Technology policies affecting people in 2026

Digital assets are no longer a gray area

The Digital Technology Industry Law officially took effect on January 1, placing digital assets under the legal framework for the first time in Vietnam. The law defines digital assets as including virtual assets and encrypted assets, which are expressed in the form of digital data, created, issued, stored, transferred and authenticated using digital technology in the electronic environment, and are protected similarly to physical assets.

Some blockchain units estimate that there are currently about 21 million people in Vietnam who own crypto assets. According to Triple-A’s report, more than 20% of the Vietnamese population owns cryptocurrency. Vietnam is also in the top three countries in terms of crypto adoption index according to Chainalysis data, with popularity 3-4 times higher than the global average. However, in the previous period, sales and transfers mainly took place on digital platforms, but there was a lack of legal mechanisms to protect when risks or disputes arose.

In that context, the Digital Technology Industry Law has brought digital assets from the gray area to the scope of recognition and protection. For people who own and trade digital assets, the new policy marks a fundamental change in the legal status of a type of asset that has existed commonly in digital life for many years.

Users have the right to know they are interacting with AI

The Digital Technology Industry Law also establishes a legal framework for artificial intelligence in Vietnam for the first time, with human-centered principles, ensuring transparency, safety and risk control in the process of developing, deploying and using technology.

One of the regulations that directly impacts users is the requirement for identification marks for artificial intelligence systems, stated in Article 44 of the law. Accordingly, artificial intelligence systems that interact directly with humans must have notifications to let users know, unless they are obviously aware of this. Digital technology products in the Category of digital technology products created by artificial intelligence must also have identification marks, helping users or machines know the content created by AI.

On March 1, the Artificial Intelligence Law will also take effect, becoming the legal framework for AI development, application and management in Vietnam. According to the Law, people are guaranteed rights and created by the State to access, learn, and enjoy benefits from AI. The State encourages the application of AI for social security, supporting disadvantaged groups, narrowing the digital gap and preserving cultural identity.

The law classifies AI system risks into three levels: high, medium and low, clearly stipulating that users have the right to know when they are interacting with AI. AI-generated audio, image, and video content must be labeled, to cope with the increasingly popular fake news, scams, and deepfakes.

Distribute vouchers for people to use Vietnamese technology products

According to Decree 268, guiding the implementation of the Law on Science, Technology and Innovation, the State will deploy a financial support voucher mechanism (voucher) for users of innovative products and services – an approach that is considered unprecedented in previous innovation support programs.

The goal of the policy is to help Make in Vietnam products go from the laboratory to the market, by encouraging users to experience new products and services.

Vouchers are issued through the National Technology Innovation Fund and science and technology development funds of ministries, branches and localities. Products participating in the program must meet technical standards, have new elements in technology, features or business models; Prioritize high technology, strategic technology and replicability.

According to the Department of Innovation – Ministry of Science and Technology, to put it simply, vouchers are a “dual” financial support mechanism. Instead of the State pouring the budget directly to the producer, the buyer will receive a voucher to pay for the product. The business providing the product then returns the voucher to the Fund to receive support. This mechanism is designed in such a way that the budget is only spent when there are actual transactions. The policy solves the “chicken-egg” problem in technology commercialization, when many products have good quality but it is difficult to reach the first customers because users are afraid of risks when trying new products.

People declare once when using public services

One change that is expected to directly impact people is the principle of one-time declaration when using public services. This regulation is stated in the Digital Transformation Law, effective from July 1, with a user-centered approach.

According to the principles of digital transformation stipulated in the law, the State enhances connection, sharing and reuse of data between agencies and organizations. One-time declaration is determined by default, to improve management efficiency, limit duplication of information, reduce administrative procedures and better support the decision-making process.

Explaining to the National Assembly about the Law on Digital Transformation in December 2025, Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung said the principle of one-time declaration and interconnected data will help people reduce paperwork and use public services more conveniently. Instead of having to provide the same information again at many different procedural steps, data already in the system is reused according to regulations.

According to the Minister, before the law was issued, regulations related to digital transformation were scattered in many documents, lacking a unified technology framework and lacking a uniform national governance structure. Each industry and each locality can build its own system, leading to fragmentation, waste, and difficulty sharing data. The new law overcomes this situation, creating a common platform for connecting and exploiting data nationwide.

In addition to promoting data sharing, Article 5 of the Law on Digital Transformation also stipulates prohibited acts, such as collecting, using, sharing, trading or exploiting digital data contrary to the law. The law also prohibits taking advantage of digital transformation to deceive, manipulate, profit, and infringe upon the legitimate rights and interests of agencies, organizations, and individuals.