Vietnam Minister of Science and Technology addresses technological expertise and foreign dependency

On November 12, 2026, Vietnam's Minister of Science and Technology, Vu Hai Quan, answered questions from deputies at the National Assembly, explaining the country's current status and strategic goals in key technologies.

Representative Nguyen Minh Tuan from the Phu Tho delegation asked the Minister about the claims of expertise by Vietnamese enterprises in fields such as 5G networks, robotics, and UAVs. Tuan pointed out that there is still a dependency on foreign sources for basic materials and engine production.

Minister Vu Hai Quan stated that domestic capabilities are developing in the design phase of strategic products, but production processes such as chip manufacturing may still require external resources. Dividing technology strategies into two, the Minister emphasized that while areas with rapid implementation potential like vaccine technology exist, integrated systems such as UAVs require long-term planning.

According to data shared at the meeting, Vietnam rose to 43rd place in the Global Innovation Index in 2026. Additionally, it was reported that 5G networks cover 93.4% of the population nationwide.