Vietnam has entered the world’s top 50 startup ecosystems for the first time, marking a milestone in the country’s push to position itself as a regional technology and innovation hub amid accelerating digital transformation across Southeast Asia.

According to the 2026 Global Startup Ecosystem Index released by StartupBlink, Vietnam climbed five places to rank 50th globally—its highest-ever position since the annual rankings began in 2017.

The report identified Vietnam and Thailand as two of the fastest-growing startup ecosystems among countries ranked between 21 and 50 worldwide.

The rankings reflect growing momentum in Vietnam’s technology sector, driven by government-backed innovation policies, expanding venture capital activity and rising investment in strategic technologies including artificial intelligence, semiconductors, blockchain and cloud computing.

Ho Chi Minh City also entered the world’s top 100 startup ecosystems for the first time, rising 12 places to rank 98th globally.

StartupBlink said the southern commercial hub now leads Southeast Asia in ecosystem maturity and has emerged as a regional center for fintech and blockchain innovation, ranking 60th and 70th globally in those sectors respectively.

Beyond Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, the northern port city of Hai Phong also appeared in the global top 1,000 startup ecosystems for the first time, signaling a broader geographical expansion of Vietnam’s innovation economy.

Vietnam currently hosts around 4,000 startups, 208 investment funds, 84 incubators and more than 20 startup support centers nationwide, according to official figures.

The government has increasingly prioritized science, technology and innovation as part of its long-term economic strategy.

In 2025, Vietnam’s National Assembly passed the Law on Science, Technology and Innovation, formally introducing the concepts of “strategic technologies” and “strategic technology products” into national legislation for the first time.

Prime Ministerial directives issued this year identified priority sectors including AI, semiconductors, robotics, quantum technology, 5G equipment and digital infrastructure as pillars of Vietnam’s future growth model.

Authorities have also outlined plans to commercialize strategic technologies and establish innovation hubs in Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City.

StartupBlink’s 2026 report assessed more than 1,500 cities across 120 countries, measuring startup ecosystems based on activity levels, ecosystem quality and business environment.

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