Vietnam is entering the global quantum technology race at a time when countries around the world, particularly in Asia, are stepping up national programs focused on talent development, research, and commercialization. While this creates competitive pressure for Vietnam, it also opens the possibility for the country to link with regional and global resources and become part of the emerging quantum ecosystem.
Speaking ahead of the Vietnam-Asia Quantum Summit 2026, which will be held in Hanoi in November, Mr. Vo Xuan Hoai, Deputy Director of the National Innovation Center (NIC), said Asia is emerging as one of the most dynamic hubs of the global quantum industry. “This creates significant competitive pressure for Vietnam, but at the same time opens up opportunities to connect resources across countries, regions, and the global quantum ecosystem,” he added.
Building the foundations
Politburo Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW identified the development of science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation as breakthrough drivers of national development, while Decision No. 21/2026/QD-TTg, issued by the Prime Minister, included cybersecurity and quantum technologies among the country’s ten strategic technology groups. “The strategic direction for the quantum industry is underpinned by Politburo Resolution No. 57 and the recent decision from the Prime Minister identifying quantum technology as one of Vietnam’s strategic technologies,” Mr. Hoai said.
He added that these policies provide an important foundation for investing resources, developing talent, advancing research, gradually building technological capabilities, and bringing quantum applications into practical use.
However, experts believe that funding and support for a handful of businesses alone will not be enough. One of the most important gaps Vietnam needs to address is human resources, particularly in quantum physics.
According to analysis from Université Paris-Saclay in France, Vietnam possesses strengths in mathematics and information technology but one critical foundation of quantum technology has yet to receive adequate attention: quantum physics. The “core” of quantum technology lies in physics. Vietnam has a relatively strong talent base in mathematics and computer science, but still lacks the physics foundations needed to advance deeply into quantum technology.
Without addressing this gap, Vietnam may be able to develop certain layers of applications but will struggle to move toward mastering core quantum technologies. “The talent challenge therefore goes beyond training more technology engineers,” said Professor Lai Ngoc Diep from Université Paris-Saclay. “Vietnam needs a new generation of professionals with a strong foundation in quantum physics, combined with the ability to work across mathematics, computer science, engineering, and application-oriented fields. This is a long-term challenge because physics, particularly quantum physics, is not an easy field in which to attract students.”
Research infrastructure is another critical gap. According to Professor Diep, Vietnam still lacks specialized laboratories dedicated to quantum research. Quantum technology cannot be developed through theoretical training or computer-based research alone. Laboratories provide the environment in which scientific knowledge can be translated into practical research capabilities and, eventually, technological capacity.
During a working session of the Standing Committee of the Central Steering Committee offering opinions on the “Research, application and development of quantum technology to serve socio-economic development, ensuring national defense and security” project, Party General Secretary and State President To Lam emphasized the need for a unified understanding that quantum technology is a matter of national strategy and a core national competitive capability for the future, rather than merely a subject of scientific research.
He also explained that this is a national strategic issue that needs to be considered within the overall implementation of Politburo Resolution No. 57 and linked to fields such as national security, data, semiconductors, AI, and space technology. He also believes Vietnam should choose a path that suits its actual conditions, focusing on building substantive capacity in areas where it has the potential to participate in and master, and avoiding scattered investments or merely following trends.
Without appropriate infrastructure, Vietnam will face difficulties in attracting leading scientists, training high-quality talent, and building research teams capable of participating in international research. Investment in quantum technology therefore needs to be viewed as a long-term national effort, with laboratories, research centers, and shared infrastructure developed alongside talent.
Opportunities for the future
The latest McKinsey Quantum Technology Monitor report noted that total public investment, or government funding, committed globally to quantum technology has officially surpassed the $42 billion mark. The race is witnessing massive investment from major powers. China leads the way with a record commitment of $15.3 billion, closely followed by the EU with over $8.4 billion in accelerated funding, and the US with a budget plan of nearly $4 billion aimed at safeguarding its leadership in proprietary technology.
The report shows that investment capital for quantum technology startups rose sharply in 2025 compared to the previous year, with the majority of resources remaining concentrated in the field of quantum computing.
Meanwhile, after a year of operation, the Vietnam Quantum Technology Network (VNQuantum), with support from the NIC, is emerging as a bridge linking experts, scientists, businesses, research institutes, and universities, while connecting domestic and international resources. According to the Network, the potential of quantum technology lies in computing, communication, security, sensors, and new materials. These fields are expected to form the foundation for the next generation of technology, similar to how the internet and smartphones have transformed the world in recent decades.
Mr. Hoai affirmed that the NIC will act as a connector and catalyst for research, innovation, business development, and investment, while expanding cooperation with technology hubs and international innovation ecosystems in Germany, France, Russia, Italy, and elsewhere.
The global quantum race is entering a phase in which ecosystems are being shaped and consolidated. Mr. Hoai believes this represents both competitive pressure and an opportunity for cooperation for Vietnam. Therefore, national quantum capabilities need to be built synchronously, from research and high-quality human resources to businesses, products, and markets. The goal is to gradually develop the ability to master technology and create value from future quantum applications.
If Vietnam can leverage its strengths in mathematics, information technology, its young workforce, and its global Vietnamese network, while rapidly addressing gaps in quantum physics, laboratory infrastructure, and fundamental research, the country can aspire to become more than simply a technology recipient. “The greater ambition is to become a valuable link in the global quantum technology value chain and a substantive bridge connecting Asia with the rest of the world,” Mr. Hoai added.
From an international perspective, Mr. Denis Avetisyan, Senior Advisor at JV Quantum (part of Russia’s State Atomic Energy Corporation, Rosatom), assessed that Vietnam has the potential to become a hub connecting international resources in regard to research, human capital, and enterprises. Through the NIC, Rosatom is actively promoting various avenues of cooperation with Vietnam, including talent training, access to quantum infrastructure, joint research, technology demonstrations, and the testing of practical applications.
According to Mr. Ge Gui Guo, Senior Expert at CAS Cold Atom, under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Asia is playing an increasingly important role in the global quantum ecosystem. Strengthening regional cooperation in research, talent development, and technology applications will create new opportunities for countries across the region.
For Vietnam, the opportunity does not necessarily lie in building an entire ecosystem from scratch. Rather, it can pursue a connectivity-driven strategy: bringing international resources, technologies, and expertise into the country while enabling Vietnamese talent, research, businesses, and real-world challenges to become more deeply integrated into the global quantum network.
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