I) SUMMARY OF THIS LAW
Chapter I – General Provisions
- Defines the scope of regulation: high‑tech activities, strategic technologies, policies to promote development, and related activities.
- Provides definitions of key concepts: high technology, strategic technology, core technology, high‑tech products, high‑tech enterprises, etc.
- Establishes development policies: investment incentives, tax and land incentives; strengthening linkages among research institutes, universities, and enterprises; attracting high‑quality human resources.
- Sets criteria for identifying high technology, strategic technology, and corresponding products.
- Outlines principles for international cooperation and evaluation of high‑tech activities.
- Specifies responsibilities of state management agencies and prohibited acts.
Article 3. Definitions
In this Law, the terms below are defined as follows:
1. High technology refers to technology with a high level of scientific research and technological development, integrating advanced scientific achievements, possessing breakthrough characteristics, and creating products or services with superior quality, high added value, and environmental friendliness.
2. Strategic technology refers to technology that is breakthrough and widely impactful, identified by the State for focused investment and development in order to strengthen technological autonomy, create national competitive advantages, ensure national defense and security, and promote sustainable socio economic development.
3. Core technology refers to foundational technology that determines the formation, development, and mastery of high technology and strategic technology; and determines the functions, quality, and added value of high tech and strategic tech products.
4. High tech activities include research, development, testing, transfer, application, and commercialization of high technology; attraction and development of high tech human resources; incubation of high technology and incubation of high tech enterprises; production of high tech products, provision of high tech services; development of high tech industries; and development of high tech ecosystems.
5. High tech products are products or services created using high technology, possessing superior quality and performance, high added value, and environmental friendliness.
6. Strategic tech products are products or services created using strategic technology, capable of generating breakthroughs and influencing value chains or markets, or playing a particularly important role in national defense, security, and technological autonomy.
7. High tech product manufacturing enterprise refers to an enterprise engaged in the production of high tech products or the provision of high tech services.
8. High tech enterprise refers to an enterprise that manufactures high tech products, provides high tech services, and conducts research and development of high technology and high tech products.
9. Strategic tech enterprise refers to an enterprise that manufactures strategic tech products, provides strategic tech services, and conducts research and development of strategic technology and strategic tech products.
10. High tech industry refers to an industrial sector engaged in the production of high tech products and the provision of high tech services.
11. Strategic industry refers to an industrial sector engaged in the production of strategic tech products and the provision of strategic tech services.
12. High tech incubation refers to the process of supporting the creation, improvement, and commercialization of high technology from technological ideas, scientific research results, or incomplete high technology through necessary technical infrastructure, resources, and services.
13. High tech enterprise incubation refers to the process of supporting the formation and development of high tech enterprises through necessary technical infrastructure, resources, and services.
Article 10. Prohibited Acts
1. Abusing high tech activities or strategic tech activities to infringe upon national interests, or the lawful rights and interests of organizations and individuals; or causing harm to national defense, security, social ethics, public health, or the environment.
2. Using high technology, strategic technology, or products and services derived from such technology to commit acts that violate the law.
3. Infringing intellectual property rights related to high technology, strategic technology, and associated products and services.
4. Falsifying or fraudulently claiming compliance with criteria or conditions in order to obtain support or incentives related to high technology or strategic technology.
5. Illegally disclosing, purchasing, selling, or transferring technological secrets, data, or information related to high technology or strategic technology.
6. Obstructing or unlawfully interfering with high tech or strategic tech activities.
Chapter II – Research and Development of High Technology and Strategic Technology
- Supports high‑tech research: creation of core technologies, decoding, mastering, testing, and improvement.
- Provides strong incentives: tax benefits, funding, access to shared laboratories, and intellectual property protection.
- Defines criteria and incentives for high‑tech and strategic‑tech R&D centers.
- Introduces special policies for strategic‑tech research: direct assignment of tasks, mechanisms for acquiring technological know‑how.
- Promotes attraction of high‑tech human resources: experts, chief engineers, scientists.
Chapter III – Development of High‑Tech Industries, Strategic Industries, and High‑Tech Products
- Supports development of high‑tech industries: building value chains, localizing components, developing supporting industries.
- Defines criteria for high‑tech product manufacturers, high‑tech enterprises (group 1 and group 2), and strategic‑tech enterprises.
- Provides incentives tailored to each type of enterprise: tax, land, investment, and procurement preferences.
- Strategic‑tech enterprises receive the highest level of incentives.
Chapter IV – Promotion of High‑Tech and Strategic‑Tech Applications
- Encourages application of high technology in socio‑economic sectors, especially in disadvantaged regions.
- Supports technology transfer and commercialization of high‑tech products.
- Supports importation of high technology for decoding and localization.
- Develops intermediary organizations: technology exchanges, promotion centers, testing facilities.
- Provides special policies for strategic technologies: support for testing, supply‑demand linkage, priority allocation of public investment capital.
Chapter V – Development of the High‑Tech Ecosystem
- Builds a high‑tech ecosystem with high‑tech enterprises at its center.
- Develops technical infrastructure: high‑tech zones, R&D centers, national laboratories, digital infrastructure.
- Regulates incubators, innovation centers, and high‑tech startups.
- Sets conditions for establishing high‑tech zones and agricultural high‑tech zones; provides investment incentives and controlled sandbox mechanisms.
- Defines high‑tech urban areas: digital infrastructure, innovation ecosystems, green living environments.
Chapter VI – Implementation Provisions
- The Law takes effect on July 1, 2026.
- Repeals the 2008 High‑Tech Law, except for certain transitional provisions.
- Maintains validity of certificates issued under the old law until their expiration.
- Provides transitional rules for existing high‑tech zones and agricultural high‑tech zones.
- Amends and supplements various related laws: Bidding, Taxation, Customs, PPP, Investment, etc.
II) Impact of the High Tech Law on Technology Enterprises
From the perspective of technology enterprises, the 2025 High Tech Law functions like a “system upgrade” for the national innovation ecosystem. It not only expands incentives but also raises standards, introduces new obligations, and opens opportunities for market expansion. Below is a structured analysis of its impact across different types of enterprises and operational areas.
1. Overall Impact: Higher Standards, More Incentives, Stricter Conditions
The law clearly defines high tech enterprises, strategic tech enterprises, R&D centers, and related entities, linking incentives to specific criteria. This creates a more transparent playing field while simultaneously filtering out companies that falsely claim to be high tech.
2. Impact on High Tech Enterprises
Opportunities
• Maximum tax incentives: corporate income tax, import/export tax.
• Priority access to state funding through science–technology programs.
• Strong R&D support: grants, shared laboratories, IP protection.
• Improved access to high quality talent thanks to expert attraction policies.
Challenges
• Must maintain high R&D spending, employ highly skilled personnel, and meet national/international quality standards.
• Must prove that products belong to the prioritized high tech list, which is updated periodically.
• Subject to performance evaluation under the Ministry of Science & Technology’s statistical and assessment system.
3. Impact on Strategic Tech Enterprises
This group receives the highest level of incentives, but also faces the strictest requirements.
Opportunities
• Direct assignment of national science–technology tasks, bypassing bidding.
• Special mechanisms for acquiring and decoding technology know how.
• Maximum incentives in investment, tax, and land.
• Priority in national defense, cybersecurity, digital transformation, and green transition projects.
Challenges
• Must demonstrate breakthrough and scalable technologies that create long term national competitive advantages.
• Must comply with strict national security and environmental requirements.
• Continuous innovation pressure, as strategic tech lists are updated regularly.
4. Impact on High Tech Product Manufacturers
Opportunities
• Eligible for special investment incentives (classified as “especially encouraged” industries).
• Supported in localization and supply chain development, especially in semiconductors, AI, robotics, and new energy.
• Access to high tech zones and agricultural high tech zones with advanced infrastructure.
Challenges
• Must prove high value added content, export potential, or import substitution capability.
• Must meet national or international technical standards.
5. Impact on High Tech Startups
Opportunities
• Access to technology incubators and startup incubators.
• Use of shared R&D infrastructure at low cost.
• Priority participation in regulatory sandboxes.
Challenges
• Must demonstrate core technology, not just a business model.
• Compete with large enterprises for talent and investment.
6. Impact on High Tech FDI Enterprises
Opportunities
• Incentives tied to conditional technology transfer, increasing localization.
• Encouraged to establish R&D centers in Vietnam.
• Supported in building local supply chains.
Challenges
• Investment must be linked to technology transfer, ending the era of “pure assembly” incentives.
• Must comply with cybersecurity, IP, and national security regulations.
7. Impact Across Enterprise Operations
• R&D: More incentives but stricter documentation, standards, and evaluation.
• Manufacturing: Supported in localization but must meet high technical standards.
• Technology Transfer: Strongly encouraged, especially for strategic technologies.
• Human Resources: Easier to attract experts but must ensure high quality working conditions.
• International Cooperation: Expanded opportunities but must align with national interests and international agreements.