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PM Pham Minh Chinh and CEO of NVIDIA Jensen Huang enjoy Hanoi street food on December 5, 2024. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam hailed as destination for AI development in 2025

Vietnam’s flexible approach to AI regulations has enabled the country to leverage its geopolitical advantages, skilled workforce, and innovation ecosystem for sustained technological progress.

It said over the past five years, Vietnam has attracted major international technology corporations thanks to its strategic location and abundant resources in ASEAN. The presence and recent key moves by Qualcomm, Samsung and NVIDIA have positioned Vietnam as a leading hub for AI research and innovation in the region.

“Vietnam has many advantages, of which the biggest ‘superpower’ is family values and respect for education. Vietnamese people excel in STEM fields, especially maths and science. This makes Vietnam the second-largest supplier of software engineers in the world – a fact that few people know about. With this potential, we believe that Vietnam is an ideal place for NVIDIA to develop R&D centers and build a strong AI ecosystem here”, said Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA.

Vietnam’s legal framework also offers numerous incentives for digital technology investors, creating a favorable environment for business expansion. With the introduction of the regulatory sandbox, companies can develop and test new digital technology products and services for up to two years without being restricted by rigid legal requirements. International investors should capitalize on these advantages to enter and expand in Vietnam’s AI market, the writing noted.

In conclusion, the article said Vietnam’s flexible approach to AI regulations has enabled the country to leverage its geopolitical advantages, skilled workforce, and innovation ecosystem for sustained technological progress. Through clear AI strategies, structured implementation plans, and progressive legal frameworks, the Government aims to mitigate risks while fostering breakthroughs in AI development.

NVIDIA’s recent expansion is a clear indicator of this transformation, signaling strong growth prospects for both domestic and international investors in Vietnam’s AI sector, it added.

Vietnam records 12.5 million domestic visitors during Lunar New Year holiday

Vietnam recorded 12.5 million tourists during the Lunar New Year 2025 that ended Sunday, an increase of 19 percent compared to the 2024 Tet holiday, according to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT).

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam's largest economic engine, was the top destination, receiving about 2.1 million visitors, up 16.7 percent. The Southern metropolis also welcomed 87,358 international tourists, an increase of 16.5 percent from the previous year.

Meanwhile, a million visitors travelled to major tourist attractions in Hanoi, a year-on-year increase of 6 percent. Of the figure, 142,000 were foreigners, up 15.8 percent year on year, according to VGP.

Photo: VGP

Destinations such as Quang Ninh, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Kien Giang, and Hue reported a strong surge in international arrivals.

To meet the travel demand of tourists during the Lunar New Year - the biggest and most important holiday in Vietnam, domestic airlines have increased the frequency of flights.

Domestic airlines provided over 6.9 million seats on international and domestic routes, averaging 227,000 seats per day, an increase of 4 percent compared to the Lunar New Year 2024.

The number of foreign visitors rose by 30 percent, driven by favorable visa policies and tourism promotion campaigns adopted by localities.

Vietnam prepares for new era of growth and prosperity

Looking ahead to 2025, Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Nguyen Minh Vu emphasized the significance of the year, which will be marked by Party congresses at all levels leading to the 14th National Party Congress.

Addressing a ceremony marking the 95th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) on February 3, the diplomat noted that in 2024, Vietnam and Cambodia continued to deepen their bilateral relations, achieving significant progress in several areas. Cooperation in politics, diplomacy, and national defense-security grew stronger, while economic, trade, and investment exchanges showed dynamic growth, benefiting the development of both countries, VNA reported.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Nguyen Minh Vu speaks at the ceremony (Photo: VNA)

In 2024, the Party organization in Cambodia successfully carried out its political responsibilities in various areas including politics, economics, national defense, cultural diplomacy, citizen protection, and support for the Vietnamese community in Cambodia. The embassy played an instrumental role in fulfilling the Party’s foreign policy, fostering deeper friendship and cooperation between the two nations, he noted.

Looking ahead to 2025, the ambassador emphasized the significance of the year, which will be marked by Party congresses at all levels leading to the 14th National Party Congress. He stressed the need for unity in the Party, the promotion of democracy, and the mobilization of collective wisdom to ensure successful preparations for the congress and the effective implementation of political tasks.

Cold air mass hits northern border, brings rain and cold temperatures

A cold air mass has moved closer to Vietnam’s northern border and will begin affecting the northern region on February 2 evening, bringing rain and cold temperatures, according to the National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting.

Meteorologists said the cold air mass will impact the northeastern region, followed by the north-western, north-central, and central regions, and some areas in the south-central region. Inland winds will shift to the northeast, gusting between 12 to 28kph on average and even to 49kph in some areas.

Starting February 2 evening, northern Vietnam will turn cold, with mountainous areas experiencing severe and extreme cold. On February 3, north-central Vietnam will remain cold throughout the day, while localities stretching from Quang Binh to Hue will become cold at night, cited VOV.

A new cold air mass is hitting Northern Vietnam, sending temperatures falling to 11-14°C in the lowlands and 8-10°C in the highlands.

The cold air mass will send temperatures dropping to 11-14°C in the lowlands and 8-10°C in the highlands and sometimes below 6°C.

Due to the impact of the cold air mass, scattered showers will occur in northern and northern central Vietnam from February 2 evening to February 3. From February 3-4, central Vietnam will see showers, with some areas experiencing moderate to heavy rain and thunderstorms.

Vietnam's exports to EU see impressive recovery in 2024

In 2024, Vietnam exported nearly US$51.7 billion to the European Union, marking an 18.5 per cent increase, equivalent to an additional US$8.08 billion compared to the previous year.

Among the key export categories, computers, electronic products and components reached nearly US$10.8 billion, up 66.9 per cent, equivalent to an increase of US$4.3 billion.

Machinery, equipment, tools and spare parts recorded US$8.7 billion, a 24.9 per cent rise, equivalent to an increase of US$1.7 billion.

Meanwhile, exports of phones and components fell by 13.4 per cent to nearly US$7.4 billion, a decrease of US$1.1 billion year-on-year.

Vietnam’s imports from the EU in 2024 totalled US$16.7 billion, up 12 per cent, an increase of US$1.8 billion from the previous year.

Imports increased in several key product groups, including computers, electronic products and components, which amounted to US$3.7 billion, up 16.4 per cent, equivalent to a US$523 million rise.

Machinery, equipment, tools and spare parts reached US$3.4 billion, an increase of 6.2 per cent, equivalent to an increase of US$200 million.

With total two-way trade reaching nearly US$68.4 billion in 2024, Vietnam recorded a trade surplus of US$35 billion with the 27 EU member states - higher than the US$28.7 billion recorded in 2023, VNS reported.

Electronic components are manufactured at the Central Power Electronic Measurement Equipment Manufacturing Center in Da Nang City. Photo: VNS

Vietnam’s strong trade growth with the EU has been significantly driven by the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), which entered its fifth year of implementation. Since the FTA took effect in August 2020, Vietnam’s exports to the EU have seen remarkable growth.

A survey by the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham) indicates that the EVFTA has significantly boosted Vietnam’s exports to Europe. This growth has been particularly evident in sectors, including electronics, textiles, footwear, agriculture, and seafood, which is in line with the tariff reduction roadmap under the FTA.

According to Vietnam Customs, after four years of EVFTA implementation, Vietnam’s total exports in this period were estimated to have reached around US$200 billion. This has positioned Vietnam as the EU’s top trading partner among ASEAN nations.

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