Antler’s latest regional initiative, “The Theory of Next: Southeast Asia,” outlines five frontier opportunities driving the future of tech in the region: AI, enterprise solutions, fintech, sustainability, and next-gen commerce. Among them, Vietnam is an essential player in the next era of global high-tech manufacturing.

Vietnam is not only adopting global technologies but building its own AI as infrastructure. As the first country in Southeast Asia to open-source a local-language Large Language Model (LLM), Vietnam’s strength lies in its adaptability and applied AI capabilities.

Another key differentiator is Vietnam’s localised data, especially in manufacturing and robotics. If startups can find folks deep in AI and leverage locally unique data, they may be able to build something global that’s not yet proven anywhere else.

The ebook also highlighted the importance of cultural and educational reform. Vietnam’s traditional education system, while strong for production work, must evolve to better support creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving.

It is worth noting that more sustainability-minded builders are emerging in Vietnam. A growing cohort of Vietnamese founders is actively exploring green innovation—from climate-resilient supply chains to decarbonised manufacturing.

It is clear that Vietnam stands on the cusp of an economic and technological redefinition. As global markets shift, AI models mature, and geopolitical alignments open new doors for Southeast Asia, the country has an unprecedented opportunity to chart its own innovation narrative.

Speaking at a workshop in Ho Chi Minh City last Friday, Erik Jonsson, general partner of Antler Vietnam, highlighted Vietnam’s record-breaking export growth, increasing visibility in global supply chains, and a rapidly expanding talent base eager to participate in global markets.

“We’ve had more than 1,500 applications to our 2024 fall residency in Vietnam, and 205 ideas have come from pre-formed teams. The challenge? Most ideas weren’t scalable,” said Jonsson. “But those who think globally from day one—those are the ones we double-click on.”

The next generation of changemakers must learn to identify challenges that are both substantial and deeply relevant—problems worth solving not just for Vietnam, but at a global scale. By leveraging regional resources, infrastructure, and increasingly sophisticated talent across Southeast Asia, Vietnamese founders have the opportunity to build larger, more scalable business ideas and operating models.

Jonsson also pointed to Vietnam’s ongoing industrial upgrade–from garments and furniture to semiconductors, electronics, and smart manufacturing–as a sign that the country is evolving from a low-cost production hub to a key player in the global digital economy.

The very foundation of Vietnam lies in its tech innovation. Binh Tran, general partner of Ascend Vietnam Ventures, said, “You can find a retrieval-augmented generation engineer who can fine-tune a large language model for $5,000 a month, and they’re pushing code at 2a.m.–versus $250K–$300K a year for a US engineer. Vietnam's tech talent is not just notable as affordable options, they also hold a high regard for work ethics and a strong sense of personal accountability."

“Vietnam doesn’t just have raw talent – it has raw drive,” said Linh Thai, CEO of Skills Bridge. “We’ve expanded our AI courses, and now we’ve got 65-year-olds watching AI content. People here want to learn and push forward, regardless of age.”

Indeed, AI is lowering the cost of launching and scaling startups, unlocking new opportunities for solo entrepreneurs and small teams. “A SaaS company used to need 10,000 paying customers to break even. Now with AI, you need 10 paying customers, and you can be profitable,” she said.

Panellists emphasised that Vietnam should lean into AI’s democratising power–building products that serve real users at home and abroad, without waiting for perfection.