According to Mr. Pham Minh Tuan, Deputy CEO of FPT Corporation and CEO of FPT Software, Ho Chi Minh City has the potential to become a “customer zero” for AI and quantum technology, leveraging Vietnam's data resources, large-scale real-world challenges, and the growing trend toward technological sovereignty. Under this approach, the city would identify challenges, test emerging technologies, and refine innovative solutions before introducing them to international markets.
Mr. Tuan presented this proposal at the 8th Annual International Conference of Saigon Hi-Tech Park 2026, held on October 16 in Ho Chi Minh City, during a plenary session themed “High-Tech Urban Areas – A Growth Driver for Ho Chi Minh City in the New Era.”
According to Mr. Tuan, technological advances over the past five years, particularly in artificial intelligence and, more recently, quantum computing and Physical AI, have reshaped the global landscape, forcing even successful businesses to continuously adjust their strategies.
He referred to the Politburo's Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW and the Prime Minister's Decision No. 21/2026/QD-TTg, the latter identifying 10 strategic technology groups and 30 strategic technology products.
From FPT's perspective, attempting to catch up in fields where other countries have maintained a lead for many years would require substantial time and investment. Vietnam should therefore focus on emerging technologies, where the gap with leading countries remains relatively small.
Mr. Tuan highlighted two priority areas: Physical AI and quantum technology. He noted that combining quantum computers with GPUs could create high-performance computing centers capable of addressing complex problems beyond the capabilities of conventional computing systems.
Mr. Pham Minh Tuan, Deputy CEO of FPT Corporation, discusses Ho Chi Minh City's potential to become a “customer zero” for AI and quantum technology.Three Competitive Advantages of Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City
The first advantage is data.
According to Mr. Tuan, the key differentiator in emerging technologies is not necessarily computing power, but data.
He observed that AI models developed by OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google may not differ significantly from a user's perspective. What sets them apart is the data used for training.
With a population of approximately 100 million, a young demographic, and widespread familiarity with digital technologies and online transactions, Vietnam generates enormous volumes of data every day across digital platforms.
This represents a valuable resource that major technology corporations are eager to access to develop the next generation of technologies.
The second advantage lies in real-world challenges.
Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City are targeting double-digit economic growth while continuing to face bottlenecks in infrastructure, energy, logistics, and human resources.
According to Mr. Tuan, the complexity and time required to address these challenges can become powerful drivers of innovation and emerging technology adoption.
To attract global talent and major international corporations, Vietnam needs more than data. The country must also offer meaningful, real-world problems to solve.
He noted that one of the first questions international experts ask when considering opportunities in Vietnam is what they would work on and which challenges they would help address.
“I believe Ho Chi Minh City has some of the most challenging problems to solve, not only at the scale of a major city or a nation, but also at the global level. If solutions built on emerging technologies work effectively in Ho Chi Minh City, they could be applied to any urban area in the world,” Mr. Tuan said.
The third advantage comes from the growing trend toward technological sovereignty.
Since the beginning of 2026, technological sovereignty, resilience, and national security and safety have received increasing attention, while Europe and Asia have witnessed a strong movement toward developing sovereign technologies.
According to Mr. Tuan, this creates an opportunity for Vietnam not only to address domestic challenges but also to export technology to other countries, particularly in Asia and Europe.
At the same time, the Government's determination to drive national development through science and technology is creating a more favorable policy and regulatory environment for businesses.
Developed in Vietnam, Brought to the World
FPT has worked alongside Saigon Hi-Tech Park for nearly 20 years and was among the first enterprises to establish a presence there.
FPT has identified five strategic technology areas in which the company aims to develop technological mastery: quantum computing, cybersecurity, Physical AI and UAVs, big data, and railway technology.
FPT has invested in digital infrastructure, particularly AI Factories in Vietnam and Japan.
These AI Factories currently operate on GPU infrastructure. Starting in 2027, FPT plans to integrate quantum computers with GPUs to address large-scale optimization problems in finance, energy, and logistics.
FPT also has a relatively comprehensive ecosystem, ranging from an education system serving 150,000 learners and research and development centers collaborating with numerous universities to business operations across 30 countries.
Based on these observations, Mr. Tuan presented four recommendations for developing emerging technologies while ensuring technological sovereignty and national security and safety.
First, prioritize investment in digital infrastructure for the AI era.
According to Mr. Tuan, beyond AI and GPUs, quantum computing will represent the next major wave of technological advancement.
By taking the lead in applying quantum technology, Vietnam and Vietnamese enterprises could establish a new position in this emerging technological era.
Second, recognize data as an asset.
Vietnam should accelerate the development of sector-specific databases, including data collection, cleansing, and mechanisms for effective utilization.
Data should serve not only city and national governance and administration but also the training of specialized AI models.
For Physical AI and humanoid robots, the level of intelligence depends heavily on the quality of training data.
Third, attract talent to future technology industries.
Mr. Tuan shared that FPT welcomes more than 3,000 international delegations each year, most of whom leave with positive impressions of Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City.
FPT also recruits a large number of Vietnamese graduates returning from overseas studies annually. Many of these professionals, despite being born and raised in Hanoi or central Vietnam, choose Ho Chi Minh City as their workplace upon returning.
In his view, Ho Chi Minh City has a natural appeal to professionals and experts, although the presence of major global corporations remains limited.
Fourth, position Ho Chi Minh City as a “customer zero.”
Under this approach, the city would identify major challenges that need to be addressed to overcome bottlenecks in achieving double-digit economic growth, while simultaneously attracting global talent.
Ho Chi Minh City would also serve as a testing ground for innovative solutions, creating opportunities to develop technologies and products with national and international potential.
Mr. Pham Minh Tuan, Deputy CEO of FPT Corporation and CEO of FPT Software, presents four recommendations for developing emerging technologies while ensuring technological sovereignty and national security and safety.Mr. Tuan reaffirmed FPT's commitment to continuing collaboration with Ho Chi Minh City and Saigon Hi-Tech Park to develop technologies of the future.
He expressed hope that through the “customer zero” approach, Ho Chi Minh City could establish ecosystems connecting Vietnamese enterprises, serving not only the domestic market but also addressing global demand.
“Incubate in Vietnam, but generate revenue, create wealth, grow, and think with a global market mindset,” Mr. Tuan concluded.