Sao Khue Awards 2024 marks a transformative milestone for Vietnam’s digital economy through widespread AI integration
On April 13, 2024, the Vietnam Software and IT Services Association (VINASA), under the patronage of the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC), held a prestigious ceremony in Hanoi to honor the recipients of the 21st annual Sao Khue Awards. As the most recognized accolade in Vietnam’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector, the 2024 edition underscored a pivotal shift in the nation’s technological landscape: the pervasive transition from basic digitalization to the sophisticated, widespread adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) across enterprise and public sector solutions.
A New Era of Digital Intelligence
This year’s event was characterized by an unprecedented level of innovation. Statistics provided by VINASA reveal that while there were eight distinct categories for recognition, the most significant trend was the saturation of AI capabilities. Over 90% of the winning products, platforms, and services successfully integrated AI applications, demonstrating a strategic pivot toward intelligent automation. These solutions are now being deployed to provide substantive support to government bodies, private enterprises, and individual citizens, signaling that AI has moved from a theoretical concept to an essential tool in the Vietnamese business ecosystem.
The ceremony recognized 169 outstanding products and services from 117 enterprises, selected after a rigorous three-round evaluation process. The breadth of these solutions spanned critical sectors, including government digital transformation, industrial manufacturing, agriculture, automotive technology, fintech, and digital retail.
Two Decades of Technological Evolution
To understand the significance of the 2024 awards, one must look at the trajectory of the Vietnamese tech sector over the past two decades. Since its inception in 2003, the Sao Khue Awards have served as a barometer for the health and maturity of the local IT industry. Throughout its 21-year history, the program has honored 1,715 individuals, organizations, and digital products.
Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Bui Hoang Phuong noted that the awards have consistently evolved in tandem with the national digital strategy. He highlighted that the industry’s total revenue in 2023 was approximately 240 times higher than that of 2000, with a consistent annual growth rate of 15% to 20%. This growth has frequently outpaced the national GDP growth, underscoring the ICT sector as a primary engine of Vietnam’s economic development.
The evolution has been marked by three distinct phases:
- The Foundation Phase (2000s): Early adoption of basic IT infrastructure and software outsourcing.
- The Integration Phase (2010s): The transition from simple IT services to complex digital transformation and local product development.
- The "Make in Vietnam" Era (2020s–Present): A focus on indigenous innovation, self-reliance, and the global export of high-tech solutions.
Strategic Focus on AI and Semiconductor Technology
During the event, Deputy Minister Bui Hoang Phuong placed significant emphasis on two emerging pillars of the global economy: AI and semiconductor technology. Following his recent diplomatic and professional mission to the United States, the Deputy Minister observed that these two areas are currently the highest priority for global tech leaders and investors.
The Vietnamese government has identified these technologies as critical to the next phase of national development. The 2024 awards ceremony reflected this, with 33 products explicitly recognized for innovation in AI, 3D technology, Big Data, and cloud computing. The Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) has committed to fostering a supportive regulatory environment to ensure that these "Make in Vietnam" technologies can compete on the global stage.
Insights from Industry Leadership
Nguyen Van Khoa, Chairman of VINASA, explained that the structure of the 2024 awards was intentionally overhauled to reflect the government’s push for comprehensive digital transformation. "The 2024 awards were adjusted to realign with current government and Ministry directives. We have seen a remarkable shift in the focus of the winning enterprises toward international markets, with 15 out of 23 software services awards going to companies providing export-oriented services," Khoa stated.
The focus on "Top 10 Sao Khue" recipients also highlighted the industry’s diversity. These top-tier solutions are currently being used in smart governance, industrial production, and high-tech agriculture. This, according to VINASA, confirms that Vietnam’s digital enterprises have the capability to solve complex problems that were previously outsourced to foreign vendors.
The Role of Government and Regulatory Support
The Ministry of Information and Communications emphasized that its role in the coming year will focus on "Digital Infrastructure Development" and "Digital Application Innovation." This is intended to act as a new catalyst for labor productivity and economic growth.
The Ministry’s roadmap for 2024 includes:
- Refining Legal Frameworks: Creating a sandbox environment for AI development to ensure ethical and safe deployment.
- Support for Infrastructure: Incentivizing the construction of massive data centers and high-speed network infrastructure to support AI computing requirements.
- Global Integration: Facilitating B2B connections for domestic tech firms to enter foreign markets, building on the momentum of the 2023 Global Digital Cooperation Conference.
Deputy Minister Phuong explicitly stated, "The Ministry of Information and Communications is ready to cooperate with Vietnamese digital enterprises to push AI applications further. We are committed to perfecting the legal environment to create the best conditions for the production and business activities of the ICT sector."
Broader Economic Implications
The findings from the 2024 awards indicate that the Vietnamese IT sector is no longer just a service provider but a hub of intellectual property. The shift toward AI, specifically "Applied AI," suggests that businesses are moving past the experimental phase and are now using machine learning to solve specific operational inefficiencies.
For the public sector, the winning solutions in government digital transformation are expected to streamline administrative procedures, reduce wait times for citizens, and improve transparency. For the private sector, the integration of AI in manufacturing and retail is expected to provide a competitive edge in the global supply chain, which is increasingly demanding high-tech, data-driven efficiency.
Furthermore, the promotion of these products to over 5,000 organizations and agencies by VINASA is a strategic move to ensure that the innovations honored at the awards are not just "trophies" but are actively adopted across the national economy. By bridging the gap between developers and end-users, the association aims to accelerate the pace of the national digital agenda.
Conclusion
The 2024 Sao Khue Awards have cemented the role of AI as the cornerstone of Vietnam’s digital future. With the synergy between government policy, private sector innovation, and a clear focus on high-value technologies like AI and semiconductors, Vietnam is positioning itself to climb the value chain in the global tech hierarchy. As the country moves toward its 2030 digital economy targets, the achievements showcased at this year’s awards offer a tangible roadmap for how intelligent, home-grown solutions will continue to drive national prosperity.
