Vietnam is accelerating efforts to build a comprehensive and transparent legal framework for artificial intelligence (AI), aiming to ensure technological safety while fostering innovation and sustainable development, officials said at a national workshop on Tuesday.
At the consultation workshop on the draft Law on Artificial Intelligence, government agencies, lawmakers and experts agreed that Vietnam needs to regulate AI applications in a way that both promotes creativity and mitigates risks related to privacy, data bias, and misuse.
According to the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), AI has become a key driver in sectors such as healthcare, education, transport, national defense, finance and public administration. The proposed AI Law — expected to be submitted to the National Assembly in 2026 — would serve as Vietnam’s first legal foundation for governing research, development and deployment of AI technologies.
“The law must strike a balance between innovation and safety. Vietnam cannot stay outside the global AI trend, but development must not come at the cost of ethics or information security,” Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Pham Duc Long said.
The draft currently comprises 10 chapters, setting out principles for responsible AI development, risk management mechanisms, and data safety standards. It also defines the obligations of organizations and individuals in developing and using AI, ensures transparency of AI systems, protects user rights, and introduces accountability mechanisms for AI-related damages.
Tran Van Khai, Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee for Science, Technology and Environment, said the new law will help Vietnam align with international standards seen in the EU, the U.S. and Japan, while boosting the country’s competitiveness in the digital economy. “AI can be a powerful tool to enhance productivity, but without proper regulation, it may lead to unpredictable social and legal consequences,” he warned.
Lawmakers also proposed clearer rules on corporate responsibility for AI data transparency to avoid intellectual property violations or algorithmic bias based on gender, ethnicity or region. They called for promoting “green AI” — energy-efficient and environmentally friendly technologies — as part of Vietnam’s sustainable digital transformation goals.
Some experts suggested including a controlled testing mechanism, or “sandbox,” similar to frameworks in Singapore and the U.K., allowing startups to experiment safely before full-scale deployment.
The draft law will undergo public consultation in 2025 before being submitted to the National Assembly for its first review in mid-2026.
Sources:Dai Bieu Nhan Dan, Vietnam Government Portal, Finance and Economics Review, Vietnam National Assembly Portal
