Aiming to serve national digital signature authentication system
To meet the requirement of protecting information at the hardware level, the Government Cipher Committee and the Military Industry-Telecoms Group (Viettel) are jointly developing a secure semiconductor platform, with the VGC v1.0 chip as its first product. The chip measures 10 × 10 mm in package size and is manufactured using a 28-nanometer CMOS process. Based on an open instruction set architecture, Vietnamese engineers have designed the processor and can independently verify and modify its design.
Meanwhile, the MKV block cipher algorithm, researched and developed by the Government Cipher Committee, has been implemented as a specialized cryptographic processing unit on the VGC v1.0 chip. According to test results, the chip performs encryption and decryption approximately 15 times faster than a software-only solution for the same task. In addition to processing performance, engineers have also applied technical measures to protect the design before it is sent to the fabrication plant, helping mitigate the risk of information leakage.
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Viettel’s secure chip research activities. (Photo provided by Viettel) |
The development of the VGC v1.0 chip is a clear demonstration of an effective cooperation model between a state management and professional agency and a national technology corporation. The Government Cipher Committee defines security requirements, develops algorithms and establishes evaluation criteria, while Viettel, led by its Viettel Semiconductor Center, is responsible for chip design and turning the design into a physical product. In the first quarter of 2026, the first batch of VGC v1.0 chips passed technical testing and received certification for use in socioeconomic applications, in accordance with the stringent requirements of the Government Cipher Committee.
In Viet Nam, the VGC v1.0 chip has initially been deployed in secure storage USB devices for Party, State and defense agencies. The next step is to integrate the chip into USB tokens for digital signatures and identification chips intended to serve the national digital signature authentication system, which has more than 2 million digital certificates in circulation. Further ahead, the design capabilities accumulated through the VGC v1.0 project will open the way for developing dual-use chips to protect critical infrastructure, including electricity, water, oil and gas, and telecommunications.
Secure semiconductor platform: Springboard for Viet Nam’s self-reliant chip development
With the secure semiconductor platform, Vietnamese engineers have mastered the design from the ground up, along with the verification process. This enables subsequent products to build on existing achievements rather than start from scratch. On this shared platform, the Government Cipher Committee and Viettel will continue to advance their respective strengths.
For the Government Cipher Committee, the focus is on researching and developing next-generation cryptographic algorithms to address information security challenges in the coming years. These include post-quantum (quantum-resistant) cryptography for key exchange and digital signatures, lightweight cryptography for resource-constrained Internet of Things devices, and high-speed authenticated encryption algorithms for large-volume data transmission.
For Viettel, the Viettel Semiconductor Center will continue to deepen its expertise in chip design, develop next-generation high-performance RISC-V processor cores, build multicore architectures, and refine its design and verification processes. These capabilities will provide the foundation for Viettel to develop chips for artificial intelligence, 6G telecommunications, smart cameras, the Internet of Things, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and robots, gradually reducing reliance on imported chips in key sectors.
The results of these two research directions will converge on the same platform. After being validated in simulation systems, new algorithms developed by the Government Cipher Committee will be implemented as dedicated cryptographic processing units and integrated into multicore architectures designed by Viettel. At the same time, Viettel’s AI, camera, UAV and robotics chips can incorporate Vietnamese cryptographic modules from the outset, ensuring that security is built into each device at the design stage.
Together with the high-tech semiconductor fabrication plant in Hoa Lac, this cooperation agreement underscores Viet Nam’s significant progress toward mastering the entire semiconductor value chain, from design to manufacturing and packaging, helping ensure supply-chain security amid geopolitical fluctuations.
According to Lieutenant General Tao Duc Thang, Chairman and CEO of Viettel Group, as technology increasingly becomes a decisive factor in national competitiveness and strength, mastering secure semiconductor technology is not only a scientific research task but also a strategic requirement for ensuring information security and protecting national digital sovereignty.
Researching, designing and developing secure semiconductor chips is an extremely challenging field that requires long-term accumulation of knowledge, technology and highly skilled human resources. However, being a latecomer does not mean accepting dependence. With the right strategy, focused resources and persistent pursuit of goals, it is entirely possible to gradually narrow the gap and master strategic national technologies.
Lieutenant General Tao Duc Thang emphasized that Viettel will focus on improving the quality of the first version of the VGC chip for mass production and deployment, while accelerating research and development of diverse next-generation chips to progressively strengthen Viet Nam’s self-reliance in secure semiconductor technology.
Translated by Quynh Oanh