Visualizing Vietnam's development orientation from the strategic technology portfolio and strategic technology products

When the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 21/2026/QD-TTg on the list of strategic technologies and the list of strategic technology products[1], many people may see this as a mere technical document to identify priority areas for investment and development support. However, if we look deeper into the structure of the list, the accompanying explanatory reports and the "big problems" proposed by ministries and sectors, it can be seen that this is actually a relatively clear outline of the development model that Vietnam is aiming for in the coming decades.

Source: Government News

For many years, Vietnam's development story has often been associated with traditional advantages such as abundant labor, competitive costs, favorable geoeconomic location, and the ability to attract foreign investment. These advantages have contributed to making Vietnam one of the fastest-growing economies in the region. However, as the world enters a period of increasingly fierce technological competition, those advantages are gradually becoming insufficient to ensure long-term growth.

The newly released strategic technology portfolio shows that Vietnam seems to have identified a new starting point for the next stage of development. Instead of continuing to rely heavily on traditional manufacturing factors, the focus is shifting to the ability to master technology, innovate and own high value-added links in the global value chain.

From an outsourcing economy to a knowledge-based economy

One of the most prominent messages that can be seen from the strategic technology portfolio is the desire to change Vietnam's position in the global value chain.

Over the years, Vietnam has achieved significant success in attracting multinational corporations. However, most of the added value is still concentrated in the stages of design, technology, core materials and intellectual property, while domestic enterprises are mainly involved in the stages of processing, assembling or providing support services.

If you look closely at the prioritized products and technologies, it can be seen that this portfolio does not focus on final consumer products, but focuses heavily on the underlying technologies and core components of modern manufacturing. From semiconductor chips, sensors, advanced materials, and next-generation batteries to control systems, industrial robots or big data platforms, all are the links that determine a country's position in the technology value chain.

That shows that Vietnam's goal is not just to produce more, but to produce smarter, hold more knowledge and create more value in every product created.

In other words, behind this category is a strong desire to transition from an economy based on labor costs to one based on knowledge and technology.

Building digital infrastructure like building transport infrastructure

Another notable point is the central role of digital technologies in the portfolio.

If in the previous period of industrialization, roads, seaports, airports and power systems were considered essential infrastructures that determine national competitiveness, in the new period, data, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, blockchain and new-generation mobile networks are being placed in a similar position.

Notably, Vietnam does not see these technologies as independent fields but as a unified ecosystem. Artificial intelligence is placed in the same space as big data, cloud computing, digital twins, and blockchain. This approach reflects the perception that true economic value does not lie in individual technologies, but in the ability to connect and resonate between technologies.

In the near future, it is difficult to imagine a modern industry that can operate efficiently without real-time data, artificial intelligence, or high-speed connectivity infrastructure. Smart factories, smart logistics, smart transportation, or public administration all depend on these technology platforms.

The priority on the development of digital technologies is therefore not only to promote the information technology industry but also to create a new infrastructure for the entire economy.

Technological autonomy becomes a national development goal

If in the past the phrase "autonomy" was often used in the field of defense or security, now this concept is being expanded to the field of technology and economics.

Looking at the strategic technology portfolio, it can be seen that the majority of selected sectors are directly related to the country's long-term autonomy.

That is the ability to produce vaccines and advanced biomedical products on their own instead of relying entirely on external supplies.

It is the ability to master data platforms and artificial intelligence instead of relying on foreign technology.

It's the ability to produce new materials, pure chemicals, batteries, sensors, or platform electronic components instead of just importing.

It is also the ability to build new energy systems to reduce dependence on traditional energy sources that are increasingly under geopolitical and environmental pressures.

More broadly, this is a remarkable adjustment in the growth mindset. Instead of focusing only on short-term economic performance, Vietnam is increasingly concerned about the resilience of the economy to external fluctuations.

High-speed rail and urban rail technology are among the top 10 strategic technologies. Source: VnEconomy

Green transition is no longer an environmental story

One of the most prominent features of the strategic technology portfolio is the dense presence of technologies related to clean energy and the green economy.

From green hydrogen, sustainable aviation fuels, energy storage systems, next-generation batteries to carbon capture and storage technologies, all appear as key components of the national technology strategy.

This shows that Vietnam no longer considers the green transition as merely an environmental obligation or an international commitment. On the contrary, green transformation is being seen as a new industrial opportunity.

The history of world economic development shows that every major technological shift creates new victorious countries. The First Industrial Revolution created Britain. The electrification revolution made the United States an economic powerhouse. The internet era has created globally dominant tech corporations.

Vietnam seems to be seeing a similar opportunity in its transition to a low-carbon economy. If done in the right direction, fields such as batteries, energy storage, hydrogen or renewable energy equipment could become new industries with a scale of tens of billions of dollars in the future.

A technology nation instead of just a manufacturing nation

The most remarkable thing about reading the entire strategic technology portfolio is not in the specific technology, but in the overall picture it creates.

That picture is not a Vietnam that continues to compete with cheap or low-cost labor. Nor is a Vietnam that only serves as a production destination for foreign corporations.

Rather, it is an image of a country trying to build its own technological capacity, owning technology enterprises that are internationally competitive, mastering key underlying technologies, and deeper involvement in the highest value-added sectors of the global economy.

Of course, the gap from policy categories to reality is always huge. Identifying the right strategic technology is just the beginning. Ultimate success will depend on the ability to mobilize resources, develop high-quality human resources, build a technology market, and create an environment that is attractive enough for businesses to invest in long-term research and development.

However, from the perspective of development orientation, the Strategic Technology Portfolio in 2026 still has a special meaning. This can be considered the first time that Vietnam has relatively fully sketched the portrait of the economy that it wishes to build in the future. It is an economy based on knowledge more than resources, based more on innovation than cheap labor, and more based on technological capacity than short-term advantages.

If these orientations are implemented effectively, the strategic technology portfolio will be more than just a state management document. It can become the starting point for a new stage of development, where Vietnam not only participates in the global technology game but also gradually shapes its position in that game