Vietnam AI Memory Chips Market Size and Forecast by Type, Node Type, End User Application, and Distribution Channel: 2019-2033

Vietnam AI Memory Chips Market Outlook

Vietnam AI memory chips market is entering a transformative phase, expected to reach USD454 million by 2033. This surge is driven by a convergence of national policy, global semiconductor shifts, and surging AI adoption across critical sectors. As per David Gomes, Manager – IT, Vietnam’s ascent as a next-generation chip design and packaging destination is no accident—it’s a calculated strategy anchored in geopolitical realignment and innovation readiness.

Vietnam’s burgeoning role in the global semiconductor value chain is largely attributed to the U.S.-China tech decoupling. This shift has pushed multinational corporations—Intel, Qualcomm, Marvell, Samsung, Infineon, and Renesas—to expand their R&D and chip packaging operations in Vietnam. Intel’s flagship facility in Ho Chi Minh City, Intel Products Vietnam (IPV), has already contributed over $90 billion in export value since 2010. This facility alone has shipped more than 3 billion chips globally, with a growing share now linked to AI-specific memory applications used in data centers, automotive systems, and edge AI deployments.

Backing this commercial momentum is Vietnam’s National Semiconductor Strategy, which earmarks $100 billion (by 2050) in state-led investments toward fab development, chip design hubs, and workforce skilling. Under this initiative, over 50,000 semiconductor engineers are set to be trained by 2030, with 10,000 professionals to be specifically educated in AI and memory technologies through programs like the ‘AI for All’ initiative, a joint effort between Intel and the National Innovation Center (NIC). The Vietnamese government is not only courting foreign investment but providing 30% direct funding, tax incentives, and dedicated land for semiconductor infrastructure—measures that reflect its commitment to reshaping the country’s technological future.

Vietnam is also positioning itself as a hub for AI-optimized memory chips, particularly in the DRAM and SRAM segments used in high-performance computing, 5G infrastructure, and neural processing units. Local tech leaders such as Viettel and FPT are actively designing AI chipsets tailored for Southeast Asian use cases. Viettel, in particular, recently unveiled Southeast Asia’s most advanced 5G chipset, reinforcing Vietnam’s potential as a fabless AI semiconductor powerhouse akin to ARM or Nvidia. The strategic pivot toward high-value design over low-margin manufacturing is already paying off, attracting top-tier talent and solidifying partnerships with leading chip IP providers and EDA tool developers.

Global players are taking note. SpaceX plans to invest $1.5 billion to build up to 15 ground stations across Vietnam to support Starlink broadband services, which rely on AI-embedded memory chips for autonomous connectivity management. Meanwhile, Lockheed Martin and Westinghouse Electric are in discussions with Vietnamese authorities to co-develop defense and nuclear technologies, both of which require advanced AI chipsets. These collaborations not only elevate Vietnam’s status as a reliable chip partner but create real demand pipelines for AI-enabled memory components.

CT Semiconductor’s expansion into Vietnam with the country’s first fully locally owned IC backend facility is another pivotal milestone. The facility’s second phase is designed to scale up production to 100 million chips annually by 2027, with a specific focus on high-bandwidth memory and chiplets for AI workloads. This is emblematic of a broader trend where Vietnam is following Malaysia’s model—targeting 13% of the global assembly and testing market share, but with a sharper tilt toward AI applications.

However, scaling Vietnam’s AI memory chip ecosystem isn’t without challenges. The country currently contributes only 6% of the total value chain, mainly in assembly and testing. There is still a lack of indigenous semiconductor IP and deep fabrication capabilities. But the Vietnamese government's three-phase roadmap—to build 20+ plants by 2050, launch 100 design companies by 2030, and position itself as a global chip exporter—reflects a long-term vision bolstered by investor confidence and regional collaboration.

Executive insights further validate Vietnam’s direction. At the SelectUSA Investment Summit, executives from Intel emphasized Vietnam’s skilled labor pool, cost competitiveness, and strategic geography as core reasons behind expanded investments. As David Gomes notes, “Vietnam’s AI memory chip industry is where Taiwan was two decades ago—small, ambitious, and ready to leapfrog into the high-performance league.”

Vietnam's macroeconomic positioning also enhances its appeal. With the third-largest trade surplus with the U.S. and strong diplomatic momentum via the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the country is mitigating the risks of tariff impositions and gaining greater access to advanced manufacturing technologies. A comparative glance at ASEAN shows that while Singapore remains the semiconductor GDP leader, Vietnam is emerging as the go-to destination for next-gen chip packaging and AI specialization due to its favorable policy landscape, cost structure, and demographic edge.

As global chip sales march toward the $1 trillion mark by the early 2030s, Vietnam is methodically aligning itself to capture a meaningful share, especially in the AI memory domain. With integrated efforts across academia, policy, and industry, the country is not just participating in the global semiconductor race—it’s gearing up to shape its trajectory.

Author: David Gomes (Manager – IT)

*Research Methodology: This report is based on DataCube’s proprietary 3-stage forecasting model, combining primary research, secondary data triangulation, and expert validation. [Learn more]

Vietnam AI Memory Chips Market Scope