Vietnam’s semiconductor sector has so far recorded foreign direct investment (FDI) of $14.2 billion across 241 projects and aims to further attract major global technology companies to invest in the country.

The government made the request in a note released on Monday, referring to the outcomes of the first meeting of the national steering committee on developing the semiconductor sector.

The government highlighted that the country has attracted 50 businesses and 7,000 engineers in chip design, along with projects in chip testing and packaging. Vietnam now has 166 universities offering semiconductor-related courses, enrolling 134,000 students annually.

The government also pointed out disadvantages in the sector, including a shortage of highly qualified workers such as those with master’s and doctoral degrees, as well as underdeveloped infrastructure, including electricity supply and laboratory facilities. Greater international cooperation is also needed, particularly in technology transfer and workforce training.

To further develop the sector, the government has requested the Ministry of Science and Technology to establish requirements for research laboratories to support future deployment. It is also tasked with building a list of chips for state procurement, such as those used in AI-powered cameras, UAVs, 6G devices, and others.

The Ministry of Finance has been asked to implement supportive policies related to taxation and investment, attract funding from global corporations, and support the incubation of domestic businesses.

Vietnamese military-run telecommunications firm Viettel Group kicked off the construction of Vietnam’s first semiconductor chip fabrication plant in January 2026. Viettel aims to start trial production at the factory from end-2027. The products are 32nm chips.

Viettel breaks ground on Vietnam’s first semiconductor chip fabrication plant