AI regulation in Vietnam: laws & policy (2026)
AI in Vietnam: comprehensive law.
Vietnam enacted its first standalone AI law on 10 December 2025 (Law No. 134/2025/QH15), which entered into force on 1 March 2026, making it one of the earliest comprehensive national AI laws in Southeast Asia. The law adopts a risk-based framework classifying AI systems into high, medium, and low risk tiers, with prohibited 'unacceptable-risk' uses banned outright. The Ministry of Science and Technology serves as the principal regulatory authority, with a National Single-Window AI Portal established for incident reporting and compliance.
Legal framework
Law on Artificial Intelligence No. 134/2025/QH15 (passed 10 December 2025, in force 1 March 2026), administered by the Ministry of Science and Technology; underpinned by National AI Strategy Decision No. 127/QĐ-TTg (2021)
Key points: artificial intelligence in Vietnam
Comprehensive AI Law in Force
Law No. 134/2025/QH15, passed by the National Assembly on 10 December 2025 and effective 1 March 2026, is Vietnam's first standalone statute governing the research, development, provision, deployment, and use of AI systems by both domestic and foreign entities.
Risk-Based Classification
Article 9 of the law classifies AI systems into three tiers, high, medium, and low risk, based on potential impact on human rights, safety, national security, and public interest. An additional 'unacceptable-risk' category triggers outright prohibition, with specifics detailed in a subordinate Prohibited Acts Decree.
Transparency & AI-Content Labelling
Audio, image, and video content generated by AI must be conspicuously marked or labelled in a machine-readable format so that users can identify its artificial origin, establishing a mandatory watermarking/disclosure regime.
Foreign Provider Obligations
Foreign providers of high-risk AI systems subject to pre-market conformity assessments must establish a commercial presence in Vietnam or appoint an authorised local representative, mirroring obligations seen in the EU AI Act.
Transition Grace Periods
AI systems already operating before 1 March 2026 have a 12-month grace period (full compliance by 1 March 2027) for most sectors, extended to 18 months (by 1 September 2027) for systems in healthcare, education, and finance.
National AI Strategy 2021-2030
Decision No. 127/QĐ-TTg (26 January 2021) established Vietnam's National Strategy on Research, Development and Application of AI to 2030, targeting a top-4 ASEAN and top-50 global ranking in AI, and forming the policy foundation that preceded the 2025 law.
Timeline of decisions
- LawLaw on Artificial Intelligence (No. 134/2025/QH15) Enters Into Force
Vietnam's dedicated AI Law became operative on 1 March 2026, making Vietnam the first country in Southeast Asia with a comprehensive AI law in effect. Existing AI system operators in most sectors were granted a 12-month compliance grace period (to 1 March 2027); health, education, and finance systems have until 1 September 2027.
LuatVietnam (official legal text)
- Law · officialNational Assembly Passes First-Ever Law on Artificial Intelligence (No. 134/2025/QH15)
The 15th National Assembly passed Vietnam's standalone AI Law (8 chapters, 35 articles) with 429 of 434 deputies in favour. It introduces a three-tier risk-based framework (low/medium/high), mandates human oversight on consequential decisions, and prohibits AI systems that threaten national security or manipulate public opinion. The Ministry of Science and Technology is designated lead regulator.
Vietnam Government Portal (baochinhphu.vn)
- GuidanceDraft Law on Artificial Intelligence Released for Public Consultation
The Government published the draft AI Law for stakeholder consultation ahead of the October 2025 National Assembly session, accelerating from the Digital Technology Industry Law framework passed just months earlier. The draft drew heavily on the EU AI Act's risk-based architecture while emphasising national sovereignty and 'Make in Vietnam' AI development.
DFDL Legal & Tax
- LawLaw on Digital Technology Industry (No. 71/2025/QH15) Passed, First Statutory AI Provisions
Vietnam's National Assembly passed a broad digital industry law (effective 1 January 2026) that for the first time gave statutory definition to AI systems and created incentives for semiconductor and AI investment; it also legally defined digital assets. Most AI provisions were subsequently superseded when the dedicated AI Law (No. 134/2025) was enacted six months later.
Regulations.AI (Law on Digital Technology Industry)
- Guidance · officialMinistry of Science and Technology Issues Responsible AI Principles Guide (Decision 1290/QD-BKHCN)
MOST issued Vietnam's first formal AI ethics document, a voluntary guide articulating nine responsible-AI principles: cooperation, transparency, controllability, safety, security, privacy, human rights, user support, and accountability. Though non-binding, it shaped the obligations later codified in the AI Law and positioned Vietnam within the global responsible-AI discourse.
Vietnam Ministry of Science and Technology (most.gov.vn)
- Guidance · officialNational AI Strategy to 2030 Adopted (Decision No. 127/QD-TTg)
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc signed Vietnam's first dedicated national AI strategy, targeting a top-4 ASEAN and top-50 global ranking in AI by 2030, three national AI innovation centres, ten regionally recognised AI brands, and 50 open datasets. It assigned the Ministry of Science and Technology as the lead coordinating body and directed development of a legal framework for AI, laying the institutional groundwork for all subsequent regulation.
OECD.AI (official strategy text)
- GuidanceNational Digital Transformation Program to 2025 Approved (Decision No. 749/QD-TTg)
The Prime Minister approved Vietnam's overarching digital transformation roadmap, targeting a 20% digital-economy share of GDP by 2025 and 30% by 2030, and identifying AI as a priority technology alongside cloud and big data. Decision 749 set the whole-of-government demand that subsequently drove the 2021 AI strategy and sustained AI investment commitments.
LuatVietnam (Decision 749/QD-TTg text)
Sources
- english.luatvietnam.vn/law-no-134-2025-qh15-dated-december-10-2025-of-the-national-assembly-
- vilaf.com.vn/blog/vietnam-enacts-its-first-law-on-artificial-intelligence-key-regu
- iapp.org/news/a/vietnam-s-first-standalone-ai-law-an-overview-of-key-provision
- bakermckenzie.com/en/insight/publications/2026/02/vietnam-artificial-intelligence-law-f
- blogs.duanemorris.com/vietnam/2026/03/03/vietnam-the-first-law-on-artificial-intelligence-w
- tilleke.com/insights/a-closer-look-at-vietnams-new-ai-law-what-it-means-for-ai-bu
- digitalpolicyalert.org/change/10239-national-strategy-on-research-development-and-applicatio
- asemconnectvietnam.gov.vn//default.aspx?ZID1=14&ID8=104426&ID1=2
- iapp.org/news/a/vietnam-s-draft-ai-law-racing-toward-regulation-with-eu-inspir
- vietnam-briefing.com/news/vietnams-ai-law-regulatory-milestone-business-implications.html/
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Next topicOrientation, not legal advice: verify against the primary sources linked above. Last verified 24 May 2026. Methodology & how to cite · State of Technology Regulation 2026