Vietnam’s commitment to fostering ethical, transparent, and human-centered artificial intelligence was reinforced with the introduction of its AI Law, a move that balances bold innovation with thoughtful regulation.

At the 13th annual Vietnam Internet Day held on December 17 in Hanoi, the event’s theme “Building a trusted digital space” reflected the country’s growing emphasis on digital responsibility. Co-organized by the Vietnam Internet Association (VIA), the Vietnam Internet Center (VNNIC) under the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST), and various tech enterprises, the event served as a trusted and evolving platform to shape Vietnam’s internet development.

In his opening remarks, VIA President Vu Hoang Lien explained the rationale behind this year’s theme. While the digital revolution offers unprecedented opportunities, he warned of its darker sides.

“The line between real and fake has never been thinner,” he said. “AI and deepfake technologies - despite being technological milestones - are increasingly exploited for psychological manipulation and profit.”

“When users hesitate to click out of fear of deception, or when businesses hold back on digital transformation for fear of data breaches, the goal of a digital economy contributing 30% of GDP by 2030, along with double-digit growth, becomes distant,” he warned.

“Making the internet safer,” he continued, “must become a shared pledge by the entire Vietnamese digital community - to build an online space that is not only smarter but also kinder, more humane, and more trustworthy.”

Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Pham Duc Long echoed these concerns, noting that the internet has become inseparable from Vietnam’s socio-economic fabric. The future development path must prioritize safety, humanity, and reliability, he said, with trust as the foundation, innovation as the driving force, and digital infrastructure as the backbone.

According to him, the internet is now the hub where science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation converge and create real value.

“A sustainably developed internet must first and foremost be an internet of trust,” Deputy Minister Long emphasized. “That trust must exist between individuals in the digital environment, and also toward the broader digital ecosystem, where platforms, technologies, data, and communities operate together and generate shared value.”

He stressed that such trust is not formed naturally. It must be cultivated through institutional frameworks, social norms, and collective responsibility, led by both the State and the private sector.

Vietnam’s internet is now evolving from a space previously driven by self-regulation to one governed by clear laws and standards, fitting its growing role in the national economy and society. This approach is already embedded in the Digital Transformation Law, which recognizes the internet as a platform to reorganize government, business, and society toward greater efficiency, safety, and transparency.

The internet is also transitioning from a space mainly for information sharing to one that shapes social behavior and decisions. Algorithms, platforms, and AI are now deeply influencing consumption, public opinion, and personal choices.

“In this context,” Long added, “Vietnam’s AI Law represents our strategic approach: to vigorously promote innovation while managing risks, developing AI that is ethical, transparent, and human-centered. This lays the foundation for building trust in the next generation of internet technologies.”

During the plenary session, Nguyen Truong Giang, acting director of VNNIC, reported that Vietnam leads Southeast Asia in IPv6 adoption, with a conversion rate of 67.68%. This paves the way for a new phase in Vietnam’s digital society and economy, while also creating a safer and more trustworthy online environment.

The year 2025 also marks a breakthrough as VNNIC applies AI to expand its DNS Abuse Mitigation program. This initiative aims to combat domain name abuse and cross-border violations, especially with international domains. It leverages automation for network monitoring and management, while reinforcing the protection of Vietnam’s internet resources through advanced verification and security technologies.

“The internet is a multi-layered ecosystem,” VNNIC emphasized. “Sustainable safety and trust require synchronized and efficient operation from infrastructure to digital content. This means core infrastructure must be strong, resources must be clean, services must be stable, and content must be credible. Achieving this requires the collective strength of Vietnam’s entire internet community.”

PV