Ho Chi Minh City has embarked on an ambitious journey to fundamentally reshape its labor force, approving a sweeping initiative that places artificial intelligence and big data at the very core of its vocational education system. This forward-thinking strategy aims to proactively address the seismic shifts in labor demands driven by digital transformation, moving beyond traditional training models to foster a highly skilled, adaptive, and future-ready workforce. The city’s comprehensive plan is not merely an upgrade of existing systems but a complete reimagining of how its 6.85 million workers will learn, upskill, and thrive in an increasingly automated world. By mandating the integration of advanced technologies into every facet of vocational training, from curriculum design to classroom infrastructure, the city is positioning itself as a pioneer in developing human capital for the AI era, creating a blueprint for a responsive and personalized educational ecosystem designed to meet the challenges of tomorrow.
A Strategic Overhaul of Vocational Training
The Digital Learning Ecosystem
At the heart of Ho Chi Minh City’s transformative educational strategy lies the development of a sophisticated, domestically-built online learning platform powered by artificial intelligence. This platform is envisioned as the central nervous system of a new vocational training ecosystem, designed to dismantle the rigid, one-size-fits-all approach of traditional education. Its primary function is to deliver highly personalized learning pathways, enabling students to tailor their educational journey according to their individual aptitudes, career aspirations, and learning pace. This flexibility is crucial for both new students entering the workforce and existing workers seeking to upskill or reskill in a rapidly evolving job market. The city has set a clear and ambitious target for this digital revolution: to have over 80% of all vocational learners actively using this AI-driven platform by the year 2030, a goal that underscores the commitment to making adaptive, technology-enhanced learning the new standard across the entire vocational spectrum.
To ensure the AI-powered platform operates effectively and delivers on its promise of personalized education, the initiative includes the creation of a robust digital backbone accessible to all institutions. A core component of this infrastructure is a shared digital learning repository, which will house a vast and diverse collection of educational materials, from interactive modules and video lectures to simulations and case studies. This centralized resource will be complemented by a comprehensive digital library, providing students and educators with on-demand access to a wealth of knowledge and research. These digital assets will be specifically curated to support training programs in priority vocational fields identified by the city, ensuring that the content is not only high-quality but also directly relevant to the most pressing needs of the local economy. By standardizing access to these premium resources, the plan aims to level the playing field among institutions and foster a more collaborative, knowledge-sharing environment that benefits the entire learning community.
Infrastructure and Classroom Modernization
The successful deployment of an advanced digital learning ecosystem hinges on the modernization of the physical infrastructure across Ho Chi Minh City’s 481 vocational education institutions. Recognizing this, the plan mandates a sweeping series of upgrades designed to create a technologically proficient learning environment. A primary objective is to guarantee that by 2030, every single institution is equipped with the foundational technology required for modern education, including reliable high-speed internet connectivity and a sufficient supply of modern computing equipment for students and staff. Moving beyond basic connectivity, the plan also stipulates that each college must establish at least one smart interactive classroom. These classrooms will be outfitted with cutting-edge tools that facilitate dynamic, engaging, and collaborative learning experiences, effectively transforming the traditional lecture hall into an interactive hub for knowledge creation and skill development, which is essential for the AI-driven pedagogical shifts.
To cultivate a deeper level of expertise and provide students with invaluable practical skills, the initiative goes a step further by mandating the establishment of specialized AI laboratories. These state-of-the-art facilities will be set up in at least 10% of eligible institutions, serving as dedicated spaces for hands-on experimentation and application of artificial intelligence technologies. Unlike theoretical classroom learning, these labs will allow students to work directly with AI models, develop and test algorithms, and gain practical experience with the tools and platforms that are shaping industries. This focus on experiential learning is critical for preparing a workforce that can not only understand AI concepts but also apply them to solve real-world problems. By providing access to these advanced resources, the city is ensuring that its vocational graduates are not just passive consumers of technology but active participants and innovators in the burgeoning AI landscape, equipped with the tangible skills employers demand.
Implementation and Governance
Redefining Curriculum and Pedagogy
The initiative is set to trigger a fundamental transformation in teaching methodologies, compelling all vocational institutions to move away from conventional, lecture-based instruction and adopt highly personalized teaching approaches. This pedagogical shift will be heavily supported by artificial intelligence, which will be leveraged to create and design a vast and diverse array of learning materials. Instead of relying on static textbooks, educators will have access to AI-powered tools that can generate dynamic, adaptive content tailored to the unique learning profiles of individual students. This could include interactive simulations that adjust in difficulty based on user performance, personalized reading lists that target specific knowledge gaps, and automated feedback systems that provide immediate, constructive guidance. This move toward AI-assisted content creation will not only enhance the learning experience but also empower educators to focus more on mentoring and facilitating deeper understanding, thereby redefining their role in the modern classroom.
Beyond revolutionizing the delivery of education, the plan calls for a deep and meaningful integration of AI competencies directly into the fabric of vocational training curricula. The objective is to ensure that students are not merely learning with AI tools but are also learning about the principles and applications of artificial intelligence itself. The city has established a clear target for this curricular reform: by 2030, at least 60% of all vocational programs must incorporate AI-related knowledge and skills at a level appropriate to their specific field. This means that a future mechanic might learn about AI-driven diagnostic systems, a hospitality student might study AI-powered guest service platforms, and a logistics trainee might master AI-optimized supply chain management. This comprehensive approach ensures that graduates from all disciplines possess a foundational understanding of AI and the practical skills needed to work alongside intelligent systems, making them highly valuable and adaptable assets in the modern workplace.
A Coordinated City-Wide Effort
The ambitious scope of this initiative is supported by a meticulously structured, multi-phased implementation roadmap that ensures a methodical and sustainable rollout. The process begins in the current year, 2026, with an initial phase dedicated to comprehensive planning and a thorough needs assessment across all vocational institutions. This foundational work will inform the next stage, which runs from 2026 through 2028 and focuses on the core technological development, specifically the creation and refinement of the AI-powered teaching and learning software that will form the backbone of the new system. Following this development phase, the project will enter a broader period of implementation extending through 2030, during which the primary focus will shift to large-scale investment in upgrading facilities and deploying the new infrastructure city-wide. This carefully sequenced roadmap demonstrates a commitment to building a robust and effective system from the ground up, avoiding the pitfalls of a rushed or piecemeal approach and ensuring all components are in place for long-term success.
To ensure seamless execution and accountability, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee has established a clear and collaborative governance structure, distributing responsibilities among key municipal departments. The Department of Education and Training has been designated as the lead agency, tasked with the overall strategic planning, budget allocation, and management of the program’s rollout. Supporting this effort, the Department of Home Affairs will take charge of the crucial human element, focusing on capacity building and training programs for administrative staff and educators to ensure they are proficient in the new technologies and pedagogical methods. Meanwhile, the Department of Science and Technology will provide essential technical expertise, advising on the latest AI developments and fostering vital connections between the educational institutions and the city’s broader technology ecosystem. This concerted, multi-agency approach ensures that every aspect of the complex initiative, from policy and finance to human resources and technical support, is expertly managed.
A Foundational Shift in Workforce Development
Ho Chi Minh City’s comprehensive strategy represented a pivotal moment in its approach to vocational education and workforce preparedness. The initiative systematically addressed the critical need for a labor force equipped with the skills to navigate a landscape increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence and digital transformation. By focusing on a multi-pronged strategy that integrated a domestically-built AI learning platform, mandated significant infrastructure upgrades, and fundamentally reformed curriculum content, the city laid a robust foundation for a new era of learning. The phased roadmap and clear governance structure provided a solid framework for execution, ensuring that the vision was translated into tangible action across hundreds of institutions. This calculated and forward-looking investment in human capital was not merely a response to technological change but a proactive effort to harness it, aiming to create a dynamic, resilient, and highly skilled workforce poised for future economic growth.
