Vietnam–Korea Tech Ties: From Visit to Impact

On August 13, 2025, General Secretary To Lam and his wife wrapped up their four-day visit to the Republic of Korea at the invitation of President Lee Jae Myung. This visit marked a significant moment in the relationship between the two countries. It occurred while Vietnam is pursuing major development goals, and General Secretary To Lam was the first state guest of the new Korean government. The visit established an important milestone in the Vietnam-Korea Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, providing strong momentum to strengthen ties and build a solid foundation for future collaboration and growth.

During the trip, the General Secretary had a busy schedule filled with discussions and meetings. He met with senior leaders, politicians, scientists, and representatives from economic and cultural organizations. He also engaged with the Vietnamese community in Korea and Korean friends who appreciate Vietnam. Notably, both sides signed 50 key cooperation documents. This opens up opportunities for broad collaboration across many areas, especially in science, technology, digital infrastructure, and innovation in Vietnam.

Evolution of Vietnam-Korea Science and Technology Cooperation

Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1992, Vietnam and South Korea have steadily advanced science and technology cooperation, from early research exchanges and training to formal cooperation agreements in the 2000s. The elevation to a Strategic Partnership in 2012 enabled joint projects in ICT, renewable energy, and applied research, while the 2022 upgrade to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership opened broader collaboration in innovation and digital transformation. Most recently, on August 11, 2025, Vietnam’s MoST and Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT signed an MoU to strengthen cooperation in emerging technologies, digital infrastructure, and talent development. This agreement emphasizes joint efforts in artificial intelligence (AI), digital transformation, research and development (R&D), innovation ecosystems, and digital infrastructure.

The partnership has evolved significantly, with South Korea becoming Vietnam’s largest investor, contributing $94 billion in registered capital, and bilateral trade reaching $81.5 billion in 2024. The MoU builds on this foundation, prioritizing areas such as AI, semiconductors, clean hydrogen, smart manufacturing, and green technology – align closely with Vietnam’s vision of making science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation the core engines of growth, aiming for them to contribute at least 50% of GDP growth as the country moves toward becoming a high-income, developed nation.

Central to this strategic partnership is the robust cooperation in science and technology, which serves as a key driver for achieving these ambitious goals. The science and technology (S&T) cooperation between Vietnam and Korea has achieved remarkable milestones, serving as a key pillar of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership elevated in 2022. Both nations have convened nine sessions of the Joint Committee on S&T Cooperation, signed a Memorandum of Understanding on fostering innovation and startup ecosystems (July 2024), and successfully implemented the V-COMPAS technology information analysis system in Vietnamese. The Vietnam-Korea Institute of Science and Technology (VKIST), supported by Korea’s non-reimbursable ODA, plays a central role in connecting research institutes, universities, and businesses, facilitating the transfer of knowledge and technology.

In terms of core technologies, the two countries have collaborated on joint research in fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and the Internet of Things (IoT), with practical applications including 3D cultural heritage reconstruction, oil production forecasting, smart livestock management, and AI-based medical diagnostics. Digital transformation efforts have been advanced through the Vietnam-Korea Digital Transformation Forum 2024, the 2023-2025 ICT cooperation project, and consultations on the Digital Industry Law. These achievements have not only enhanced technological capabilities but also generated positive socio-economic impacts, while fostering broader opportunities for business and startup linkages, paving the way for sustainable development in both nations.

Strategic Shift to Tech-Driven Partnership

General Secretary To Lam’s visit to Korea has a significance far beyond that of a normal diplomatic visit, as it clearly affirms the orientation of science, technology and innovation as a national strategic priority of Vietnam. This is exemplified by his leadership in the newly formed national steering committee for science and technology development. 

The visit marked a shift from transactional economic ties to a tech-driven strategic partnership, with high-tech cooperation now a core pillar of bilateral relations. During the Vietnam–Korea Economic Forum on August 12, 2025, themed “Cooperation in Developing Production Chains in the New Era,”    50 cooperation agreements were signed, covering semiconductors, electronics, telecommunications, AI, quantum technology, new energy, biotechnology, nanotechnology and cybersecurity. 

Building on the Vietnam–Korea Economic Forum and 50 signed agreements, Vietnam and South Korea aim to deepen their tech-driven partnership. Minister Hung highlighted hopes for sharing expertise in high and emerging technologies and expanding technology transfer, while both sides emphasized collaboration on digital government, national data centres, cybersecurity, and innovation ecosystems. South Korean businesses also shared insights on digital transformation and SME innovation, underscoring opportunities for closer, technology-focused cooperation.

Key outcomes included robust commitments to nurture vibrant innovation ecosystems, strengthen cross-border research and development, and advance cutting-edge digital infrastructure alongside sustainable green technologies. General Secretary To Lam passionately urged Korean businesses to embrace Vietnam as a dynamic global production hub and a strategic cornerstone for R&D centers, with a vision for integrated industrial complexes and interconnected value chains. These landmark agreements lay a strong foundation for Vietnam to absorb cutting-edge technologies, amplify its innovation prowess, elevate its stature on the global stage, emerge as a global pioneer in IT innovation worldwide, and realize its ambitious aspiration of becoming a high-income, developed nation by 2045.

NTQ’s Contribution To Cross-Border Tech Innovation

NTQ, a Global IT Service Provider, is uniquely positioned to capitalize on this strengthened Vietnam-Korea partnership. With a robust presence in both Vietnam and South Korea, NTQ specializes in AI, digital platform development, and smart systems for infrastructure and mobility. The company has built a reputation for delivering scalable, innovative solutions, making it a key player in fostering cross-border tech collaboration.

NTQ is actively participating in Vietnam–Korea innovation initiatives, collaborating with local tech ecosystems to drive digital transformation. Its expertise in AI and smart systems supports technology transfer, enabling Vietnam to adopt Korean deep tech in areas like smart factories and electric vehicle (EV) solutions. As a strategic cross-cultural partner, NTQ has achieved significant milestones in South Korea, most notably the establishment of its second international branch in 2019. Over nearly six years, NTQ Korea has become a trusted partner to numerous leading corporations and organizations in South Korea, earning recognition as one of Vietnam’s pioneering enterprises in strengthening technological collaboration and connectivity between the two nations. NTQ’s role also continues to solidify, serving as a bridge for innovation and expertise, creating impactful synergies in the global tech landscape, with key milestones including:

Certificate of Merit from Vietnam’s Ministry of Information and Communications: On August 2nd, during the Vietnam-Korea Digital Forum 2024 in Korea, NTQ Korea was proudly recognized as one of the three Vietnamese digital enterprises to receive a Certificate of Merit from the Ministry of Information & Communications (MIC). The merit was presented by Mr. Nguyen Manh Hung – Minister of Information & Communications (MIC). This achievement highlights NTQ Korea’s five years of dedication, delivering many projects in AI, AR/VR, and eCommerce for leading Korean partners like Riman, MarkAny, Studio 3S, and SoftBridge. 

Strengthening Smart Factory Capabilities with TIA Solution: On May 27th in Hanoi, NTQ deepened its partnership with TIA Solution, a leading South Korean firm specializing in smart factory solutions through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This collaboration enhances NTQ’s expertise in developing advanced manufacturing systems, driving efficiency, and integrating cutting-edge automation technologies to support the modernization of industrial processes in Vietnam and beyond.

Expansion into the EV Industry with Softberry: NTQ signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Softberry, a South Korean partner, to expand its footprint in the electric vehicle (EV) industry. This strategic agreement positions NTQ to deliver innovative solutions in EV technology, aligning with global green tech trends and contributing to sustainable mobility advancements in the Vietnam–Korea tech ecosystem.

Through these achievements, we highlight NTQ’s capacity to connect Vietnam and South Korea, fostering innovation and technology exchange while driving forward bilateral tech partnerships.

Shaping a Digital Tomorrow with Vietnam-Korea Synergy

The Vietnam–Korea tech partnership opens a new era of long-term collaboration, with innovation, AI, and green tech at its core. NTQ is committed to scaling its involvement by leading joint R&D projects, developing pilot initiatives, and establishing innovation labs to drive technological advancement. By leveraging its expertise and cross-border presence, NTQ aims to support Vietnam’s ambition to become a digital nation and a global innovation hub.

We invite partners, investors, and tech stakeholders to collaborate with NTQ in shaping the future of Vietnam–Korea tech cooperation. Opportunities abound in joint R&D, pilot projects, education, and innovation ecosystems. Together, we can build a sustainable, tech-driven future that benefits both nations and sets a global standard for strategic partnerships. Contact us today to explore how we can drive innovation together!