Practical AI applications took centre stage at the Vietnam AI Innovation Challenge (VAIC) 2026 on Sunday, with participants showcasing solutions for sectors ranging from law and education to finance, public services, reflecting Vietnam’s growing focus on turning AI research into products for real-world use.
 |
The winning team, L-GPT 6.7 from VNU University of Engineering and Technology, impressed judges with Lawgic, a legal analysis platform that combines large language models with knowledge graph technology to enhance legal reasoning and information retrieval. The project received the competition's top award of US$10,000.
Second place went to Genation for Tangent, an AI platform that converts users' questions into visual learning materials, while SenAI claimed third prize with a real-time English-Vietnamese translation system.
The annual competition concluded after a 48-hour hackathon that attracted nearly 1,500 contestants from 340 teams across the country.
Participants developed AI-powered prototypes under the guidance of industry experts before presenting their products to the judging panel during the final Demo Day.
Unlike many earlier AI competitions that focused primarily on research or algorithm development, organisers said this year's entries demonstrated a stronger emphasis on practical deployment.
Many of the projects targeted challenges faced by businesses, public services and local authorities, with judges assessing not only technological innovation but also commercial potential and real-world applicability.
Projects were evaluated on innovation, technical capability, practical application and commercial potential.
The organisers said the challenge forms part of efforts to implement the Politburo's Resolution No 57 on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation by fostering AI talent and strengthening collaboration between policymakers, universities, research institutions and businesses.
Beyond identifying promising AI developers, the competition aims to accelerate the commercialisation of AI applications and strengthen Việt Nam's innovation ecosystem through closer links between research and industry.
Organisers said the hackathon model enables participants to rapidly test ideas, develop prototypes and refine products with direct input from experienced mentors and technology specialists.
This year's competition was jointly organised by the National Innovation Centre, Meta, AI for Vietnam, FPT and Duy Tan University.
