Washington — The Computer and Communications Industry Association calls on Vietnam to adjust its timeline for implementing the new Artificial Intelligence (AI) Law to provide a more reasonable and practical pathway for interested companies to come into compliance. Currently slated to take effect on March 1, 2026, the law—and its unfinalized implementing regulations— impose significant obligations on companies seeking to deploy AI-enabled services in Vietnam. Given the evolving regulatory framework and limited time available for companies to assess requirements and implement necessary compliance measures, delaying implementation, particularly relating to certification and enforcement, is both prudent and necessary.
CCIA has advocated that governments take a carefully sequenced approach when implementing AI laws due to the rapidly evolving nature of AI, the complexity of deploying AI systems across sectors, and ongoing challenges in finalizing necessary technical standards. This position is consistent with CCIA’s engagement in other jurisdictions, including the EU and Korea, where CCIA has emphasized phased implementation, clear guidance, and realistic compliance timelines—positions reflected in their 18- and 12-month enforcement moratoria, respectively.
Given the prescriptive nature of Vietnam’s AI law and the need to build up conformity assessment capacity, an 18-month moratorium would provide similar stability. Absent such flexibility, Vietnam risks creating regulatory uncertainty that could deter market entry and limit the benefits of AI investment.
The following can be attributed to CCIA’s Vice President of Digital Trade, Jonathan McHale:
“CCIA supports Vietnam’s ambition to build a strong and globally competitive AI ecosystem, and greatly appreciates its close consultation with industry in developing its regulatory framework. However, effective AI regulation requires not only clear rules, but also realistic timelines. As we have seen in the case of the EU AI Act and Korea’s Basic AI Law, rushed implementation creates regulatory uncertainty, compliance bottlenecks, and the need for subsequent clarifications to address unintended consequences. Providing a reasonable implementation period will give companies the certainty and time they need to comply in good faith, avoid unnecessary disruption, and continue investing in Vietnam’s growing digital economy.”
