Vietnam’s ViGen: Smarter Governance

Introduction: A Smarter Future for Public Services

Vietnam is working on a big idea to bring artificial intelligence into government. The project is called ViGen, and it’s part of the country’s larger plan called VIC 2025.

Led by the National Innovation Centre, ViGen is helping government offices use open-source AI tools. This means they won’t need to rely only on private tech companies. Instead, they can build and manage their own smart systems.

This project isn’t just about using new technology. It’s about giving government workers the skills and tools they need to run AI systems 

What ViGen Aims to Do

ViGen was created to make it easier for different government departments to use artificial intelligence in their daily work. Its main goals include:

• Creating open-source AI tools designed for public services in Vietnam
• Teaching government staff how to use and manage AI systems
• Making sure departments can share and connect their AI tools easily
• Promoting ethical, safe, and transparent AI use

The long-term vision is to build one main platform that many departments can use or customise, saving time and public money.

 Why Open-Source AI Matters

Vietnam chose to focus on open-source AI for some important reasons:

1. It’s more transparent. Anyone can check how the system works.
2. It costs less in the long run. There are no expensive software licenses.
3. It can be adapted to fit Vietnam’s culture and laws.
4. It encourages teamwork across government, schools, and tech groups.

Using open-source tools also means the country can stay in control of its technology instead of depending fully on international companies.

How It Can Be Used

The ViGen team is already planning where AI can help most. Some early ideas include:

• Using AI to scan and organise government documents
• Creating smart chatbots that answer citizen questions in Vietnamese
• Helping schools and hospitals sort through large amounts of data
• Using AI to test ideas and model public policies before they are launched

These tools can make services faster, clearer, and more helpful for the people who rely on them.

Training Government Staff

Technology alone isn’t enough. That’s why ViGen also focuses on teaching.

The project works with government ministries, universities, and research centres to train civil servants. They offer workshops, online courses, and practical labs to help staff learn how to use AI in their daily work.

This approach makes sure that AI knowledge spreads across all levels of government, not just the tech departments.