The Ho Chi Minh City Tech Festival, known as Conviction 2026, is set to take place on August 14–15 under the theme Real World, Real Movement.
The forum serves as a premier platform connecting policy, technology, and investment in two fields considered the new engines of the digital economy: blockchain and AI.
According to the organizers, Conviction 2026 arrives at a pivotal moment as Vietnam introduces a series of landmark policies to accelerate digital technology development.
Notably, the Law on Digital Technology Industry officially took effect on January 1, 2026, establishing a comprehensive legal framework for digital assets and blockchain for the first time. That was followed by Prime Ministerial Decision No. 21/2026/QD-TTg, which classifies blockchain and AI as national strategic technologies, and the Government's Resolution 05/2025/NQ-CP, which paves the way for a pilot crypto-asset market.
Chairman of the HCMC Electronics and Communications Association, Nguyen Quy Hoa, noted that these policy shifts are creating a prime opportunity for the city to solidify its role as a regional hub for innovation, technology, and finance.
"We expect Conviction to be more than just a tech event; it will be a forum that brings together policymakers, international experts, enterprises, investors, startups, and the innovation community to share a common vision, foster collaboration, and create new growth opportunities," Mr. Hoa stated.
From a practical perspective, Mr. Pham Thai Lai, Director of the Center for Economic Information and Media under the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), emphasized that businesses must be the primary drivers of innovation and digital transformation.
He expected that Conviction 2026 will bridge the gap between policy and technology, contributing to the refinement of legal frameworks and promoting the adoption of AI and digital assets to create a long-term impact on the Vietnamese business community.
The tentative agenda for the first day of Conviction 2026 focuses on blockchain and digital assets, featuring topics related to the commercialization of technology. These include Real World Asset (RWA) tokenization, stablecoins, cross-border payments, capital market development, regulatory sandboxes, and the roadmap for building an International Financial Center in Vietnam.
Conviction 2026 is designed not only as an annual tech event but also as a space for dialogue between the public and private sectors.
A key highlight of the program will be a policy dialogue on the development of blockchain and digital assets. This session will feature representatives from the National Assembly, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Justice, and VCCI, alongside tech experts and industry leaders.
