Amazon Web Services (AWS) has released new research indicating a steady increase in artificial intelligence (AI) adoption among businesses in Vietnam. According to the study, 18% of Vietnamese businesses have already implemented AI solutions, reflecting a 39% year-on-year growth from the previous year’s 13%. Despite this momentum, most companies are using AI for basic tasks rather than developing innovative products or integrating AI into core business models.
The “Unlocking Vietnam’s AI Potential” study was conducted by AWS in partnership with Strand Partners. It surveyed 1,000 business leaders and 1,000 members of the public across Vietnam to assess current trends and future prospects for AI integration.
In 2024 alone, about 47,000 Vietnamese businesses adopted AI—averaging over five per hour. Of those that have adopted the technology, 61% reported an average revenue increase of 16%, while 58% expect cost savings averaging around 20%.
Despite widespread adoption, only a small proportion of organizations are leveraging advanced uses of AI. The report found that just 17% of businesses have reached an intermediate stage of adoption, while only 9% use AI as a core part of their operations or product development.
Startups are leading innovation efforts: more than half (55%) use some form of AI, with over a third creating entirely new products driven by the technology. In contrast, larger enterprises lag behind; while 41% use AI, just 11% have launched new products powered by it and only about one in ten has a comprehensive strategy for implementation.
Nick Bonstow, Director at Strand Partners, commented on these findings: “It is an interesting phenomenon we are seeing with AI adoption coming out of the study results in Vietnam. While 18% of businesses reported they have adopted AI, most of the deployments remain basic despite the rapid adoption of the technology over the past year. The nimbler, faster-paced startups are also pulling ahead of large enterprises in their speed and depth of innovation. The resulting ‘two-tier’ AI economy could have lasting implications on a country’s future economic development. Celebrating AI adoption numbers alone masks the deeper challenges many businesses face across Vietnam.”
The primary barrier to broader and deeper integration remains a shortage of skilled personnel. More than half (55%) cited lack of expertise as their main obstacle to adopting or expanding use of artificial intelligence. Only about one-quarter believe their workforce is currently prepared for increasing demand for these skills; consequently many firms say they would offer up to a 40% salary premium for candidates proficient in this area.
As regulations evolve globally around emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, Vietnamese companies hope new rules will boost customer confidence (50%) and ensure regulatory stability (47%). Compliance costs already account for roughly one-fifth (18%) of budgets related to digital transformation—with most expecting further increases over time.
To address these issues and promote more sophisticated uses throughout industry sectors both large and small—and avoid what researchers call a “two-tier” economy—the report recommends three priorities: investing in targeted digital skills training programs; clarifying pro-growth regulatory frameworks; and accelerating public sector digital transformation initiatives—especially within healthcare and education—using government procurement as an innovation driver.
AWS continues its support through infrastructure investments such as Edge locations established since 2022 in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City along with plans for additional Local Zones aimed at enhancing digital capacity nationwide. Since launching training efforts in cloud computing and artificial intelligence back in 2017—including recent free offerings through its ‘AI Ready’ initiative—over 100,000 people across Vietnam have participated so far.