Vietnam - National AI Strategy (127/2021)

Overview

Decision No. 127/QĐ-TTg, signed on 26 January 2021, promulgates the National Strategy on Research, Development and Application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to 2030. The Strategy frames AI as a foundational technology for the Fourth Industrial Revolution and sets out a national roadmap to make Vietnam a regional innovation centre for AI by 2030. The Decision takes effect on the date of signing (2021-01-26) and assigns implementation responsibilities to ministries, central agencies and provincial/municipal People's Committees. It establishes phased targets, priority programs and projects, and a list of tasks and solutions to be implemented across public agencies, state-owned enterprises, private companies, research institutions, universities and local governments.

Definitions

The Decision adopts the term Trí tuệ nhân tạo (artificial intelligence, AI) as a foundational technology area within the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The Strategy treats AI as encompassing research, development, application and ecosystem-building activities. The Decision references and is grounded in the existing legal bases that define institutional and technical contexts for AI activities, including the Law on Government Organization and the Law on High Technologies; these referenced legal instruments provide the statutory definitions and authorities used throughout the Strategy.

Governance and Institutional Framework

The Decision designates the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) as the primary coordinating agency responsible for proposing and coordinating implementation at the central level. It specifies inter-ministerial coordination involving, among others, the Ministry of Information and Communications, the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of National Defence, the Ministry of Public Security, and the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs. The Strategy also assigns implementation and coordination responsibilities to People's Committees of centrally-run cities and provinces, requiring local authorities to prepare and implement provincial/city plans aligned with the national Strategy. Ministries are required to develop and issue sectoral action plans, mobilise funding and resources, and establish the programs and projects listed in the Strategy's appendix. The Decision instructs central ministries and agencies to coordinate with local authorities on sectoral measures and projects and to report progress to central coordinating bodies.

Key Focus Areas

• Strategic objectives and national targets – set phased national objectives and specific ranking targets for regional and global standing (ASEAN and global ranking goals for 2025 and 2030).
• Concrete numerical targets – include intermediate and end-state metrics such as ASEAN ranking (top 5 by 2025; top 4 by 2030) and global ranking goals (top 60 by 2025; top 50 by 2030).
• National infrastructure – development of national data storage and high-performance computing (HPC) centres: target of at least 1 national big-data/HPC centre by 2025 and 3 by 2030.
• National innovation centres – creation of national AI innovation centres (targets include multiple national innovation centres by 2025 and additional centres by 2030 to support research, incubation and commercialization).
• Open and interoperable datasets – development and publication of open sectoral datasets, with an explicit target (for example, 50 open and interoperable sectoral datasets by 2030) to support research, development and public-private collaboration.
• Human resources and research capacity – training and development of skilled personnel, establishment of AI training and research centres, and programmes to build domestic R&D capabilities.
• Ecosystem development – support for private-sector AI development, encouragement of public–private partnerships, promotion of national AI brands, and measures to stimulate an AI innovation ecosystem across universities, research institutes and enterprises.
• Legal, technical and standards frameworks – review and development of laws, policies, technical standards and data-sharing mechanisms to enable safe, secure and effective AI deployment while ensuring compliance with national security and data protection requirements.
• Sectoral application and deployment – targeted measures to accelerate AI adoption across economic sectors and public administration, including ministerial and provincial sectoral programmes and projects.

Implementation Framework

The Decision sets out roles, responsibilities and required actions for central ministries, agencies and local governments. Ministries are instructed to prepare and issue detailed action plans and implementing decisions that specify budgetary arrangements, priority programmes and projects identified in the Strategy's appendix, and timelines for delivery. MOST is identified as the principal coordinating agency and must work with other ministries—such as the Ministry of Information and Communications and the Ministry of Education and Training—to develop national technical standards, data-sharing mechanisms, and interoperability requirements. Central ministries are required to review existing legal frameworks and propose necessary amendments or new regulations to enable AI development in accordance with national security and data protection laws. Local governments (People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities) are required to prepare aligned provincial/city plans and mobilise local resources to implement sectoral measures. The Strategy envisages the mobilisation of public funding, facilitation of private investment, and establishment of national data/HPC centres and innovation hubs through coordinated public programmes. Ministries may adopt implementing decisions, action plans or guidance documents to operationalise the Strategy and to set out more specific compliance or operational requirements for stakeholders.

Monitoring and Evaluation

The Decision requires ministries and central agencies to report on progress, prepare periodic implementation plans and adopt monitoring mechanisms to track performance against the Strategy's targets. Implementation progress is to be reported through established administrative channels; central agencies and the Government Gazette/official portals are used to list and track implementing documents and related activities. Ministries are expected to monitor delivery of the priority programmes and projects listed in the Strategy's appendix, to review outcomes against milestones (including the 2025 and 2030 targets), and to propose corrective measures or additional policy actions where necessary. Reporting obligations include submission of action plans, progress reports and evaluation data to coordinating bodies and to the Prime Minister's office as required by government oversight procedures.

Penalties, Liability, and Appeals

Decision 127/QĐ‑TTg is a strategic policy document and does not itself create new criminal penalties. It obliges responsible agencies and localities to implement assigned tasks and to report progress. Enforcement of implementation requirements is expected to be achieved primarily through administrative and managerial mechanisms under existing public administration laws and government oversight frameworks. Failure by agencies or localities to carry out mandated planning and reporting may be addressed through administrative measures available to supervising authorities under current governance rules. Where necessary, ministries may adopt implementing decisions, action plans or guidance that include specific compliance provisions and administrative sanctions consistent with applicable laws; those implementing instruments will set out available remedies, liability rules and internal appeal channels in accordance with Vietnam's administrative procedures.

Relationship to Other Instruments

The Decision references and is grounded in existing Vietnamese legal instruments and policy documents. Key instruments cited or invoked include the Law on Government Organization (2015), the Law on High Technologies (2008), and Government Resolution No. 50/NQ-CP (the Government’s Action Program to implement Resolution No. 52‑NQ/TW). The Strategy instructs ministries to align implementing measures with the broader legal and regulatory framework, and to propose amendments or new regulations where necessary to enable safe and effective AI research, development and application across sectors. Ministries are also directed to ensure consistency with laws relating to national security, data protection and high technology activities.

International Alignment

The Strategy establishes international-facing targets and ambition levels, including ASEAN and global ranking goals: to be among the top 5 ASEAN countries by 2025 and top 4 by 2030, and to improve global standing to the top 60 by 2025 and top 50 by 2030. These ranking targets reflect an explicit objective to align Vietnam’s national AI development with regional competitiveness and global innovation benchmarks. The Decision encourages cooperation and alignment with international standards, cross-border data collaboration where appropriate, and participation in regional and global AI research and policy fora to support the Strategy’s objectives. While the Decision primarily sets domestic policy, its targets and programs are designed to position Vietnam for greater engagement in ASEAN and international AI ecosystems.

Implementation Timeline

Sources and References