Nvidia signs deal to establish AI center in Vietnam

U.S. chip giant Nvidia signed an agreement Thursday to establish an artificial intelligence (AI) research and development center in Vietnam.

Jensen Huang, chairman and CEO of Nvidia, met with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh during a visit to Hanoi, where the two leaders discussed plans for the center.

Huang emphasized the importance of developing AI in Vietnam, stating, "The data of Vietnam is a national and natural resource. The AI of Vietnam should be processed here, built here, operated here, for the people and industry of Vietnam."

Huang also announced that Nvidia is helping Vietnam build its first AI cloud and is advancing robotics and AI-powered smart cities. Nvidia has already invested over $250 million in the country, working with Vietnam's top tech firms to deploy AI in sectors such as cloud computing, automotive, and healthcare.

Earlier in the week, Huang visited Bangkok, where he signed a partnership with Thai tech company SIAM.AI to create Thailand's first "sovereign cloud." Nvidia’s expanding presence in Southeast Asia comes amid global supply chain disruptions and growing concerns over U.S. reliance on China for critical resources, spurring investment in Vietnam’s semiconductor industry.

In addition, Huang revealed that Nvidia has acquired Vinbrain, an AI startup under Vingroup, one of Vietnam’s largest conglomerates.

Vietnam is increasingly positioning itself as a hub for advanced technology, aiming to move up the value chain beyond its traditional manufacturing base of shoes, clothes, and furniture.