On January 28, FPT will officially announce the establishment of the FPT Advanced Semiconductor Packaging and Testing Plant. This marks a pivotal step in Vietnam’s ambitions to build a foothold in the global chip industry, following Viettel’s similar announcement earlier this month.

Experts have long described chip manufacturing as one of the most complex industrial processes in the world, involving nanometer-scale lithography, ultra-precise ion implantation, and near-sterile cleanroom environments. Only a select group of countries have mastered it.

In this context, chip production is not just a technological endeavor but a national strategic move. Semiconductor design, in particular, is considered the gateway for Vietnamese talents to fully enter the multi-billion-dollar global chip industry.

Truong Gia Binh, Chairman of the Semiconductor Industry Development Committee and FPT Chairman, likened semiconductors to “the food of the digital age,” while describing AI as the new strategic energy - akin to oil in the future.

More than 25 years ago, FPT was one of the first Vietnamese companies to “Go Global,” venturing out into the world in the 1990s. Yet despite its early success, it failed to inspire a broader software export movement among local businesses, causing Vietnam to lag in the global tech race.

Now, Binh emphasizes, semiconductors are a non-negotiable part of the digital economy: “The world will need microchips like people need food. Alongside that, AI will become the oil of our time.”

AI models, especially Edge AI chip technologies, demand high-performance, energy-efficient, and ultra-precise semiconductors - a segment in which Vietnam can actively participate, he argues.

Although Vietnam missed its chance to enter the semiconductor game over two decades ago, Binh believes the country cannot afford another delay.

“We didn’t invest in semiconductors then - even after visiting Taiwan and recognizing its potential. But we won’t repeat those mistakes. Vietnam now has a major opportunity to integrate into the global chip supply chain,” Binh said.

He pointed to two core advantages: a young, intelligent, and adaptive workforce that is eager to master advanced technologies, and a rising generation driven by the ambition to lift the country through knowledge and innovation.

“I believe the 1–2 nanometer technologies will continue to develop in the US and Japan. But flexible, energy-efficient AI Edge chips should be manufactured in Vietnam. Whether we become a strong nation, whether our people achieve prosperity - depends on us,” Binh stressed.

Earlier, on January 16, Viettel broke ground on Vietnam’s first domestic semiconductor manufacturing plant. Commissioned by the Ministry of National Defense, the project is rooted in a government resolution and represents a foundational step in building Vietnam’s in-country chipmaking capabilities.

This marks a critical milestone: the first time Vietnam is establishing a homegrown semiconductor manufacturing capacity. The move is expected to enable local mastery of core technologies and lay the groundwork for a domestic semiconductor ecosystem.

The factory is also set to serve as a hands-on training hub for Vietnam’s future semiconductor workforce, linking real-world manufacturing with education and upskilling.

Through these efforts, Vietnam aims to train 50,000 chip design engineers by 2030 as part of a national human resource development plan for the semiconductor industry, scaling up to over 100,000 professionals by 2040.

For Viettel, being tasked with spearheading the semiconductor manufacturing plant aligns with the Group’s long-term strategy of mastering core technologies.

The company has been preparing for this transition by investing in specialized training, fostering international partnerships, and receiving technology transfers. It has also accumulated experience in research, design, and chip application through its own product lines and tech systems.

Lieutenant General Tao Duc Thang, Chairman and CEO of Viettel Group, confirmed that the company will move quickly to implement the project. By the end of 2027, the goal is to complete construction, receive technology transfers, and begin trial production.

From 2028 to 2030, the plant will enter its optimization phase - fine-tuning processes and improving operational efficiency to industry standards. This phase will also lay the foundation for research into more advanced chip fabrication technologies.

The project, set to run from 2026 to 2030, will progress through construction, technology acquisition, process development, and performance enhancement. In the long term, the Hoa Lac-based facility is designed with scalability in mind, positioning Vietnam to progressively approach next-generation semiconductor technologies.

Thai Khang