Quantum expertise is rising as a strategic frontier in international science, expertise and safety competitors, as international locations ramp up funding and regularly commercialise purposes such as quantum communications and quantum sensing, whereas persevering with to develop large-scale quantum computing techniques.
In Vietnam, the Politburo’s Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW identifies science, expertise, innovation and digital transformation as breakthrough drivers of nationwide improvement. In this context, the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 21/2026/QD-TTg has added cybersecurity and quantum applied sciences to the nation’s record of 10 strategic expertise teams.
Early motion wanted
Dr. Nguyen Quoc Hung, Director of the Quantum Technology Institute beneath Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU Hanoi), cited a report by the worldwide administration consulting McKinsey & Company, noting that funding in quantum expertise start-ups surged in 2025 in comparison with the earlier 12 months, with most funding nonetheless centered on quantum computing.
Alongside rising funding, international locations with a developed technological sector are tightening export controls on quantum-related tools and elements, together with cryogenic cooling techniques, high-frequency electronics and specialised gadgets, making entry more and more troublesome for latecomers.
Hung stated it is a essential time for Vietnam to behave if it desires to turn into a part of the worldwide quantum expertise improvement chain. While Vietnam might have missed earlier waves of foundational applied sciences, it nonetheless has a chance to catch up by quickly constructing analysis capability, growing a talented workforce and regularly mastering core applied sciences.
According the professional, Vietnam has begun taking concrete steps to combine quantum expertise into its nationwide improvement pathway and improve its regional standing within the discipline, together with plans to host the Southeast Asia Quantum Hackathon in July and the ASEAN Quantum Summit in October.
The institution of the Institute of Quantum Technology at VNU Hanoi, can be seen as a transfer to implement the Party’s and State’s orientations on science, expertise and innovation, notably Resolution 57-NQ/TW and Resolution 71-NQ/TW. The institute will deal with analysis infrastructure, core expertise improvement, human assets coaching and worldwide cooperation to construct an rising quantum ecosystem.
However, Hung famous that Vietnam’s quantum sector stays at an early stage, with fragmented analysis teams, restricted specialised coaching, weak enterprise participation and inadequate infrastructure. Key bottlenecks embrace the absence of a nationwide programme and inter-sector coordination mechanism, a scarcity of consultants, underdeveloped laboratories, and funding mechanisms that aren’t effectively suited to long-term, high-risk analysis.
Vietnam ought to pursue a centered method fairly than unfold its assets throughout the complete quantum expertise worth chain. In the close to time period, the nation ought to prioritise areas that tackle sensible wants and construct on its present strengths, together with quantum communications, post-quantum cryptography, quantum sensing and expertise improvement, whereas establishing a nationwide programme and a phased improvement roadmap, he stated.
Vital aspect in strategic competitors
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Quang Dieu, Director of the Centre for Technology and Digital Transformation on the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, stated Vietnam’s long-term improvement imaginative and prescient units science, expertise and innovation as key drivers for breakthrough progress.
He outlined Vietnam’s long-term financial improvement imaginative and prescient and famous that attaining these ambitions would require breakthrough reforms in nationwide governance, together with a shift towards a extra enabling, post-audit administration method, the elimination of the “ask–give” mechanism, the event of a two-tier native authorities system centered on service supply and co-creation, and a transition from process-based administration to results-oriented governance.
Early preparation in establishments, governance capability, human assets and infrastructure will probably be important for Vietnam to seise alternatives and strengthen competitiveness, he careworn.
Vietnam can not keep outdoors
Dr. Tran Hong Thai, President of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, careworn that quantum expertise is extremely complicated, requiring superior experience, infrastructure and human assets.
He famous that many international analysis instructions stay experimental and never but commercially scalable. However, Vietnam can not wait till applied sciences are totally mature earlier than participating.
If preparation is delayed till expertise requirements, provide chains, and markets are already established, alternatives for Vietnam will probably be considerably narrowed, he famous.
Vietnam ought to focus not on whether or not to take part, however on how and at what degree to interact in quantum expertise to construct actual capability for the nation, avoiding fragmented or trend-driven approaches, he famous.
Quantum expertise is turning into a brand new area of strategic competitors. With present coverage foundations, Vietnam now has the circumstances to hitch this technological race – however success would require long-term, centered funding and coordinated efforts among the many State, analysis institutes, universities and enterprises, consultants careworn./.