Hanoi, Vietnam – Vietnam has brought into a new law governing AI, becoming the first country in Southeast Asia to implement a wide-ranging legal framework for the technology, according to AFP as reported by France24 and The Straits Times.
Approved by Vietnam’s National Assembly in December, the legislation took effect on 1 March and establishes rules covering the development, supply and use of AI systems. It adopts a risk-based model broadly comparable to the European Union’s AI Act, with particular attention to generative applications such as chatbots and image creation tools.
The law applies to domestic and overseas organisations operating in Vietnam and covers the full value chain, from developers and providers to deployers and end users. AI systems are categorised according to their potential impact on rights, safety and public interests, with high-risk applications subject to stricter oversight, including audits and, in certain cases, conformity assessments before entering the market.
Companies must ensure that synthetic audio, visual or video material is clearly identifiable in a machine-readable format, while deployers are required to indicate when content may be mistaken for authentic events or individuals.
Organisations must also inform users when they are interacting with an automated system rather than a human. Certain practices are prohibited, including the misuse of AI to deceive the public, infringe upon lawful rights or breach data protection, cybersecurity or intellectual property rules.
Additionally, existing AI systems already in operation before the law’s commencement are granted transitional periods, ranging from 12 to 18 months depending on the sector, according to legal analyses reported by AFP.
Further guidance is expected from the government to clarify risk classification criteria, reporting obligations and local representation requirements for foreign providers of high-risk systems.
Meanwhile, Vietnam has identified digital technologies and data-driven industries as central to its economic growth strategy, with AI viewed as a key component of that agenda. Analysts have indicated that the practical effect of the legislation will depend on implementing decrees and enforcement measures issued in the coming months.
Globally, only a limited number of jurisdictions have enacted comprehensive AI statutes. The European Union is progressively introducing its regulatory regime, while South Korea’s AI framework entered into force earlier this year. At the same time, international discussions continue over how to balance innovation with safeguards against misuse.
In the region, Singapore has also advanced its governance approach, having implemented its Model AI Governance Framework this year to guide organisations in the responsible deployment of artificial intelligence systems.
