You are using an outdated browser and your browsing experience will not be optimal. Please update to the latest version of Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. Install Microsoft Edge

August 25, 2025

Vietnam’s Digital Tech Industry Law: Building the Future of AI, Chips, and Digital Assets

Subscribe to Updates

Artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, and digital assets are considered critical drivers of Vietnam’s future economic growth and are fundamental to the nation’s digital transformation targets. These sectors form the core of Vietnam’s strategy to build a robust, globally competitive digital economy. This strategic direction gained substantial momentum with the issuance of the Law on Digital Technology Industry (DTI Law) on June 14, 2025.

The DTI Law was designed to attract investment, stimulate innovation, cultivate high-quality human resources, and ensure the responsible, secure, and sustainable growth of digital technologies like AI and digital assets, harmonizing Vietnam’s digital industry with international standards while safeguarding public interests and national security.

Several key provisions of the DTI Law took effect on July 1, 2025, and the law will become fully effective on January 1, 2026. The government is delegated to provide further necessary guidelines and details for implementation of the law.

Artificial Intelligence (AI): Principle-Driven and Risk-Based Regulations

Under the DTI Law, there are seven core principles guiding the development, provision, and use of AI which are applicable to AI developers, providers and deployers. These principles favor values-based governance over purely technical prescriptions, and include the following:

  • Taking a human-centered approach that upholds ethical values, inclusivity, flexibility, equality, and non-discrimination.
  • Ensuring transparency, accountability, and explainability, with AI systems remaining under human control.
  • Maintaining cybersecurity and system safety.
  • Adherence to data protection and privacy regulations.
  • Having the ability to control AI algorithms and models.
  • Effective risk management throughout the entire lifecycle of AI systems.
  • Compliance with consumer protection laws and other relevant legal frameworks.

AI system management follows a risk-based approach, with the law categorizing systems into high-risk, high-impact, and other groups. High-risk AI systems are those that, in certain applications, may pose significant threats or harm to individuals or the public interest while high-impact systems are designed for multi-purpose use, involving a large user base, extensive parameters, and massive data processing capabilities.

Both high-risk and high-impact systems are subject to stringent regulatory requirements, including technical requirements, transparency in data storage and disclosure, data governance, monitoring and inspection, cybersecurity, and other applicable obligations. Enterprises developing or deploying such systems should therefore begin mapping their AI inventories and preparing documented risk assessments to accelerate future compliance.

AI systems that directly interact with humans must clearly notify their users of their AI aspects. Additionally, digital technology products generated by AI, if listed in the official list issued by the Minister of Science and Technology, must carry identifiable markers detectable by either users or machines.

Semiconductors: Building a Competitive and Vertically Integrated Ecosystem

Vietnam’s semiconductor industry development is guided by four key principles:

  • Focusing on breakthrough semiconductor chip development across sectors, closely linked to the global semiconductor ecosystem (research, design, manufacturing, packaging, testing).
  • Aligning semiconductor development with the electronics industry, with a focus on specialized electronic devices in various sectors.
  • Ensuring sufficient and high-quality human resources for the semiconductor industry.
  • Promoting foreign investment and mobilizing both domestic and international resources to master semiconductor chip technology, design, and production.

The government will establish a semiconductor development strategy based on these four principles and aligned with Vietnam’s socio-economic strategies and management needs. Enterprises are encouraged to closely follow up the country’s semiconductor development strategy to identify potential opportunities for its benefits.

Digital Assets: Legally Recognized for the First Time

For the first time in Vietnamese legislation, the DTI Law recognizes digital assets as property expressed in data form and created, issued, stored, or transferred through digital technologies. The law further classifies them into: (i) virtual assets (excluding securities, digital fiat currency, and other regulated financial assets); (ii) crypto assets (excluding securities, digital fiat currency, and other regulated financial assets), and (iii) other digital assets.

The management of digital assets encompasses several aspects, including establishing and transferring ownership; regulating rights and obligations of involved parties; ensuring cybersecurity, preventing money laundering and terrorist financing; inspection and enforcement; and conditions for businesses providing services crypto asset services.

Incentives for AI and Semiconductor Industries

Vietnam’s DTI Law offers a robust package of investment incentives for projects in AI system development, AI data centers, and semiconductor chip R&D and production, including design, packaging, and testing. These projects are classified as specially prioritized investment sectors and benefit from preferential treatment in areas such as taxation, land use rights, and access to other legal benefits. The government may also provide direct financial support for infrastructure, equipment, and factory construction through local development budgets. Enterprises in these sectors are eligible for customs-related advantages to facilitate import and export activities.

Innovative startups in AI and semiconductors are similarly prioritized, qualifying for incentives under investment, tax, and land laws, and may receive direct funding for workforce training, talent acquisition, R&D, pilot production, consulting, and technology upgrades. The law introduces additional special mechanisms for the semiconductor industry, extending incentives to projects producing materials, machinery, and components that directly support chip manufacturing. Importation of used equipment for semiconductor production is allowed if it meets technical criteria set by the Ministry of Science and Technology, with enterprises required to self-certify compliance. Finally, the law provides targeted support for businesses participating in the semiconductor supply chain, further strengthening Vietnam’s position as a competitive hub for digital technology investment.

Outlook

Although the DTI Law mainly provides a framework and policy-oriented provisions, with specific regulations still needing to be set out in future decrees and circulars, it is essential for businesses to stay ahead of emerging policy trends and regulatory directions shaping the development of Vietnam’s strategic digital technology sectors. Understanding these directions can help businesses seize investment opportunities and gain a first-mover advantage in the fast-evolving digital technology industry. Companies are also encouraged to closely monitor forthcoming guiding regulations under the DTI Law to ensure compliance and fully capitalize on investment incentives and support when rolling out their products and services in the Vietnamese market.

Related Professionals

Industries

Technology

Location

RELATED INSIGHTS​ 

June 23, 2026
On May 26, 2026, Thailand’s Department of Land Transport (DLT) published for public consultation a draft amendment to the Ministerial Regulation on Electronic Ride-Hailing Vehicles that would, for the first time, allow juristic persons (legal entities) to register vehicles as electronic ride-hailing cars—a right that currently belongs exclusively to natural persons, limited to one person per one vehicle. If finalized in its current form, the regulation would significantly expand the supply side of Thailand’s ride-hailing market by enabling corporate fleet operators to enter the space. The public comment period is open through June 24, 2026. Key Principles Under the Draft Regulation Under the proposed amendment, juristic persons that maintain a fleet of at least 50 vehicles will be permitted to register vehicles as electronic ride-hailing cars. This represents a fundamental shift from the current framework, which restricts registration to individual natural persons on a one-person-one-car basis. Vehicle Specifications Corporate-owned ride-hailing vehicles must meet the following requirements: Be brand new from the factory, or no more than two years old from first registration with no more than 20,000 km of use. Not be a vehicle that has been reconstructed or repaired after involvement in a serious accident affecting safety—a standard consistent with public transport vehicles (RorYor. 6). Be classified as small, medium, or large in accordance with ministerial or director-general specifications. The vehicles may be equipped with safety devices such as interior or exterior cameras (video/photo recording) and can retain the original factory color of the vehicle body (no mandatory color change is required). License Plates Corporate ride-hailing vehicles will use license plates of the same size, characteristics, and color as those for private passenger vehicles not exceeding seven seats (RorYor. 1), rather than public transport plates. Potential Impact The government has stated that the regulation is intended to: Promote
Read More
June 23, 2026
On May 14, 2026, Thailand published a ministerial regulation in the Government Gazette to prescribe measures for prevention and suppression of technology crimes. The regulation creates a comprehensive procedural framework for returning money and digital assets to victims of technology crimes. It will take effect 90 days after publication (in mid-August 2026), giving affected entities a limited window to prepare. Mandatory Reporting Obligations for Financial Institutions When a deposit account, e-money account, or digital asset wallet is frozen in connection with a technology crime, the relevant financial institution or business operator must report transaction data to the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) via AMLO’s designated electronic system. Required data elements include account numbers (sender and receiver), names, identification or passport numbers, legal entity registration numbers, phone numbers, remaining balance, damage amount, transaction reference numbers, and the bank case ID. Institutions that already share data through the information-sharing system under the emergency decree are deemed to have satisfied this reporting obligation, creating an incentive for platform participation. When the Royal Thai Police or the Department of Special Investigation seize or freeze assets related to technology crimes, they must provide AMLO with investigation reports, complaint evidence, money-trail data, and account statements. Notification and Claims Process Once the AMLO secretary-general approves verified reports of a technology crime, the account information of persons connected to the crime will be published in the Government Gazette, triggering a 90-day window for victims to file claims and for related persons to file objections. Officers will also publish details on AMLO’s electronic media and send registered mail to identified victims, which will be deemed received after 7 days domestically or 15 days internationally. Victims have 90 days from the date the crime is published in the Government Gazette to file claims through AMLO’s electronic system. Claims must include
Read More
June 15, 2026
The surge in AI development has led to a desperate demand for large, high-quality training data. However, real-world data can be expensive to collect, difficult to access, and often subject to strict privacy and regulatory constraints. Synthetic data, which consists of artificially generated records that replicate the statistical properties of real-world data without reproducing specific individuals’ information, provides an appealing solution by generating artificial datasets at scale without relying on identifiable personal information. It combines speed, cost efficiency, and regulatory compliance, making it a sensible alternative for organizations seeking to reduce risks while maintaining data utility. When properly anonymized, synthetic datasets may fall outside the scope of laws such as the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) or Thailand’s Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA), reducing compliance burdens while still supporting high-quality model training. However, relying on synthetic data without rigorous legal due diligence could be a strategic mistake. It replaces one set of known risks (scraping, direct privacy liability) with a new set of complex liabilities. The narrative that synthetic data is a “silver bullet” for privacy and IP compliance is dangerous and could be misleading. While synthetic data addresses data scarcity, it also introduces new legal uncertainties. Legal counsel should anticipate downstream risks arising from compromised data sources. Models trained on unlawfully obtained data may need to be decommissioned, even if their outputs appear lawful. What is synthetic data? Synthetic data refers to artificially generated information created using AI techniques such as deep learning and generative models. Instead of copying real records, it reproduces the statistical patterns and relationships found in the original dataset. Synthetic data generally falls into three categories: Fully synthetic data – Entirely new data points generated from learned patterns. The model studies the structure of the original data and produces records that resemble real-world
Read More
June 11, 2026
Thailand’s Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA) has released a revised draft Electronic Transactions Act (ETA) for public hearing from May 12, 2026, to June 15, 2026. This is not merely an amendment to certain provisions of the current ETA, but a comprehensive redrafting of the entire act. The revised draft ETA introduces several significant changes from the current framework, with practical implications for businesses operating in Thailand. Unified Coverage of Public and Private Sectors The current law segregates government transactions into a separate chapter with distinct rules. The draft ETA eliminates this division, defining “transaction” to encompass civil and commercial juristic acts as well as administrative procedures, administrative contracts, and other acts of government agencies. Enhanced E-Signature Definition The definition of “electronic signature” is broadened to expressly include biometric data and refocused on identifying the signatory and demonstrating intent regarding the content of the electronic data. Shift in Burden of Proof When a party challenges the reliability of electronic data created using a “trusted electronic method” or a method prescribed by the ETDA, the burden of proof and the cost of proving unreliability shifts to the challenger. Introduction of New Digital Method Concepts The draft ETA introduces several new digital method concepts that are not currently recognized under the existing ETA framework. These include: Electronic timestamping (e-timestamp) Electronic registered delivery Electronic company seals Electronic stamp duty compliance Electronic identity authentication and verification Electronic transferable records (electronic bills of lading, promissory notes, and similar negotiable instruments) Recognition of Automated Systems and Electronic Contracting The draft ETA expressly recognizes the legal validity and enforceability of contracts formed through automated systems, including contracts concluded entirely between automated systems or between an automated system and a person. A party may not deny the binding effect of such contracts solely because no human review
Read More