Vietnam ranks 6th globally in AI openness

The global AI index of 40 markets, published by the Worldwide Independent Network of Market Research on July 16, gives Vietnam 59.2 out of 100 points. The index was calculated based on seven components: social acceptance, trust, efficiency, interest, comfort, usability, and usage of AI.

The survey, done last December-January, polled 900 respondents across four major cities in Vietnam.The score places the country ahead of many developed nations and indicates Vietnam’s readiness to embrace and seize opportunities in the AI era.

It ranks among the top five in AI acceptance with 71.6 points and third place in trust with 65.6 points. Other indicators such as interest, comfort and usability of AI are also above the global average.

But in the most critical indicator, usage of AI, Vietnam only scores 37.6 points to rank 17. Sixty percent of the Vietnamese respondents tried AI at least once, but only 3% reported daily usage.

According to WIN, the gap between trust and usage represents a disconnect between technological awareness and real-world access. Data shows AI usage in Vietnam is concentrated among young people, aged 18 to 34 living in Hanoi and HCMC. Some 89% of respondents in this age group in Hanoi and 87% in HCMC said they used AI on a daily basis. Nine out of 10 young people in these cities are familiar with AI technology.

"This is a global trend: the younger the user, the higher the AI usage rate," Xavier Depouilly, general director of Indochina Research Vietnam, the organization that conducted the survey in Vietnam, said.

He said though AI usage frequency in Vietnam is lower than in neighboring countries, the younger generation is ready to embrace new technologies, a mindset that would contribute to rapid economic growth and digital transformation.

"Several initiatives in Vietnam are helping users forgo older technologies and quickly access modern AI applications."

The survey also highlights concerns among Vietnamese users as AI becomes more common. The biggest worry is data privacy, with 52% of respondents expressing concern over how AI collects and handles personal information. Others fear that AI will replace humans in the workforce. Concerns about misinformation risks, such as deepfakes and public opinion manipulation, have also been recorded.

Experts note that Vietnam must expand AI accessibility outside major urban areas, focusing on the older population to turn AI potential into real-world impact.

Microsoft’s 2025 Work Trend Index, released in June, forecasts that Asia-Pacific countries, including Vietnam, will lead the wave of AI adoption in the near future.

Microsoft’s survey revealed that 95% of business leaders in Vietnam plan to utilize digital labor within the next 12 to 18 months, compared to the global average of 82%. Experts also stressed that technology only creates real value when people are ready to embrace and collaborate with it.

"Business leaders must invest in technology as well as prioritize digital mindset and skills development to build a strong connection between humans and AI," says Nguyen Quynh Tram, General Director of Microsoft Vietnam.