WNAM REPORT: Politburo Resolution No. 57/NQ-TW dated December 22, 2024 on breakthroughs in science and technology development, innovation, and national digital transformation identifies artificial intelligence (AI) as a key driver of innovation and national development.
To make Vietnam among the top three Southeast Asian countries in AI research and development by 2030 as set out in the resolution, the entire political system has been taking actions to effectively promote AI application, thereby contributing to solving practical national challenges.
Application in the two-tier local administration model
Vietnam has operated a two-tier local administration model since July 1, along with a reduction of 15-20% in staffing. Under this model, the number of commune-level administrative units nationwide has been reduced from 10,035 to 3,321, a decrease of about 67%.
In reality, during the initial phase of implementing this model and the policy of streamlining the administrative apparatus, there have been direct pressures on grassroots personnel. The shortage of staff has coincided with a sharp increase in workload, particularly in handling documents and preparing reports.
According to AI experts from the Vietnam Software and IT Services Association (VINASA), the application of AI can help local authorities forecast situations, and automate processes, operations, and public services, thereby improving operational efficiency, enhancing staff capacity, and bringing positive effects along with citizen satisfaction. Each grassroots officer, with access to a 24/7 AI Assistant that provides guidance based on regulations, could reduce lookup time by 60% and improve the quality of documentation.
Public service chatbots capable of classifying and automatically redirecting applications are expected to handle 70% of common citizen inquiries. In terms of operational optimisation, the combination of AI and robotic process automation (RPA) can reduce processing time by 40-60%, forecast workloads, and better allocate human resources.
AI drives digital economic growth
According to the Annual AI Report for Vietnam by the Information Technology Institute under the Vietnam National University, Hanoi, based on a survey of nearly 500 enterprises and organisations conducted since July 2025, AI is creating major opportunities to accelerate digital economic growth. The leading sectors providing and driving AI adoption in Vietnam include information technology (31%), finance and banking (22%), education (17%), e-commerce, and health care (15%). The demand for AI applications is rising sharply, especially in five key areas: education (23%), finance (26%), industrial production (21%), transportation (15%), and health care (16%).
Nguyen Van Khoa, VINASA President, shared that AI has become the new energy source for the global economy, similar to electricity or the Internet in the last century. For Vietnam, this is not merely a trend but a golden opportunity to accelerate development.
Accompanying enterprises in mastering AI, VINASA has developed the draft AI capability maturity framework for technology companies – STAIR Tech and the AI maturity measurement index for organisations – STAIR Universal.
Based on their research, VINASA experts recommended that enterprises and organisations develop AI action programmes for the short, medium, and long term.
In the short term (within one year), organisations are advised to establish an AI Steering Committee or AI Task Force to coordinate initiatives, and to pilot one or two AI projects focusing on specific processes with measurable value.
In the long term, they are encouraged to adopt an “AI-First” strategy, positioning AI at the core of their development roadmap; comply with international standards; and actively participate in the global AI ecosystem and international cooperation to enhance their capabilities and brand reputation.
