Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam has made a notable impression by ranking 6th out of 40 countries in the World AI Index, scoring 59.2 out of 100 points, according to a survey recently release by the Worldwide Independent Network of Market Research (WIN).
This index measures public awareness, usage, trust, and concerns about artificial intelligence (AI) across 40 countries spanning five continents: Asia, Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Oceania. The overall score is the average of seven indicators – AI usage, trust, acceptance, efficiency, usability, comfort, and interest.
According to the survey, Vietnam stood out thanks to a dynamic, open-minded, and tech-savvy urban population that is enthusiastic and confident in embracing new technologies. Notably, Vietnam surpassed many developed countries in terms of interest in and positive attitudes towards AI.
Specifically, the country ranked third globally in AI trust with a score of 65.6 points, and fifth in AI acceptance at 71.6 points. Other indicators such as AI comfort and efficiency also surpassed global averages. These figures reflect a growing openness and optimism among Vietnamese people, particularly urban residents, in embracing new technologies.
However, despite the positive attitudes, actual AI usage in daily life remains relatively low. Vietnam scored only 37.6 in AI usage, ranking 17th out of 40 – the lowest among its indicators.
The survey found that around 60% of residents in four major cities have used AI technology, but only 3% use it daily. This indicates that while AI is no longer unfamiliar to Vietnamese people, it has yet to become a routine part of everyday life.
According to Xavier Depouilly, General Director of Indochina Research Vietnam, although AI usage frequency in Vietnam remains lower than in some regional countries, young Vietnamese ready to embrace new technologies.
This plays a crucial role in the country’s rapid economic growth and digital transformation, he said. In fact, many initiatives in Vietnam are enabling users to leapfrog outdated technologies and adopt advanced AI applications directly.
The research also shows that young people aged 18 to 34 account for the majority of users, particularly in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. Among the 18–24 age group, active AI usage is especially high, with 89% of respondents in Hanoi and 87% in HCM City saying they used the technology.
By contrast, in Da Nang and Can Tho, rates are significantly lower, particularly among those aged 55 to 64, with only 1 in 10 having ever interacted with AI.
These findings highlight a clear digital divide between major urban centres and second-tier cities, as well as generational gaps in technology adoption, with older generations showing less interest in and familiarity with new technology – a common trend across many countries.
Notably, only 36% of Vietnamese express concern about AI generating misinformation, such as deepfakes or public opinion manipulation – the lowest among all AI-related worries in the country.
Indochina Research’s report offers three key recommendations for Vietnam: expanding access to AI, especially in non-urban areas and among older populations; enhancing public education and communication about the benefits and practical applications of AI, aiming to reduce excessive fear while increasing usage; and building trust by developing transparent, safe, and reliable AI systems that protect privacy and promote responsible technology environments.
The high ranking should not obscure the fact that a large segment of the population still lacks access to AI, the report concluded, adding that this presents an opportunity to scale up experimentation, usage, and the broad dissemination of AI in Vietnam./.
