At the common press convention of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MST) on January 29, Deputy Minister Bui Hoang Phuong emphasised two shiny spots of the knowledge technology trade in early 2026. First is Viettel Group inaugurating a high-tech semiconductor chip manufacturing plant on January 16.
Pointing out that Vietnam has many enterprises working within the discipline of semiconductor chip design and has many overseas chip packaging and testing crops—however “not yet a semiconductor chip manufacturing plant”, the Deputy Minister famous that “this is a very large event in the field of the information technology industry.”
In the worldwide semiconductor worth chain, the chip fabrication stage is a vital step of the trade due to technological complexity and a big stage of funding. Recently, Vietnam has participated in 5 out of six levels together with product definition, system design, detailed design, packaging – testing, and integration – validation. However, the fabrication stage is essentially the most key step to flip drawings on paper into actual chips that stay lacking.
Accordingly, the graduation of the plant at Hoa Lac on an space of 27 hectares is a step to full and shut this complete manufacturing course of throughout the nation. A semiconductor chip fabrication plant will not be solely important economically but additionally carries the load of growing nationwide our on-line world.
Lieutenant General Le Minh Thai, Director of the Military Technical Academy, stated: “Chip technology is not something others will transfer to us. We have to conduct our own research and production. Therefore, breaking ground on the first semiconductor chip fabrication plant is a very important step and a foundation for us to be capable of mastering the production of specialized chips in a proactive, modern, and dual-use manner.”
In addition, self-reliance in chip provide will help Vietnam stay resilient amid unpredictable fluctuations within the international provide chain. Nguyen Dong Giang, PhD, a semiconductor technology R&D professional at HSIC Lab, UIUC, recalled a expensive lesson: “When the global chip supply market declined, many technology companies took nearly two years to procure products. The launch of the plant will help Vietnam become more self-reliant in supply.”
Viettel’s mission is expected to change into a “magnet” attracting Vietnamese mental expertise from around the globe to return residence.
Alongside Viettel, one other main participant, FPT Group, can be accelerating the funding in infrastructure. The firm has simply introduced the institution of a semiconductor chip packaging and testing plant and dedicated that it’ll start manufacturing throughout the subsequent three months.
“The scale may still be small and output limited, but this is a very important first step. When Vietnam has all the elements in place: design by Vietnamese companies, manufacturing by Vietnamese plants, and packaging and testing by Vietnamese plants, we can gradually lay the groundwork to master semiconductor technology,” Phuong stated.
Raising the age restrict for used semiconductor gear imports
To assist infrastructure for enterprises in addition to universities and analysis institutes, MST has simply issued Circular 30/2025 on standards for importing used equipment and manufacturing strains.
A brand new level of the round is permitting the import of equipment serving semiconductor manufacturing with a most age of 20 years, double the 10-year restrict beneath the earlier regulation.
According to Nguyen Anh Tuan, Head of the Quality Management Division on the Authority of Information Technology Industry, this time restrict was set after consultations with technology firms and assessments of the particular wants from institutes and universities.
For coaching and analysis establishments, Circular 30 is much more versatile by exempting them from making use of standards on gear age and efficiency and vitality consumption.
This goals to encourage the funding in infrastructure at a time when Vietnam’s semiconductor trade remains to be in its early levels.
In phrases of technical situations, gear and manufacturing strains should meet three normal standards: not falling beneath lists of outdated, low-quality, or polluting applied sciences within the exporting international locations; not listed in Vietnam’s lists of applied sciences banned or restricted from switch; and complying with Vietnamese requirements and laws on security, vitality effectivity, and occupational security. In circumstances the place Vietnam doesn’t but have related requirements, G7 requirements could also be utilized.
Under the brand new round, the import course of will absolutely shift to a post-inspection mechanism. Enterprises will self-declare, present documentation, and submit written commitments proving compliance with standards for customs to contemplate import clearance, as an alternative of getting to endure pre-inspection administrative procedures as earlier than.
Du Lam