First-ever Law on Artificial Intelligence approved

The article concerns a Law on Artificial Intelligence in Viet Nam. Science and Technology Minister Nguyen Manh Hung presented the draft to the 15th National Assembly, which was then in session. The law is scheduled to start applying on March 1, 2026.

The statute contains 35 articles. According to the text, it seeks a balance between managing risk and encouraging innovation, consistent with international practice, and it is intended to help the country take up new technological standards on its own initiative.

The text says the law places people at its center. AI must serve humans rather than take their place, and human supervision is mandated for significant decisions. It also sets groundwork for greater national self-reliance in AI, covering computing infrastructure, data and research capacity, with the aim of developing an AI workforce able to compete abroad. State investment is planned for a national AI computing center along with a controlled open-data system. These are expected to cut computing costs, lower barriers to entering the market and make the AI ecosystem more competitive and transparent.

On development, the law provides for a national AI development fund and an AI Voucher scheme to help businesses adopt AI. It also sets up a supervised testing sandbox for AI solutions classed as sensitive. These tools are meant to reduce risk and testing costs and let technology companies, particularly high-tech startups, trial sensitive applications where some legal liabilities are waived. Finally, the law addresses AI-generated content, algorithmic ethics and the duties of cross-border AI service platforms, supporting deeper alignment with international standards while preserving digital sovereignty.