On June 29, 2025—marking its 33rd anniversary—Vietnam's CT Group announced the launch of the country's first domestically designed IoT chip. Developed by Vietnamese engineers using CMOS and III/V semiconductor technologies, the chip is tailored for applications in UAVs, smart devices, telecommunications, and defense.

Founded in 1992, CT Group is a diversified conglomerate with 36 subsidiaries spanning traditional sectors like real estate and retail, as well as emerging fields such as AI and fintech. The group is now establishing a semiconductor design ecosystem focused on AI, IoT, and custom SoCs, with an emphasis on building its own IP cores—including ADCs, DACs, NPUs, and DSPs—while operating under a fabless model.

To support this effort, its semiconductor arm is constructing three ATP (assembly, testing, packaging) facilities, two R&D centers in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, and overseas service hubs in Silicon Valley and Phoenix. Some of these ATP plants already have packaging and testing capabilities.

CT Group has also laid out plans to master semiconductor photolithography and has proposed government investment in related equipment. The company aims to achieve full vertical integration—from chip design to testing—by 2030, with a strong emphasis on securing domestic chip supply, especially for defense applications.

The group's competitive edge lies in its smart city ecosystem and market leadership in UAVs, which offer ready-made applications for its chips. It has also built a strong engineering talent pool through partnerships with local universities and international experts, aligning its strategy with Vietnam's national semiconductor development plan.

Vietnam's semiconductor industry has been gaining momentum, attracting major players like Intel and onsemi to set up advanced packaging and R&D centers. In 2024, the government launched a national strategy to boost talent development and global collaboration, targeting 50,000 trained engineers by 2030.

Despite the progress, Vietnam still faces significant challenges, including a talent shortage, infrastructure limitations, and competition from more mature chipmaking hubs like Taiwan and South Korea. Nonetheless, CT Group remains committed to long-term investment in strategic areas such as AI, 5G/6G, and defense.

To underscore the national importance of the sector, CT Group has proposed designating April 30, 2025, as “Vietnam Semiconductor Day.”