Article
Vietnam digital technology industry law: what it covers
Published
Vietnam digital technology industry law is Law No. 71/2025/QH15, which the National Assembly passed on 14 June 2025. It took effect on 1 January 2026. It puts the digital technology sector, the chip industry, artificial intelligence and digital assets under one set of rules. If your business builds, sells or uses digital products in Vietnam, this law now applies to you in some way.
What the law covers and who it applies to
Article 1 sets out five areas: the digital technology industry, the semiconductor industry, artificial intelligence, digital assets, and the duties of the people and groups involved. The law applies to local and foreign organizations and individuals that take part in the sector in Vietnam. Only work that serves national defense and security, and codes that protect state secrets, sit outside it.
The law defines the "digital technology industry" as a sector that uses science, technology and innovation to create digital products and services. It calls this the next step after the information technology industry. A "digital technology enterprise" is any firm that makes digital products or offers digital services.
Sources: Law on Digital Technology Industry, No. 71/2025/QH15, English translation on LuatVietnam.
Digital products and services
Article 13 splits the sector into making products and providing services. Hardware includes computers, network devices, telecom equipment, electronic parts and semiconductor chips. Software includes system software, application software and tool software. It also lists digital content, such as text, images, audio and video, and services such as consulting, training and repair.
Firms that work in this area can join regulatory sandboxes. A sandbox lets a company test a new digital product or service under supervision before the full rules apply. The law also bars some acts, such as forging or deceiving to win State support or using digital products to break the law.
Sources: Law on Digital Technology Industry, No. 71/2025/QH15, English translation on LuatVietnam.
Incentives for investors and talent
The law treats building digital technology infrastructure as a field that can get special investment incentives. The State plans to fund shared facilities such as research labs, testing centers and data centers.
It also creates "concentrated digital technology zones". Existing concentrated information technology parks become these zones automatically. Projects inside a zone can receive investment incentives, and may get land rent exemption or reduction under the land law. Investors who build zone infrastructure may also get State help with roads, power and water links.
For people, the law covers "high-quality digital technology manpower", a group that includes foreigners who meet criteria set by the Government. Recognized foreigners get a temporary residence card valid for 5 years. Their spouses and children under 18 get cards of matching length. This group is also entitled to personal income tax incentives under the personal income tax law.
Sources: Law on Digital Technology Industry, No. 71/2025/QH15, English translation on LuatVietnam.
The semiconductor industry
The law defines the semiconductor industry as research, design, manufacture, packaging and testing of chips, plus the equipment used in those steps. It calls the sector essential to the wider digital industry.
Article 39 lists several supports. Firms that make listed raw materials and equipment for the chip industry fall among the fields eligible for special investment incentives. Firms with chip design projects can get part of their costs for training, research and trial production from local budgets or from the financial sources set up for the digital technology industry. Chip makers, packagers and testers may import used production lines that meet criteria set by the Minister of Science and Technology. Article 40 extends similar support to firms that make direct supply items for chip projects.
Sources: Law on Digital Technology Industry, No. 71/2025/QH15, English translation on LuatVietnam.
Artificial intelligence rules
The law sets basic principles for building, supplying and using AI. These include a people-first approach, openness, accountability, cybersecurity, personal data protection and control of risks across the life of a system. Article 43 names two groups that face tighter management: high-risk AI systems and large-impact AI systems. Management can include technical rules, transparency, data governance and inspection, and the Government will set the details.
Article 44 adds two labeling duties. An AI system that talks directly with people must tell them it is an AI, unless that is obvious. Products on a list the Minister will issue, covering content made by AI, must carry marks that people or machines can read.
Sources: Law on Digital Technology Industry, No. 71/2025/QH15, English translation on LuatVietnam.
Digital assets and what to do next
The last chapter defines digital assets as assets under the Civil Code that exist as digital data. It names two types: virtual assets and cryptographic assets. Both exclude securities and digital forms of fiat money. The Government is to issue further guidance.
Many of the law's duties depend on later guidance from the Government and ministries, so a firm cannot yet read every cost from the text alone. A sensible first step is to map which of your products or services fall under Article 13. Then check whether you use AI systems that talk to customers, since those need a clear notice. Firms that plan to invest in chips or zones should ask local authorities which incentives apply, and should confirm details with a qualified Vietnamese lawyer.
Sources: Law on Digital Technology Industry, No. 71/2025/QH15, English translation on LuatVietnam.