Vietnam Sets Bold Goal: 10% of Population in Entrepreneurship by 2045

Vietnam is aiming to transform itself into a startup driven economy, with a new national strategy targeting 10% of its population engaged in entrepreneurship by 2045.

The plan reflects a major shift from traditional growth models toward innovation, technology, and digital transformation as core economic drivers.

Ambitious Targets for 2030

The strategy outlines clear near term milestones:

• 5 million business entities nationwide
• At least 10,000 innovative startups
• Entry into the top 40 of the Global Innovation Index
• Development of 5 unicorns valued at over $1 billion
• Expansion of the venture capital market to $1.5 billion

These targets signal Vietnam’s intent to compete with established startup ecosystems in Asia.

Building a Startup Nation

At its core, the strategy envisions a system where individuals can build businesses based on:

• Science and technology
• Innovation driven models
• Digital transformation

To support this, the government plans to:

• Develop shared infrastructure such as workspaces and digital platforms
• Strengthen legal frameworks to encourage entrepreneurship
• Promote startup culture nationwide

Education and Talent at the Center

Recognizing that innovation depends on human capital, the strategy emphasizes:

• Innovation focused universities
• Research based enterprises
• Venture capital funds linked to academic institutions

This approach aims to create a pipeline of talent capable of driving high value startups.

Financial and Policy Incentives

Vietnam is also introducing direct support measures to lower barriers for entrepreneurs:

• 100% fee waivers for intellectual property registration in early stages
• Support for research, testing, and product development
• Funding for legal consulting and risk insurance
• Subsidies for hiring international technology experts

Both public and private resources will be mobilized to accelerate ecosystem growth.

Long-Term Vision: A Dense Startup Ecosystem

By 2045, Vietnam aims to achieve:

• 1 enterprise for every 35 people
• 1 innovative startup per 5,000 people

This would represent a significant increase in business density and innovation capacity across the economy.

Why This Matters

For international investors and businesses, the strategy signals:

• A shift toward higher value, innovation led growth
• Expanding opportunities in Vietnam’s startup ecosystem
• Increasing government support for entrepreneurship and technology sectors

Bottom Line

Vietnam is not just encouraging startups, it is institutionalizing entrepreneurship as a core pillar of its long term economic strategy.

If executed effectively, the plan could reshape the country from a manufacturing hub into one of Southeast Asia’s leading innovation economies.