This year's theme centres on Project ViGen, an endeavour to create high-quality, open-source, Vietnamese datasets for the training and enhancement of large language models (LLMs) so AI models can better understand Vietnamese culture, context, and expressions.
At the launch of the Vietnam Innovation Challenge 2025, the third edition of the annual programme. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA)♔ – The Vietnam National Innovation Centre (NIC) and Meta on March 14 launched the Vietnam Innovation Challenge 2025, the third edition of the annual programme, to advance artificial intelligence (AI) development.
This year's theme centres on Project ViGen, an endeavour to create high-quality, open-source, Vietnamese datasets for the training and enhancement of large language models (LLMs) so AI models can better understand Vietnamese culture, context, and expressions. This will enhance Vietnamese language representation in AI, while also fuelling rapid and sustainable economic growth in Vietnam.
Speaking at the launching ceremony, NIC's Deputy Director Vo Xuan Hoai said AI is transforming the world. Therefore, developing large-scale, high-quality and open-source Vietnamese datasets for AI training and evaluation has become an urgent priority.
Project ViGen aligns well with a government resolution which aims to drive breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation.
Project ViGen requires a collective effort from policymakers, think tanks, researchers, developers, experts, and users alike, he said, adding that joint efforts will help transform AI into a powerful tool for every Vietnamese and make Vietnam a global AI powerhouse.
Sarim Aziz, director of public policy at Meta, speaks at the launching ceremony. (Photo: VNA)
Sarim Aziz, director of public policy at Meta, said 2025 is a pivotal year for AI in Vietnam. Meta is honoured to partner with the NIC and the AI for Vietnam Foundation on Project ViGen.
By empowering Vietnamese researchers, developers, and businesses with open-source AI models like Llama and resources that understand their unique context, Meta is making it easier for them to unlock their full potential and drive meaningful innovation in AI that is uniquely suited to Vietnam's needs, he said.
Prof. Yann LeCun, Vice President and Chief AI Scientist at Meta, also known as one of the “AI Godfathers”, said that Project ViGen and the Vietnam Innovation Challenge are not just about advancing technology, they are e about building an inclusive AI future that celebrates and integrates Vietnam's unique cultural and linguistic heritage.
At the ceremony, Meta and Deloitte also announced a new public sector guide "Transforming the Asia Pacific Public Sector through Open Source AI: Unlocking Innovation with Llama”. This guide complements the Vietnam Innovation Challenge by providing a roadmap for government agencies to effectively integrate open-source AI technologies. Together, these initiatives aim to create a cohesive strategy for AI development in Vietnam that benefits both the public and private sectors./.
Seeing institutional frameworks as both "bottleneck of bottlenecks" and "breakthrough of breakthroughs,” Vietnam is mapping out policies to develop the AI and semiconductor industries. The Government has pledged to slash at least 30% of cumbersome administrative procedures, step up decentralisation, enhance implementation capacity, and promote self-resilience and creativity among stakeholders, PM Pham Minh Chinh said.
Speaking at a seminar titled “The convergence of semiconductors and artificial intelligence: a breakthrough for a new cycle of opportunities”, part of the 2025 Artificial Intelligence and Semiconductor Conference (AISC) held in Hanoi on March 13, Duong highlighted the significant role of AI and semiconductors in accelerating Vietnam’s development in the coming years.
AISC 2025 shows the strong interest of the international community and affirms Vietnam as a strategic destination in high-tech fields, he said, adding the combination of national vision and international investment needs from developed economies such as the US, Japan, and the Republic of Korea (RoK) has created significant attractiveness of the event, opening up important opportunities for the development of the AI and semiconductor industries in Vietnam.
Under the European Union (EU)’s global initiative on Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence (CoE), Vietnam has implemented numerous projects aimed at strengthening national capacity in detecting, preventing, and preparing for CBRN-related threats.
The course aims to promote knowledge exchange between scientific and educational schools from different countries, while deepening participants’ expertise in modern technology and technical education. It comprises two main specialisations of electronics-automation and nuclear technology.
ANTARA and VNA can design global-scale cooperation programmes or joint media campaigns, demonstrating the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Indonesia, as well as the cooperation between the two national news agencies.
As Vietnam’s digital transformation accelerates, both the frequency and severity of cyberattacks are growing. The National Cybersecurity Association (NCA) reported that in 2024 alone, there were some 659,000 separate cybersecurity incidents, impacting around 46.15% of government agencies and businesses.
A key highlight will be the technology cluster pavilion, showcasing top enterprises selected for their innovation, market potential, and practical applications. These firms will display flagship products and solutions, supported by government policies to strengthen the tech sector.
Since 2022, more than 500 Vietnamese startups have engaged in Google’s Startup Academy, Google for Startups Accelerator, and Google Startup Masterclass. Nearly 100 of these firms received support to develop and improve their products, benefiting more than 300,000 customers and creating over 300 new jobs through successful fundraising and team expansion amidst Vietnam’s competitive economy.
Over the past three decades, Binh Duong has cemented its status as one of Vietnam’s most dynamic industrial hubs, building a robust foundation in manufacturing, exports, and investment. The province now has 30 operational industrial parks spanning over 13,000 hectares, with an occupancy rate exceeding 90%.
The diplomat emphasised that Vietnam places the highest priority on the development of science, technology, and innovation, viewing them as critical drivers for the country’s advancement in the new development era.
The PM revealed Vietnam’s plan to develop nuclear power in the near future, and called on the Swedish side to assist Vietnam in developing and refining legal and policy frameworks for the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes; training and developing human resources; ensuring nuclear safety; and conducting training and drills to improve incident management capabilities.
More than an art showcase, the second “Technology with heart” contest seeks to inspire innovation and spotlight the humanistic values that technology can bring into daily life, expected to contribute to a sustainable digital future.
The average speed of the national mobile broadband network remained stable, with download speeds reaching 76.86 Mbps and upload speeds reaching 26.98 Mbps.
Under the MoU, AMD will support several key initiatives spearheaded by HCM City’s authorities, including piloting policies, co-hosting innovation events, and evaluating the investment environment within the Saigon Hi-Tech Park.
The centre is a joint initiative between Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology, with PTIT and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) serving as co-leads, and global telecommunications giant Nokia as founding industry partner.
The new centre, staffed by a team of scientists, researchers, and AI specialists working in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, forms part of Qualcomm’s global AI research group.
As a flagship initiative of the community project “Digital Literacy for All”, the programme forms part of a national scheme to equip 20 million young people with digital business skills.
The organisers hope the competition will help shape a generation of exceptional engineers who will make significant contributions to Vietnam’s scientific and technological progress in this era of transformation.
In the digital age and amidst the Fourth Industrial Revolution, IP plays an increasingly critical role, not only in safeguarding inventions but also in reducing copyright infringement and curbing piracy.
Ambassador Nguyen Minh Vu laid stress on the significance of the Hanoi Convention, particularly to the Asia – Pacific, to handling legal gaps in international cooperation against rapidly increasing global cybercrime.
