Hanoi, Vietnam – Vietnam took a regional first on 1 March by bringing a wide-ranging artificial intelligence law into force, regulating the use, development, and deployment of AI systems across the country, as AFP reported.
The National Assembly approved the legislation in December, framing AI oversight through a risk-based model similar to the European Union’s EU AI Act.
Generative systems—including chatbots, automated image creators, and deepfake tools—face heightened scrutiny, particularly where they might mislead or endanger the public.
The law covers both local and foreign operators and spans the full AI chain: developers, suppliers, deployers, and end users.
High-risk systems are subject to audits and, in some cases, must clear conformity assessments before market release. Providers of such systems are required to establish a local presence or appoint a representative.
Beyond compliance, the law mandates clear labelling of AI-generated audio, visual, or video content in machine-readable formats.
Deployers must signal when material could be confused with reality, and users must be told when they are interacting with a machine rather than a human. Practices that mislead the public, violate data protection, breach cybersecurity, or infringe intellectual property are prohibited.
Transitional periods apply to AI systems already in operation, ranging from 12 months for most industries to 18 months for healthcare, education, and finance.
Officials are expected to issue detailed guidance on risk classifications, reporting requirements, and local representation for high-risk foreign systems.
The move comes as Vietnam positions digital technologies at the core of its economic strategy, alongside data-driven industries and cloud infrastructure.
Beyond general AI legislation, Vietnam’s central bank is tightening oversight in banking, requiring banks and e-wallet providers to notify customers before AI systems handle interactions.
The draft circular covers chatbots, automated hotlines, emotion recognition, and any AI-generated content, while prohibiting exploitation of vulnerable users and mandating human review for complaints, with compliance expected by September 2027.
In a regional parallel, Singapore has also signalled a stronger regulatory hand in AI. The city-state will establish a National AI Council, chaired by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, to coordinate AI missions across manufacturing, connectivity, finance, education, and healthcare.
The council aims to deploy AI at scale while balancing innovation and oversight, echoing Hanoi’s legislative ambitions in the region.
Globally, few jurisdictions have enacted enforceable AI statutes. South Korea’s framework came into force earlier this year, while the European Union is phasing in its AI regulation.
Within Southeast Asia, Vietnam now sets a benchmark for risk-managed AI adoption, as countries compete in the race to 5G dominance and the growth of “silicon islands” across the archipelago.
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