Vietnam adopts first artificial intelligence law
Vietnam has approved its first comprehensive law on artificial intelligence, setting out a national framework that combines risk-based safeguards with incentives for innovation. The legislation establishes centralised oversight, sandbox testing, and new funding mechanisms, and will take effect in March 2026.
Vietnam’s National Assembly has passed the country’s first artificial intelligence (AI) law, marking a significant step in the regulation and development of AI nationwide. The legislation was adopted with strong support and approved alongside amendments to the Intellectual Property Law and a revised High Technology Law.
The new AI law will take effect on 1 March 2026. It establishes core principles for the development and use of AI, prohibits certain harmful practices, and introduces a risk management framework for AI systems. The approach focuses on regulating high-risk applications while avoiding rigid classifications that could quickly become outdated.
Oversight of AI will be under the Ministry of Science and Technology. Only AI systems classified as high risk will be subject to formal assessments, and these classifications will be approved by the Prime Minister. The law allows the list of high-risk systems to be updated as technologies evolve.
Alongside safeguards, the legislation includes measures designed to support innovation. These include regulatory sandbox testing for new AI applications, the creation of a National AI Development Fund, and voucher schemes aimed at supporting startups. Lawmakers have presented these mechanisms as tools to encourage experimentation while maintaining regulatory oversight.
Vietnamese authorities have emphasised the need to strike a balance between safety and growth. By avoiding fixed technology lists and overly prescriptive rules, the law seeks to provide flexibility while setting clear expectations for responsible AI development. The framework draws on international experience, including elements seen in European and other regulatory models, while reflecting national priorities for economic development and technological advancement.
