Dung was speaking while chairing the first meeting of the National Steering Committee for Semiconductor Industry Development in 2026, in Hanoi on March 10 to review progress and discuss key priorities for advancing the semiconductor industry.

He noted that Vietnam has taken the right direction and has begun establishing important foundations for developing the semiconductor industry. However, stronger coordination among ministries, localities, businesses and educational institutions is needed to achieve the country’s long-term goals.

According to a report by the Ministry of Science and Technology, the global semiconductor industry continues to experience strong growth. In 2025, global semiconductor revenue reached approximately US$793 billion, representing a 21% increase compared to 2024. Revenue is projected to reach US$975 billion in 2026, with an estimated growth rate of 12–26%. Demand for artificial intelligence (AI) chips and memory chips is considered the primary driver behind this expansion.

In Vietnam, the chip design sector currently hosts more than 50 foreign enterprises from Japan, the United States, Taiwan, China and the Republic of Korea. The country has around 7,000 chip design engineers, with most of them based in Ho Chi Minh City (85%), followed by Hanoi (8%) and Da Nang (7%).

A significant milestone was marked when the military-run telecom group Viettel broke ground on Vietnam’s first high-tech semiconductor manufacturing plant on January 16, 2026. The facility is expected to become operational in 2028 and is anticipated to contribute to the development of a more complete domestic semiconductor ecosystem.

However, due to the absence of large-scale fabrication facilities, many chip designs developed in Vietnam still rely on overseas manufacturing.

Speaking at the meeting, Nguyen Van Phuc, Deputy Minister of Education and Training, noted that Vietnam currently has more than 240 universities, including 166 institutions offering engineering programmes related to semiconductor technologies.

Each year, about 134,000 students enroll in engineering programmes, and approximately 6,000 chip design engineers graduate. Nevertheless, the proportion of students specialising in semiconductor-related fields remains relatively low compared with many other countries.

He also highlighted that the most significant challenges facing universities are the shortage of specialised laboratories and a lack of experienced faculty members and researchers in semiconductor technologies. Policies to attract both domestic and international experts will therefore play a crucial role in strengthening the country’s talent pool.

Several localities are actively promoting semiconductor development initiatives. Ho Chi Minh City, in particular, is focusing on attracting investment in AI chips and integrated circuits, while planning a centralised digital technology zone and expanding its high-tech park.

The city is also implementing a plan to build a shared semiconductor and microchip laboratory system with a total investment of more than VND2 trillion, aimed at supporting research activities and training high-quality human resources for the semiconductor industry.

At the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung assigned key responsibilities to relevant ministries. The Ministry of Science and Technology will play a central role in coordinating research and developing core technologies, while the Ministry of Finance will work on tax incentives and financial policies to attract investment.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will strengthen international cooperation in semiconductor development, and the Ministry of Education and Training will focus on building a skilled workforce. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Industry and Trade will ensure energy infrastructure and support the development of the electronics industry.

He also requested the Ministry of Science and Technology to review existing laboratories at universities and enterprises nationwide and develop a comprehensive investment programme to mobilise resources for semiconductor research and development.

The Deputy Prime Minister emphasised that, alongside government support, domestic technology enterprises must proactively enhance their technological capabilities and increase investment in research and development in order to engage more deeply in the global semiconductor value chain.

Party leader attends groundbreaking of high-tech semiconductor manufacturing plant

VOV.VN - Party General Secretary To Lam who is also Secretary of the Central Military Commission and Head of the Central Steering Committee for science and technology development, innovation and digital transformation attended a groundbreaking ceremony for a high-tech semiconductor manufacturing plant invested by Viettel Group on January 16 at the Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park in Hanoi.