Hanoi (VNA) – The National Startup Project Development Programme (Startup Festival 2025) was held in Hanoi on December 20, bringing together policymakers, entrepreneurs, universities/colleges, investors, and innovation supporters to honour outstanding startup projects of the year.
The event was co-organised by the Business Forum magazine of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the National Startup and Innovation Advisory Council (VSMA).
At the awards ceremony, the first prize was presented to BioWraps, which regenerates orange peels into a sustainable bio-packaging solution. Two second prizes went to BIOQ, which produces vegan cosmetics from dragon fruit peels, and the Sammax herbal tea. Meanwhile, three third prizes were awarded to Lang Muop (Loofah Village); CheckNow – a real-time management optimisation solution; and the production, processing and trading of edible and medicinal mushrooms under solar panel roofs.
The Startup Festival 2025 marked the largest annual event summarising a year-long startup support programme. Key activities included policy dialogues on mechanisms to promote venture capital funds, the announcement and awarding of outstanding projects in 2025, and the launch of the National Startup Programme 2026.
The festival also served as a platform to introduce and connect startups with entrepreneurs, investors, coaches, and mentors. Notably, international partners such as GITEX, the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) Indo-Pacific, GEN Singapore and Thailand, and an Italian innovation partner took part in the event. Side activities included product exhibitions by startups, networking sessions with mentors and investors, and meetings with startup promotion and support organisations.
This year’s festival highlighted the strong rise of startups from remote and disadvantaged areas. Son La province reached the finals for the first time, while Bac Ninh secured a place after years of persistent efforts. In 2025, with active support from the organising committee, projects such as Green Choice (durian-based products) and GreenTech not only succeeded domestically but also gained international recognition, winning major awards in Singapore and Dubai and securing opportunities for networking in Japan.
Vu Thanh Thang, AI Director of the SCS Cyber Security JSC and a judge of the programme, said the top 20 semi-finalist and finalist projects demonstrated strong feasibility and fell into two clear groups. The first comprised eco-friendly bio-products addressing environmental challenges, such as BioWraps and EchoBags. The second group included technology-driven projects in health and education, featuring high levels of innovation, such as Health Hub, which was highly rated for both technological and social value.
Local products like Tra Lam Ta Xua tea and Lang Muop were also praised for their strong local identity though some projects still need to further refine their technological components, he noted.
Opening the event, VCCI Vice President Bui Trung Nghia said 2025 marked a strong transformation of Vietnam’s startup ecosystem. Despite global venture capital fluctuations, Vietnam remained a bright spot in Southeast Asia, ranking third in the region for both deal volume and total investment value, behind only Singapore and Indonesia. Vietnam currently has nearly 4,000 innovative startups and two new tech unicorns, reinforcing its ambition to become a nation of innovation-driven entrepreneurship./.
