tighter rules for AI-generated short films as the format spreads online. The Cinema Department has asked platforms to review content, amid concerns over sensational material and its impact on human filmmakers. Urban Rail: Vingroup and France’s Alstom signed a deal for 200 trainsets for Hanoi’s metro expansion, with technology transfer expected to support local rail manufacturing. Clean Power: Rooftop solar is cutting factory energy bills: a 20-MWp system in Quang Ninh is expected to save its operator VND6–7 billion monthly. Semiconductors: Samsung Electro-Mechanics plans a $1.85 billion investment in Thai Nguyen, expanding Vietnam’s role in semiconductor materials and AI infrastructure. Local Innovation: Officials are pushing stronger ties between foreign investors and Vietnamese suppliers, as experts warn that domestic firms remain concentrated in low-value export segments.

AI Adoption: Vietnam ranks among the fastest-moving AI markets, with 90% of surveyed university leaders saying workplace change is happening very fast and all expecting it to accelerate. Aquaculture Research: A four-year, £2.4 million project will study antimicrobial resistance in Vietnam’s pangasius sector and work with farmers on practical alternatives to antibiotics. Strategic Technology: Vietnam aims to localize 30–40% of key UAVs by 2030, while Samsung Electro-Mechanics plans a major semiconductor investment in Thai Nguyen. Digital Infrastructure: Hanoi is modernizing its power grid using science, technology and data.

EU Green Rules: From Sept 27, the EU’s EmpCo directive cracks down on unverified “eco-friendly” and “carbon neutral” tourism claims, forcing hotels and tour operators to back every sustainability label with recognized certification or solid performance data. AI Skills in Vietnam: A Pearson-AWS study finds Vietnam among the fastest AI adopters, with university leaders reporting extremely rapid workplace change and most institutions already investing in AI—setting up a push to turn student confidence into real business use. Vietnam Growth Boost: The World Bank raised Vietnam’s 2026 GDP growth forecast to 7.4%, citing manufacturing, high-tech exports and public investment as key drivers. AI Divide Warning: Grab CEO Anthony Tan says rapid AI rollout could widen inequality into a “K-shaped recovery,” so platforms like Grab are focusing on practical AI for small businesses. AI Data Center Power Buildout: LS Eco Energy will double Vietnam busduct capacity for AI data centers by adding epoxy-insulated busduct production, with mass output targeted for late 2027. Semiconductor Expansion: SKC plans more investment in its Vietnamese semiconductor materials unit to expand manufacturing capacity for the AI chip supply chain. Education Reform: Vietnam proposes tightening university admissions methods—moving toward fewer, more standardized routes per major to reduce exam overload and applicant stress. Health & Industry Partnerships: HCMC Oncology Hospital signed an MoU with Novartis Vietnam to strengthen cancer-care capabilities through training and education. FDI Momentum: Vietnam’s registered FDI surpassed $50.36 billion in nine months, with processing and manufacturing still leading new capital inflows. Mobility Tech: VinFast will launch an eBus platform in the US via NextMove, with deliveries expected in Q1 2028 and vehicles using LFP batteries plus AI safety systems.

AI Investment: Singapore’s Granite Asia teamed up with Google AI Futures Fund to co-develop and co-invest in Asian AI startups, with up to $2M co-investment per selected founder and credits/access to Google models and cloud tools. Urban Rail Deal: Vingroup signed with French rail giant Alstom for 200 Metropolis trainsets for Hanoi’s next-gen urban rail plan, aiming for a 979km network across 18 lines by 2045. Low-Altitude Economy: Vietnam is pushing beyond drone manufacturing toward applications, data services and supporting infrastructure, with the low-altitude market projected to reach hundreds of billions globally by 2035. Digital Infrastructure & Data: Vietnam is bringing ethnic and religious data into national digital infrastructure, accelerating sector-specific databases with platform and connectivity work. Regional Tech Leadership: VINASA chair Nguyen Van Khoa was re-elected ASOCIO vice president for 2027-2028, focusing on AI, quantum and semiconductors collaboration. Climate & Policy Forum: More than 100 experts will meet in Quy Nhon for the inaugural “Zero Version” climate dialogue linking science, transition finance and implementation. Security & Consumer Tech: Nebraska’s attorney general sued TP-Link over alleged privacy/security risks tied to China-linked operations, while Vietnam’s own tech ecosystem keeps expanding. Public Safety: Ho Chi Minh City police arrested 12 suspects in a cat-theft ring allegedly selling about 2,700 cats for meat.

Health Policy: Hospitals in Vietnam are debating a 65-patient-per-doctor daily cap under health insurance rules after cases like a long-term patient being forced to postpone care when the quota is reached. Cybersecurity: Tay Ninh police charged a Vietnamese student with a Threads concert-ticket scam, alleging he impersonated ticket agents and stole $76,000+ from 200+ victims. Higher Education: Vietnam reports nearly 17,000 PhD students, with business, management and law leading enrollment, followed by humanities/social fields and engineering-related tracks. AI & Economy: The World Bank lifted East Asia and Pacific growth to 4.5% and flagged AI-linked exports as a key driver—while warning that heavy reliance on AI demand could backfire if the global AI boom cools. Semiconductors & Industry: Infineon opened a new Ho Chi Minh City office to expand R&D, sales and marketing, aiming to strengthen Vietnam’s semiconductor ecosystem. Digital Transformation for SMEs: A new AWS-commissioned study says 26% of Vietnamese businesses have adopted AI, with many moving from experiments to measurable results. Regional Energy Security: An IEA report warns Southeast Asia faces widening electricity security risks as demand rises fast, with Vietnam expected to contribute a large share of growth through 2030. Vietnam Tech in Agriculture: Vietnam’s high-tech agriculture leaders were ranked by Vietnam Report, highlighting a shift toward cost-cutting, productivity gains and greener compliance. Mobility & EVs: Global gas-car sales fell below 50% for the first time as fuel-price shocks accelerate EV adoption outside China. Identity Tech: HID is upgrading its FARGO DTC ID card printer line to speed issuance and improve security for schools, healthcare and government.

Vietnam–Panama Deals: Panama President José Raúl Mulino arrived in Hanoi to push new agreements on trade, agriculture, aviation and especially maritime cooperation, aiming to turn Panama into a logistics gateway for Vietnamese exports to Latin America. AI Safety & Cybercrime: Google reports criminals are using AI to speed up zero-day discovery and exploitation, linking the rise of AI agents to a broader surge in hacking and fraud. Vietnam Energy Digitalization: A Vietnam grid and storage task force met to translate plans into grid modernisation, digitalisation and battery energy storage systems, including a centralised platform to optimize charging and discharging. Low-Altitude Airspace Strategy: Vietnam’s Politburo issued guidance to treat low-altitude airspace as a sovereign development space, tying it to semiconductors, AI and space tech, with UAV testing zones targeted by 2030. Critical Minerals Funding: Masan High-Tech seeks approval for a private placement of up to 5% to expand the Nui Phao tungsten mine and downstream processing after a stake sale to Elmet Group. Tech Talent & Research: Vietnam’s education ministry urged universities to focus on quality and explain how AI changes teaching and learning; meanwhile, WIPO highlighted Vietnam’s progress in turning innovation pilots into scalable businesses. Vietnam Manufacturing Momentum: Electronics exports hit $175.4B in Q1–Q3 2026, reinforcing Vietnam’s role in the global electronics supply chain. Vietnam Science Diplomacy: Vietnam and Algeria reaffirmed strong political trust and cooperation potential across trade, energy and science/technology.