Vietnam greenlights national SME digital transformation plan, targeting 500,000 businesses by 2030
Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister Nguyễn Chí Dũng has signed off on a national 2026–2030 plan to accelerate digital transformation among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The initiative targets AI adoption, digital platform integration, and upskilling to boost SME productivity and deepen integration into global value chains.
SMEs to be supported
500K
AI / digital platform adopters
300K
Digital model SMEs
200
Market value & growth strategy
The plan arrives as Vietnam’s digital economy gross merchandise value is projected to reach $39 billion in 2025 — up 17% year-on-year — and forecasts point to a range of $85–190 billion by 2030. SME digitalization is positioned as the central engine of that growth. The program delivers tailored support packages based on company size, sector, and digital readiness, covering assessments, pilot programs, consultancy, and workforce training. A network of at least 500 digital transformation consultants will also be established nationwide.
Competitive advantage & investment outlook
Vietnam ranked second globally on the AI adoption index in 2023 and recorded a 39% rise in business AI utilization in 2025 alone. Among firms that implemented AI, 61% reported revenue growth averaging 16%, while 58% anticipated cost savings of around 20%. The government is backing this momentum with 5G expansion into industrial parks, amendments to the 2017 SME Support Law, and infrastructure upgrades for smart manufacturing and IoT. For tech vendors operating at the intersection of AI, cloud, and 5G, Vietnam’s structured rollout signals a significant addressable market.
Risk factors
Experts caution that AI adoption remains “broad but not yet deep.” Critical gaps persist in senior AI talent, fragmented and non-standardized data, and the upfront infrastructure costs that weigh most heavily on smaller firms. Urban-rural connectivity disparities and an immature cybersecurity posture among SMEs add further execution risk. The plan’s success will ultimately hinge on management commitment and the willingness of business leaders to treat data as a strategic asset — not just a byproduct of operations.