Driven by a spirit of innovation rooted in Vietnamese realities, “Make in Viet Nam” has been gradually becoming a key pillar of the digital economy and a new engine of national growth.
Foundations for “Make in Viet Nam” to grow stronger
In recent years, “Make in Viet Nam” has emerged as a major national orientation, reflecting the aspiration to build technological self-reliance, reduce dependence on imports, and create added value within Viet Nam itself. Originating from the philosophy of “innovation in Viet Nam, design in Viet Nam, manufacturing in Viet Nam”, “Make in Viet Nam” has not only ignited a spirit of innovation within the business community but has also opened pathways for Viet Nam to integrate more deeply into global value chains.
Alongside the national digital transformation process, Viet Nam’s digital technology business community has expanded rapidly in both scale and quality. According to the Ministry of Science and Technology, by the end of 2025, Viet Nam had more than 80,000 digital technology enterprises, with industry revenue reaching 198 billion USD — an increase of 26% compared with 2024 and far exceeding the target set for 2025. These figures indicate that Vietnamese enterprises have become a significant force in developing the digital economy and strengthening technological self-reliance.
Viet Nam is among the world’s top five countries manufacturing and supplying commercial 5G equipment, and ranks fifth globally in exports of smartphones and computer components. Major corporations such as Viettel, FPT, VNPT, MobiFone, CMC, VTI, TMA, and Rikkeisoft are now present in numerous international markets. These achievements provide a solid foundation for Vietnamese enterprises to confidently enter high-tech fields and markets with stringent standards.
Notably, there has been a profound shift in mindset among digital technology enterprises. Whereas in the past most companies focused primarily on software outsourcing and service development based on predefined orders, many large enterprises have now proactively invested in digital infrastructure, digital platforms, and core technologies. This has created development foundations for small businesses and start-ups to build and refine their products. In the export sphere, Vietnamese enterprises are no longer merely executing client requirements, but have moved into a phase of co-design and co-creation with international partners, demonstrating that Vietnamese expertise is approaching the high standards of global markets.
At the same time, the start-up and innovation movement continues to spread across many sectors. Vietnamese start-ups are boldly experimenting with cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, big data, automation, the Internet of Things (IoT), and cloud computing to address Viet Nam’s internal challenges, including smart transport, precision agriculture, telemedicine, digital education, and smart urban services. An increasing number of “Make in Viet Nam” products are appearing in demanding markets such as the US, Japan, and the Republic of Korea, underscoring the growing maturity of Viet Nam’s technology ecosystem.
“A social laboratory” for creativity
The National Innovation Startup Festival – TECHFEST Viet Nam 2025 was held in a completely new format, for the first time taking place in an open public space along the pedestrian streets around Hoan Kiem Lake. This marked an important shift in approach, bringing technology and the spirit of innovation closer to the public. It is a vivid expression of the “Make in Viet Nam” ethos, where creativity is nurtured from real needs and serves everyday life directly. With this new approach, TECHFEST 2025 not only changed its organisational format but also deepened the role of the community in the innovation process.
According to Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Hoang Minh, “Moving TECHFEST from an indoor conference model to an open public space is a necessary innovation, allowing people to directly experience creative products and business models. This approach aligns with the spirit of Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW, which emphasises that innovation must become part of urban culture, where citizens are both users and critics, contributing to the improvement of Vietnamese products.” TECHFEST 2025, co-organised by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ha Noi Municipal People’s Committee, took place from December 12 to 14. Themed “Innovation Entrepreneurship for All – A New Growth Driver,” the event reflects a mindset of expanding innovation-driven entrepreneurship from a specialised activity into a broad social movement, encouraging participation across all segments of society in the national innovation ecosystem.
TECHFEST is no longer an exclusive playground for the startup community but has become an event for the general public, true to the spirit of “innovation entrepreneurship for all.” Pham Hong Quat, Director General of the Agency for Startup and Technology Enterprises under the Ministry of Science and Technology, noted that the event was expected to attract more than 60,000 participants both in person and online, bringing together representatives from corporations, startups, investment funds, research institutes, universities, incubators, and international guests from six regions: Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East, North America, and Europe.
In addition to the opening ceremony and the National Policy Forum, TECHFEST 2025 featured more than 10 thematic workshops (including international sessions), numerous professional discussions, technology demonstrations, and over 20 investment-connection activities linking businesses, startups, and support organisations at home and abroad. Several key workshops and forums were also held at the headquarters of Nhan Dan Newspaper, focusing on strategically significant topics for the startup ecosystem, such as: policies for local socio-economic development through innovation-driven entrepreneurship; connecting high-tech agricultural zones to foster local startups; international cooperation in technology-based human resource training; innovation for green and sustainable economic development; AI startups and investors; development of the capital’s strategic technologies (Fintech, Smart City, AI); experimental regulatory frameworks for digital assets in Viet Nam; and attracting venture capital through a tripartite cooperation model involving local, national, and international actors. This series of events created continuous networking spaces, helping startups access investors, experts, and markets, while also adding depth to TECHFEST by forming a policy–connection–knowledge forum at the heart of the capital.
According to Tran Anh Tuan, Director of the Ha Noi Municipal Department of Science and Technology, TECHFEST featured an area dedicated to experiencing breakthrough and strategic technologies, where the public could directly test new innovations. This organisational approach effectively turned TECHFEST into a “social laboratory,” where Vietnamese technologies are tested in real-world conditions and feedback is received instantly — fully aligned with the Make in Viet Nam philosophy that innovation must be tied to real problems, serve real needs, and be validated through real-life application.
