Vietnam’s workforce is among the most prepared in Southeast Asia to embrace artificial intelligence, but businesses must redesign their operating models to fully translate that advantage into higher productivity and competitiveness, according to Microsoft Vietnam’s Work Trend Index 2026 report released on June 24.
The report, based on analysis of trillions of anonymized productivity signals from Microsoft 365 and a survey of 2,000 knowledge workers in Vietnam, suggests the country is rapidly entering the AI era.
Vietnam currently ranks first in ASEAN in the proportion of AI pioneers, with 39% of workers classified as advanced AI users—more than double the global average of 16%.
According to the report, AI pioneers are employees who have integrated AI deeply into their daily work. Rather than using the technology solely for routine tasks, they apply it to higher-value activities such as information analysis, complex problem-solving, evaluating options and generating innovative ideas.
The findings also indicate that Vietnamese workers largely view AI as a tool to enhance human thinking rather than replace it. As many as 89% of AI users in Vietnam said they treat AI-generated outputs as a starting point for deeper analysis rather than as final answers.
This suggests that AI is increasingly being used to support decision-making, while critical judgment, evaluation and accountability remain firmly in human hands.
The impact on workplace performance is already becoming evident. The report found that 76% of Vietnamese AI users are now producing work outcomes that would have been impossible for them to achieve a year ago. Among AI pioneers, the figure rises to 83%.
While these results highlight Vietnam’s growing strength in AI-enabled talent, Microsoft noted that workforce capability alone is not enough. To turn this advantage into sustainable competitive gains, businesses will need to adopt new organizational structures, operating processes and governance models that fully leverage AI-driven transformation.
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