Qualcomm Establishes Its Third Largest Global AI Center in Vietnam
Just five years ago, Vietnam was primarily seen as a ‘contract manufacturer label’ within global supply chains; today, it is transforming into a strategic hub for AI, fiercely contested by tech giants.
Qualcomm, based in California, USA, announced on June 10th the establishment of its third-largest global Artificial Intelligence (AI) research and development center in Vietnam.
Photo: Bloomberg (Qualcomm Headquarters)
The launch of Qualcomm’s Hanoi AI R&D Center signifies its direct entry into global technology competition in sectors like smartphones and automotive. This move potentially signals Vietnam’s quiet transformation from a manufacturing hub into Southeast Asia’s “AI laboratory.”
01 Qualcomm Officially Announces Vietnam as Home to Its Third Global AI Hub
According to Qualcomm’s plans, the new AI center will be located in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam.
Personnel-wise, the center will be spearheaded by Qualcomm’s Global AI Research division. It will recruit AI scientists, researchers, and experts from Qualcomm offices in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and elsewhere. The primary focus will be developing AI solutions for smartphones, personal computers, Extended Reality (XR), automotive, and the Internet of Things (IoT).
Photo: VGP (Inauguration ceremony of Qualcomm’s AI Center in Hanoi, Vietnam)
Qualcomm representatives stated during the inauguration ceremony that the new Hanoi AI center will concentrate on innovation spanning fundamental research to platform development. This initiative is expected to directly accelerate the globalization of Qualcomm’s product supply chains and foster the growth of the AI industry within Vietnam.
Having entered the Vietnamese market in 2003, Qualcomm already maintains two offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. In 2020, it established its first Southeast Asian R&D center in Hanoi, primarily focused on 5G technology and the semiconductor industry. The center inaugurated in June 2025, however, shifts its core focus squarely to AI-related business.
02 Vietnam: A High-Potential Market Qualcomm Cannot Afford to Miss
According to mid-2024 financial results, Vietnam is Qualcomm’s second-largest revenue market globally, trailing only China.
Currently, the Vietnamese market contributes 12% to Qualcomm’s revenue, equivalent to $4.7 billion, securing its position as the number two market. While this represents a slight increase compared to the 2023 fiscal year, it remains below the 2022 financial figures.
China remains Qualcomm’s largest consumer market, accounting for 66% of the group’s total revenue. Other markets, including the US and South Korea, contribute 3% and 7% respectively to Qualcomm’s total revenue.
Qualcomm partners with Viettel. Photo: forbes.vn
Qualcomm’s strategy in Vietnam involves two key pillars: the 2020 launch of its first Southeast Asian R&D center in Hanoi, and the expansion of collaborations with Vietnamese telecommunications companies like Viettel. These partnerships aim to accelerate 5G development and manufacturing, technology testing, AI cameras, and related businesses.
This significant investment in Vietnam’s AI market also signals Qualcomm’s confidence in “Made in Vietnam” capabilities to the wider world.
At the 2023 World Mobile Congress (MWC), Viettel and Qualcomm announced the successful joint development of Vietnam’s first 5G base station radio unit utilizing an OPEN RAN (Open Radio Access Network) ASIC chipset. This breakthrough laid the foundation for Viettel’s independent production of 5G infrastructure.
At MWC 2024, Viettel unveiled its self-designed 5G DFE chipset, compliant with the 5G standards set by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), marking a pioneering achievement within the global semiconductor industry.
Qualcomm Vietnam has publicly acknowledged the R&D capabilities of local enterprises. The General Manager of Qualcomm Vietnam noted that Viettel is one of only four global partners collaborating with Qualcomm on the development and application of new 5G chipset technology, exceeding expectations for cooperation with Vietnamese domestic companies.
Vietnamese Party General Secretary To Lam meets with Alex Rogers, President of Technology Licensing and Global Affairs at Qualcomm Inc.Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA
Within Vietnam, Qualcomm partners with VinAI [(the AI subsidiary of Vietnamese conglomerate Vingroup)]{.mark} to integrate intelligent mobility solutions based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon Digital Chassis platform. This includes integrating Driver and Occupant Monitoring Systems (DOMS) with All-Surround View Monitoring (ASVM), considered a milestone for Vietnam’s automotive industry. Qualcomm is also collaborating with local real estate developer SonKim Land to enhance smart city models, with plans to integrate them with metro systems equipped with cameras, smart lighting, and autonomous driving components.
Vietnam is at a critical juncture in its digital transformation. With the nationwide deployment of 5G networks commencing in 2024, the country is entering a pivotal phase of digital evolution. By deeply embedding itself in the AI, 5G, IoT, and smart device ecosystem, Qualcomm is positioning itself as a core technological force driving Vietnam towards its vision of becoming a digital nation.
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