Humanoid robots in Vietnam are still mostly for show

Speaking at the Vietnam Embodied AI Conference on Oct. 2 in Hanoi, Lam Thien, a distributor for Chinese robotics maker AgiBot, outlined three distinct phases in the humanoid robotics market.

The first centers on demonstrations, education, and academic research. The second, which delivers the steepest growth curve, integrates robots into industrial manufacturing and warehouse logistics. Only when the technology reaches full maturity will these machines finally enter the home.

By that metric, Thien noted that Vietnam remains squarely in the first phase. Now, humanoids mainly showcase basic motor skills like walking, dancing, or performing martial arts, serving primarily as educational and research tools.

These controlled settings have far lower technical demands than for deploying robots in active assembly lines, into busy warehouses, or inside domestic living spaces.

In contrast, China—widely viewed as the global epicenter for humanoid robotics—has already pushed into the second phase and begun initial trials for the third. Thien said buyers look past raw hardware: "Customers don't buy robots; they buy results."

He said clients care far less about technical specifications like degrees of freedom, sensor suites, or camera resolutions than about whether a machine can cut costs or lift output.

Humanoid robots demonstrate their capabilities at the embodied AI conference on Oct. 2, 2026. Photo by Luu Quy

Citing figures from Counterpoint Research, Thien noted that global humanoid robot shipments surged by nearly 300% in the first half of 2026 to 22,000 units.

The top five manufacturers, all based in China, hold 86% of the market, with AgiBot leading the pack with a 43.1% share and Unitree trailing with 31%.

Abel Deng, who oversees the Middle East and Asia-Pacific regions for AgiBot, observed at the gathering that artificial intelligence is making a fundamental leap from digital screens into the physical world.

He highlighted three key catalysts propelling the industry: large language models that sharpen a machine's grasp of human intent and surrounding environments; sturdier physical bodies built with advanced materials, better batteries, reliable actuators, and precision hardware; and operational data.

As more robots enter service, they harvest valuable real-world data that refines AI models and unlocks broader use cases.

While embodied AI is still in its infancy, Deng sees immense commercial potential. Development currently splits along two main tracks, one seeking to refine human-like movement to deliver immediate value across research, education, and entertainment and the other to train machines to "work like humans" in factories, logistics hubs, and real-world industrial settings.

AgiBot representative Abel Deng addresses attendees at Vietnam Embodied AI Conference on Oct. 2, 2026 in Hanoi. Photo by Luu Quy

From a policy perspective, Do Tien Thinh, deputy director of the National Innovation Center (NIC), said embodied AI is not an entirely novel concept in Vietnam.

Hospitals deployed robots during the Covid-19 pandemic, and several local enterprises have made trial runs.

Thinh acknowledged however that the hardware side of things lags considerably behind software AI rollouts such as conversational chatbots and large language model platforms.

Pointing out that Vietnam has established a relatively comprehensive policy framework for AI and robotics, Thinh said the domestic market holds tremendous promise across a wide spectrum of practical applications.

National Innovation Center Deputy Director Do Tien Thinh speaks at the conference. Photo from NIC

Specifically, humanoid machines could transform electronics manufacturing, garment production, food processing, seaports, logistics, and agriculture by driving up labor productivity.

Secondly, Vietnamese firms also have an opportunity to carve out roles in the global supply chain—producing mechanical components, precision tooling, and specialized semiconductors, as well as supplying integrated software, training datasets, and maintenance services.

Finally, this technological foundation could also help attract high-value foreign direct investment, anchoring smart manufacturing facilities and research hubs built by multinational tech giants.

In Thinh's view, Vietnam's burgeoning pool of tech and AI talent offers a solid bedrock to foster this emerging ecosystem.