The Law on the Digital Technology Industry, adopted by the 15th National Assembly on June 14, 2025, will take effect from January 1, 2026, with some provisions already effective as of July 1, 2025. The law is considered a major milestone in the institutionalisation of the Politburo’s four key resolutions – four pillars for Vietnam’s ascent in the new era, namely Resolution 57-NQ/TW on breakthroughs in science – technology development, innovation, and national digital transformation; Resolution 59-NQ/TW on international integration in the new context; Resolution No. 66-NQ/TW on reforming law building and enforcement; and Resolution No. 68-NQ/TW on the private sector development.
Nguyen Khac Lich, Director of the Department of Information Technology Industry under the Ministry of Science and Technology, said one of the law’s most important highlights is its focus on developing human resources for the digital technology sector. This is outlined in three pillars – developing the workforce, attracting high-quality personnel, and recruiting and nurturing digital talents, as specified in Articles 18, 19, and 20.
Viettel IDC organises the Data Centre & Cloud Infrastructure Summit (DCCI Summit) 2025, themed “Green Tech, Green Future”, on April 22, 2025. The event focuses on data centres, cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), 5G, and sustainable technology solutions. (Photos: VNA)
Building strong talent pipeline
The law adopts a “from the ground up” approach, starting with students. Those pursuing digital technology majors will benefit from preferential student loans, scholarships, social allowances, tuition reductions, and even living expense subsidies, according to Lich.
The State will also prioritise investments in training facilities, laboratories, licensed software, common digital platforms, and other technical services to ensure universities and research institutions have the tools they need to produce a high-quality workforce.
High-quality digital industry personnel, as defined by the law, include Vietnamese citizens, overseas Vietnamese, and foreign nationals who meet Government-set criteria.
Foreign experts in this category will be granted renewable five-year temporary residence cards.
Their spouses and children under 18 will receive residence permits of equal duration, with local authorities instructed to facilitate their access to education, training, and job opportunities.
High-quality personnel will also enjoy personal income tax incentives in line with Vietnam’s tax law.
High-quality digital human resources will enjoy personal income tax incentives. (Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Kinh te & Do thi newspaper)
A particularly groundbreaking aspect of the law is its policy to bring digital experts into the public sector. Vietnamese citizens working in enterprises who qualify as high-quality personnel may be directly recruited into civil service or public sector posts without the usual competitive examinations. They may even be considered for leadership and management positions without meeting conventional requirements on years of service or personnel planning, provided there is a demand.
Civil servants and public employees who move to the private sector and later wish to return, provided they meet the criteria for high-quality personnel, will also be given priority. They can return to suitable positions with benefits and salary levels equivalent to or better than those they previously enjoyed.
Such cases will also be treated as special when it comes to appointments to leadership and management posts, again reflecting the flexible and pioneering spirit of the law.
These are unprecedented and breakthrough policies designed to optimise resources and build a robust digital workforce ecosystem. This will enable Vietnam to master core and strategic technologies while driving the sustainable growth of the digital technology industry, Lich noted.
Globally competitive benefits for digital talents
Beyond tax breaks and residency benefits, the law also ensures that digital talents can receive globally competitive salaries and bonuses. They will gain access to housing support, modern workspaces, transport facilities, funding for scientific research and product development, and international cooperation programmes.
They will also be prioritised for recruitment into leadership positions without the usual constraints of tenure or personnel planning. Recognition through awards and honours is also guaranteed under Vietnam’s law on emulation and commendation.
The law also introduces a flexible “soft rotation” mechanism, allowing digital experts to move between the public and private sectors. This is meant to spread expertise across industries. In particular, the law stipulates that digital technology talents also enjoy preferential treatment in being admitted for a limited time to state agencies or public service units, similar to what high-quality digital technology human resources receive.
To ensure the law’s provisions are applied effectively, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Bui The Duy emphasised that the ministry is drafting six decrees and circulars to provide detailed guidance, defining the criteria for recognising digital talents and high-quality digital personnel. They are expected to take effect simultaneously with the law on January 1, 2026./.
The Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) promotes the development of digital infrastructure and specialised digital services through the implementation of IT platforms and solutions to support digital transformation. (Photos: VNA)