Vietnam's AI Law Takes Effect

Vietnam's Law on Artificial Intelligence officially entered into force on 1st March, making the country the first in Southeast Asia to enact comprehensive standalone legislation governing the development, deployment, and use of AI systems. 

The law, passed by the National Assembly in December 2025, with over 90% of deputies voting in favor, establishes a risk-based regulatory framework that classifies AI systems into high-risk, medium-risk, and low-risk categories based on their potential impact on human rights, safety, security, and public interest.

The law also introduces broad transparency and labeling requirements, mandating that AI-generated audio, images, and videos be marked in a machine-readable format in accordance with government regulations. 

Deployers must clearly notify the public when text, audio, images, or videos have been created or edited by AI if the content could cause confusion about the authenticity of events or persons, and must apply visible labels to AI-generated content that simulates real people's appearance or voice or recreates real events. 

To balance regulation with innovation, the law establishes support mechanisms including a National AI Development Fund, a non-profit, off-budget state fund designed to finance AI infrastructure, research and development of core technology, enterprise development, and AI talent.