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Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung stressed that Vietnamese enterprises must take the lead in mastering AI and strategic UAVs, both to meet practical needs and to elevate the country’s technological capabilities. On the afternoon of May 7 in Ho Chi Minh City, the Deputy PM visited Zalo Platforms, the VNG Group, and Real-Time Robotics Vietnam, accompanied by Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Le Xuan Dinh, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Cuong, and government office representatives. At Zalo Platforms, the Deputy PM toured the VNG Data Center and directly experienced the KiLM large language model and Vietnamese-language virtual assistants. The company also introduced strategic products such as Kiki Auto and the Citizen Digital Assistant, demonstrating AI R&D capabilities serving the Vietnamese language. VNG Group operates a diverse digital ecosystem with four main areas: online games, Zalo, digital payments, and enterprise solutions. Zalo Platforms is responsible for developing the core platform, connecting users and businesses, and delivering technology solutions that support business operations and digital interaction. Since 2022, the group has intensified AI development with products such as Zalo AI, Kiki Auto, KiLM, VMLM, and the Citizen Assistant. KiLM was trained entirely on domestic infrastructure, with Kiki Auto and the Citizen Assistant, underscoring a clear capability to master technology. The strategy emphasizes data, demand, and Vietnam’s national needs as the right path. The Deputy PM also urged the Ministry of Science and Technology to include policies on import tax incentives for components, corporate income tax incentives for high-tech projects, R&D tax incentives, and land-use policies in the high-tech regulations. He asked Zalo Platforms and VNG to keep improving model quality, applying AI to real-world use, and ensuring AI ethics and data security. In the same afternoon, the Deputy PM visited Real-Time Robotics Vietnam to observe R&D and manufacturing processes for UAVs, cameras, gimbals, and control arms. The company is a supplier of Hera Drone, with exports to the United States and Europe, and all products are designed, developed, and manufactured by Vietnamese engineers. It holds four US and Australian patents and controls 7.5/9 core technologies. The Deputy PM expressed pride in Real-Time Robotics’ efforts. Despite challenges, the company continues to invest in R&D and build core technological capabilities, bringing to market new products with high applicability and international competitiveness. The three main product groups—Hera disaster-response drones, Hera I high-voltage inspection drones, and Hera D tactical drones—are aligned with Vietnam’s urgent national needs. The Deputy PM also urged Real-Time Robotics to become the leading pioneer in Vietnam’s UAV sector, guiding the domestic ecosystem. The company pledged to achieve 100% domestically owned core technology by December 2027, aiming to develop strategic products that address real problems and enhance national competitiveness.
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