AI is no longer some distant concept or simply a buzzword; it’s becoming the bedrock of a new entrepreneurial era in Vietnam. From Hanoi’s innovation hubs to Ho Chi Minh City’s digital corridors, startups are increasingly harnessing the power of AI to tackle real-world challenges, streamline operations, and reimagine what’s possible.

One resounding message emerged from thought leaders, unicorn founders, and ecosystem builders attending the Tuoi Tre Startup Awards 2025: AI is not the future - it is the now. And Vietnam is poised not just to catch up but to lead in its own right.

Beyond dreams

One of the most impactful voices was Mr. Le Hong Minh, Chairman and CEO of the VNG Corporation, Vietnam’s pioneering tech unicorn. His keynote explored “A Tech Unicorn’s Perspective on the AI Wave”, offering a compelling narrative on how AI has matured, from foundational infrastructure and expert talent to emerging tools that promise breakthroughs across industries.

To underscore AI’s long-standing impact, Mr. Minh cited the famous Deep Blue vs. Garry Kasparov chess match in 1997, where a machine defeated a world champion for the first time under standard rules. “That was the start of the modern AI era,” he said. But he didn’t stop at nostalgia, he posed a poignant question: “If machines outperform humans, will we still play chess?”

The answer, he noted, is yes, and more than ever. The insight points to a deeper truth: AI doesn’t replace human activity, it reshapes it, often making it more accessible, more engaging, and more scalable.

Yet even as AI becomes more powerful, he warned against chasing hype. “Being involved in AI sounds exciting, full of innovation and big words, but in reality it’s extremely hard,” he explained, admitting that even he personally finds it quite difficult. One of the biggest challenges for startups, he added, is the classic question: “Where’s the money?” Startups have to worry about basic survival, while building a business model or a real AI product is already a major hurdle.

“So here’s my advice,” he continued. “Instead of spending all your time building a finished product and then going to a company hoping to convince them to buy it, only to possibly waste a lot of effort with no guarantee of a sale, try flipping the approach.”

Today’s reality is that many companies are actively asking: “I have the money, how do I invest in AI?” The market has shifted quickly, and many businesses are both in need of AI and ready to pay for it. “So instead of guessing what to build and hoping someone will buy it, go talk to businesses first,” he advised. “Ask them: ‘What do you need? I’ll build it for you.’”

AI startups might deliver at a lower cost, but the true gain lies in the knowledge and intellectual property they acquire while working with businesses. That becomes a long-term asset owned by the startup. “It’s a clear, direct way to make money,” Mr. Minh told the gathering. “The AI market is changing rapidly, if you finish a product today, it might be outdated in two years. So startups need to continuously build their capabilities while making money through real-world projects.”

He concluded that starting from practical challenges and developing internal capacity is the most effective approach. “You can earn a living and be romantic in your profession,” he said. “This era allows everyone the chance to do so.”

AI in action

As Vietnam accelerates its digital transformation, the adoption of AI is no longer confined to the tech sector; it’s also permeating into essential industries and endeavors like agriculture, finance, education, and developing productivity tools. These domains, once considered slow to modernize, are now becoming fertile ground for AI-driven innovation, thanks to bold leadership and adaptive startups.

One standout example is agriculture, a sector both rooted in tradition and ripe for disruption. Ms. Dang Huynh Uc My, Chairwoman of TTC AgriS, emphasized that AI could be the catalyst for a smarter, more resilient agricultural economy. In her keynote address she spotlighted AI’s ability to manage supply chains, forecast crops, optimize productivity, and enhance the value of Vietnamese agricultural products.

Her company’s journey, from a sugar producer to an integrated agri-business solutions provider, demonstrates how digital transformation can redefine legacy industries. She highlighted that Vietnam is undergoing a significant shift towards smart, sustainable farming models. With increasing climate pressure and growing global demand for traceable food systems, she sees this as a pivotal moment for Vietnam to assert its presence in regional agri-tech.

She also called for collaboration between corporates and startups to co-build solutions, emphasizing the need to support young innovators who can contribute to agricultural modernization.

The transformation is equally pronounced in the financial sector. Mr. Nguyen Tran Nam, Managing Director of the Digital Bank Division at the Asia Commercial Bank (ACB), explained that early AI adoption at the bank was a strategic necessity. Long before ChatGPT brought AI into the public consciousness, ACB had already integrated it into customer verification, anomaly detection, and real-time identity confirmation through video calls. AI is now also used internally by employees to analyze customer behavior and identify target segments. For ACB, staying ahead in the AI race is essential. As Mr. Nam put it, if competitors can apply AI more effectively, they will gain the edge.

Meanwhile, startups are also proving that precision and problem-solving can beat size and scale. Mr. Nguyen Hoang Hiep, COO of AI HAY, spoke about how his company resisted the urge to build large-scale language models. Instead, it focused on one use case: a Q&A platform where users vote on AI-generated answers. With this focused approach, it scaled from 10 million to 120 million monthly queries in under a year, while also successfully raising over $28 million in funding across three years.

Its story also highlights a key challenge in Southeast Asia’s AI landscape: the lack of regional benchmarks. Mr. Hiep noted that AI HAY had to measure its performance against US-based companies, which presented both lessons and limitations.

Across all these endeavors, a consistent message emerges: AI delivers its greatest impact when paired with clear goals and grounded applications. Whether in rice fields or data centers, Vietnam’s entrepreneurs are using AI to solve real problems, and in doing so they are quietly reshaping the country’s innovation narrative.

Human aspirations in the age of machines

Even as AI continues to evolve and disrupt, many speakers at the event emphasized a simple truth: machines, no matter how powerful, cannot replicate the essence of being human.

Mr. Pham Phu Ngoc Trai, Chairman of the Packaging Recycling Organization Vietnam (PRO Vietnam), said that while AI may surpass human beings in computation and optimization, it lacks the innate drive to aspire. “The passport for startups lies not only in data, but also in social value,” he emphasized. “AI represents trust and long-term commitment, inherently tied to green and circular values. If applied intelligently and with humanity, AI will enable businesses to grow sustainably, reduce innovation costs, and enhance global competitiveness.”

Similarly, Mr. Luong Dung Nhan, Director of Education and Training at the Asia Pacific Talent Youth Training Center (ATY), reflected that emotion, ambition, and the joy of creation remain uniquely human traits; traits that technology can support but never fully replace.

This belief in the irreplaceable human spirit also extends to how we approach AI education. There were calls for a more inclusive, accessible approach to AI literacy, not just for engineers, but for investors, policymakers, and communities. Without broader understanding, AI risks becoming a tool of exclusion rather than empowerment.

Looking ahead, several participants outlined a collaborative vision for Vietnam’s AI journey, one that requires alignment across startups, large corporations, educational institutions, and the media. Only through cooperation can Vietnam build a resilient, values-driven AI ecosystem.

The call to action was clear: start from reality, understand the actual needs of people and society, and ensure that every innovation serves a human purpose. AI may accelerate the future, but it’s human aspiration that gives it direction.