The AI Investment Gap: Vietnam’s Challenge and Opportunity
According to Le Hong Viet, CEO of FPT Smart Cloud, the investment gap in artificial intelligence (AI) between Vietnam and global tech powers like the United States and China presents a “tremendous challenge.” This sentiment resonates strongly as Vietnam gears up to participate more robustly in the global AI race, yet is confronted by significant hurdles to overcome.
The Global AI Landscape
Currently, the landscape of AI investment is dominated by a few powerful contenders. The United States leads with 40 developed AI models and a staggering USD 471 billion in private investment from 2013 to 2024. China, though trailing, has made impressive strides with 15 high-quality AI models and the largest number of AI-related patents worldwide. As noted during the AI4VN 2025 event, the disparity is not merely in funding but also in computational infrastructure—a foundational pillar for AI development.
At this event, experts articulated the crucial need for advanced computing resources. For instance, training Meta’s Llama 3 model required a staggering 30.84 million GPU hours, a task that would take approximately 55 years on Vietnam’s current domestic server clusters. This illustrates just how far behind Vietnam is in terms of AI infrastructure compared to leading nations.
Vietnam’s Current Position
Le Hong Viet emphasizes that Vietnam’s data center market remains modest and uncompetitive with its regional counterparts. The country’s AI investment is still relatively low, falling behind both the US and China by 56 times, and even Singapore has surpassed Vietnam in this critical area. The lack of resources, combined with a small talent pool and insufficient R&D spending, compounds the issue. Additionally, an evolving legal framework for AI means that businesses often navigate uncertain waters.
Bright Spots in Vietnam’s AI Ecosystem
Despite these challenges, Vietnam is not devoid of potential. A report from the Worldwide Independent Network of Market Research (WIN) ranked Vietnam 6th out of 40 countries in terms of readiness for the AI era. The domestic ecosystem is rapidly developing, sparked by a significant investment influx—USD 80 million is projected for 2024. Furthermore, a burgeoning workforce of 500,000 tech professionals and high AI adoption rates—42% among the general population and 65% in small and medium enterprises (SMEs)—indicate a vibrant environment for growth.
Government initiatives are also setting ambitious targets. By 2030, Vietnam aims to be among the top three countries in Southeast Asia and within the top 50 globally in AI research. National strategy is encouraging local tech firms to take up the mantle, aligning with the notion that “AI infrastructure sovereignty” is not just a corporate responsibility but a national priority.
Innovative Moves by Vietnamese Enterprises
Companies like Viettel are taking the lead in this transformative journey. Operating 15 data centers and investing in advanced GPU systems such as Nvidia DGX SuperPOD, Viettel is on a mission to craft a “Make in Vietnam” ecosystem of AI products. This initiative aims to cater to tens of millions of users and drive local innovation.
The trend is prevalent across the business landscape in Vietnam, with companies increasingly adopting AI agents to improve operational efficiency. FPT Smart Cloud reports that over 1,500 AI agents have been deployed, resulting in the automation of 46% of customer service tasks, boosting telesales revenues by 20%, and processing over 400 million documents annually with impressive accuracy.
Strategic Roadmap for the Future
Addressing the AI investment gap requires a robust strategy, as highlighted by Le Hong Viet’s vision for Vietnam’s future in the AI sector. The proposed roadmap for 2025-2030 includes three phases: foundation building, market expansion, and regional leadership. The strategy focuses on four key pillars—human capital, digital infrastructure, product innovation, and ecosystem development.
Experts agree that while infrastructure limitations present a daunting challenge, they also motivate Vietnam to carve its unique path in AI. With competitive costs, a youthful and talented workforce, and backing from the government, a focused investment strategy could narrow the existing gap with global powers and potentially position Vietnam as an emerging AI hub in the Southeast Asian region.
The landscape is ripe for exploration, and while hurdles remain, Vietnam’s potential and progress in AI cannot be overlooked.