Project ViGen to enhance Vietnamese language representation in AI

This year's theme centres on Project ViGen, an endeavour to create high-quality, open-source, Vietnamese datasets for the training and enhancement of large language models (LLMs) so AI models can better understand Vietnamese culture, context, and idioms. This will enhance Vietnamese language representation in AI, while also fuelling rapid and sustainable economic growth in Vietnam.

Project ViGen was set up by Meta, the NIC, and the AI ​​for Vietnam Foundation. The foundation serves as the implementing partner, while Meta provides technical and financial support. The NIC acts as the coordinating and supervising partner, ensuring alignment with Vietnam's national goals. Strategic partners include NVIDIA, Viettel, and the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology.

The mission of VIC 2025 - Project ViGen is to enable AI models to natively and comprehensively support Vietnamese, unlocking the potential of AI applications in Vietnam. Project ViGen aims to develop large-scale, high-quality open-source Vietnamese datasets for AI training and evaluation. Project ViGen will also help ensure that AI development aligns with Vietnam's cultural values ​​and ethical standards, contributing to the establishment of a responsible and a locally adapted open-source AI ecosystem.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung said, “The Vietnam Innovation Challenge is a strategic initiative to seek global innovative solutions to address Vietnam's national challenges, contributing to Vietnam's journey of prosperity and sustainability. This initiative requires close partnership in the public and private sectors among national and international stakeholders. Together, we can experiment and implement innovative solutions for a prosperous Vietnam.”

To support the project, Meta is contributing a range of open-source datasets from its AI and Data for Good programme, ranging from insights to mobility and social connections, as well as training data from its own AI-powered population maps.

NIC and Meta announce Vietnam Innovation Challenge 2025

Prof. Yann LeCun, vice president and chief AI scientist at Meta, also known as one of the “AI Godfathers”, said, "Project ViGen and the Vietnam Innovation Challenge are not just about advancing technology, they're about building an inclusive AI future that celebrates and integrates Vietnam's unique cultural and linguistic heritage."

While Project ViGen focuses on enhancing Vietnamese representation in AI through open-source datasets, Meta and Deloitte also announced a new public sector guide, "Transforming the APAC Public Sector through Open Source AI: Unlocking Innovation with Llama” at the Innovation Challenge. This guide complements the Vietnam Innovation Challenge by providing a roadmap for government agencies to effectively integrate open-source AI technologies. Together, these initiatives aim to create a cohesive strategy for AI development in Vietnam that benefits both the public and private sectors.

The Vietnamese language is frequently underrepresented in current AI systems due to the limitations of small datasets. To address this, Project ViGen has been established to support Vietnam's AI development by laying a robust foundation for open source AI-driven growth and innovation.

Sarim Aziz, director of public policy at Meta, stated, "This is a defining year for AI in Vietnam. Meta is honoured to partner with the NIC and the AI ​​for Vietnam Foundation on Project ViGen. By empowering Vietnamese researchers, developers, and businesses with open-source AI models like Llama and resources that understand their unique context, we're making it easier for them to unlock their full potential and drive meaningful innovation in AI that's uniquely suited to Vietnam's needs."

Vo Xuan Hoai, NIC's deputy director general, shared, “AI is transforming the world. Therefore, developing large-scale, high-quality and open-source Vietnamese datasets for AI training and evaluation has become an urgent priority. Project ViGen aligns well with a government resolution which aims to drive breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation. Project ViGen requires a collective effort from policymakers, think tanks, researchers, developers, experts, and users alike. Together, we will transform AI into a powerful tool for every Vietnamese and make Vietnam a global AI powerhouse.”

Hung Tran, founder and CEO of AI for Vietnam Foundation, shared, “We are delighted to announce that AI for Vietnam has joined the Global AI Alliance. Project ViGen, in collaboration with Meta and NIC, aligns seamlessly with the AI ​​Alliance's Open and Trusted Data Initiative. Specifically, Project ViGen will significantly enhance the availability of high-quality datasets for Vietnamese, a language historically underserved in AI. Moreover, it exemplifies the transformative potential of open-source foundation models like Llama, empowering global innovation and fostering impactful solutions tailored to the Vietnamese context.”

Each year, the Vietnam Innovation Challenge attracts more than 750 solutions from over 20 countries and territories. It was featured in the Whitehouse Factsheet during President Biden's visit to Vietnam in 2023, as a flagship partnership in technology between the United States and Vietnam.

AISC 2025: Vietnam's new role in AI and semiconductors The 2025 International Conference on AI and Semiconductors (AISC), organized by US-based Aitomactic and the National Innovation Center (NIC) under Vietnam's Ministry of Finance, will run from March 12-14 in Hanoi.

ASEAN forced to become microchip hub A call has been made for ASEAN member states to develop the region into a vast semiconductor hub, leveraging their strengths in manufacturing chips.

Semiconductor industry rapidly evolving due to AI Technology experts at the international conference on AI and Semiconductors (AISC) 2025, held in Hanoi, have discussed the relationship between AI development and AI-driven semiconductors, suggesting a symbiotic relationship.