Viettel operates Vietnam’s first NVIDIA DGX B200 supercomputer system

One notable feature of the new framework is its broad scope, covering digital technology, biotechnology, and new materials, as well as aerospace, deep sea exploration, and quantum technology. This reflects Vietnam’s ambition not only to keep up with global technology trends, but also to expand its role in future high value-added industries.

AI, semiconductors, and digital data drive the new economy

Among the 10 strategic technology groups, digital technology is considered the central category, covering key foundational fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), big data, digital twins, cloud computing, edge computing, the Internet of Things (IoT), and blockchain.

Placing AI and digital data at the center reflects Vietnam’s direction for developing the digital economy in the coming years. These technologies are no longer simply tools for digital transformation, but are increasingly becoming part of the modern economy’s “soft infrastructure,” directly influencing labor productivity, business management, public services, and national competitiveness.

Notably, the list of strategic technology products includes many practical AI applications such as Vietnamese large language models, virtual assistants, sector specific AI solutions, and edge AI cameras. This shows that Vietnam’s AI strategy is moving beyond foundational research toward commercialization and real world application.

As AI continues to reshape many sectors of the economy, prioritizing the development of Vietnamese large language models is seen as an important step toward building an AI ecosystem suited to domestic language characteristics, data resources, and market demand. It also creates a foundation for expanding “Make in Vietnam” digital services across public administration, finance, education, healthcare, and e-commerce.

Alongside AI, semiconductor technology continues to be identified as one of the country’s key strategic sectors. Beyond developing specialized chips, the framework also reflects Vietnam’s ambition to deepen its participation in the global semiconductor supply chain, an industry that has become a major area of competition among leading economies.

From an economic perspective, prioritizing semiconductors and digital technology is seen as a strong signal aimed at attracting high quality investment while creating a foundation for shifting the growth model from processing and assembly to innovation and technological capability.

Beyond digital technology, the framework also focuses on future connectivity infrastructure through next generation mobile network technology and 5G and 5G-Advanced systems. These are considered key foundations for smart factories, smart logistics, smart cities, and new production models based on real time data.

Another notable point is the inclusion of industrial robots and smart manufacturing platforms among strategic technology products that can directly influence economic growth. This reflects the rapid transformation taking place in Vietnam’s manufacturing sector as labor costs rise and demands for productivity and quality continue to increase.

Toward technological self-reliance and long-term competitiveness

While the digital technology group serves as a near term growth driver, the future foundational technologies included in the latest decision reflect a longer term vision for technological self reliance and strategic security.

Most notably, quantum technologies have been added to the priority list, including quantum communication, quantum computing, and quantum sensing. Although these technologies are still at an early stage globally, they are considered capable of delivering major advances in computing power, cybersecurity, and data processing in the future.

In addition, technologies related to deep processing of minerals, oil and gas, rare earths, deep sea exploration, and offshore energy have also been included in the strategic category. Amid the global energy transition and intensifying competition for resources, prioritizing these technologies shows that Vietnam aims to increase the value generated from natural resources instead of relying on raw exports.

In the energy sector, several globally trending products have also appeared on the list, including green hydrogen systems, carbon capture and storage systems, and battery energy storage systems (BESS). These technologies are widely regarded as key foundations for the green transition and the development of a low carbon economy in the future.

In particular, the inclusion of small modular reactors (SMRs) reflects a focus on next generation energy solutions that offer flexible scale, high safety standards, and better alignment with long term development needs.

In the space sector, satellites and low Earth orbit satellite constellations for Earth observation have also been included among strategic technology products. These technologies play an important role in resource management, disaster monitoring, digital infrastructure development, and national security.

Meanwhile, industrial platforms and integrated systems for high speed rail and urban rail are seen as technological preparations for a future phase of large scale infrastructure development. Including this field in the strategic list also reflects an approach to infrastructure development that goes beyond construction itself toward mastering operational technologies and the supporting industrial ecosystem.

The core significance of Decision 21/2026/QD-TTg lies not only in identifying priority technologies, but more importantly in shaping the direction of Vietnam’s national development strategy based on science, technology, and innovation. As traditional growth drivers gradually lose momentum, concentrating resources on core technologies, foundational technologies, and strategic products is expected to create new room for growth in the Vietnamese economy. This also marks an important step toward strengthening technological self reliance, reducing external dependence, and building a foundation for Vietnam’s long term competitiveness in the era of the digital economy and future industries.