The national conversation around mental health is beginning to evolve. In June 2024, Vietnam’s Ministry of Health approved a project to prevent, detect, and manage non-communicable diseases and mental health disorders through 2025—a crucial step toward strengthening early detection, treatment, and public awareness.  But support systems have yet to match the scale of the need.

For most people, meaningful mental health support remains challenging to access. The country is at a unique crossroads: over 50% of its population is under 35, and its digital economy is one of the fastest growing in Southeast Asia. According to UNICEF, nearly one in five Vietnamese adolescents has experienced mental health challenges, and only a fraction receives professional support. At the same time, academic pressure, rural to urban migration, and rising digital engagement contribute to the growing emotional strain. Yet, Vietnam’s mental health workforce is among the thinnest globally, with fewer than one psychiatrist per 100,000 people, is markedly below the global median and even the global average (WHO,2023).

This isn’t just a question of capacity, it is essential to understand the country’s culture. Vietnam’s cultural context, rooted in collectivist values, post-war transitions, and a prioritisation of social stability, has shaped how emotional health is experienced and expressed. In many cases, emotional challenges are internalised rather than openly discussed, not out of neglect, but out of deep-seated belief in preserving harmony and resilience. This cultural strength has supported communities in Vietnam through hardship, but it also means that everyday stressors like caregiving burdens, adolescence and workplace anxiety, are rarely acknowledged.

Redefining Mental Health in the Everyday

Mental health is not just the absence of illness; it is about having the tools and support to navigate daily life. And yet, we tend to think about mental health only when it breaks down. In Vietnam, support for this kind of daily emotional maintenance is often out of reach—not because the need isn’t there, but because we have not built systems that normalize or recognize it.

A study among Vietnamese university students and mental health professionals underscores the role of cultural stigma and limited public awareness. These factors not only discourage care-seeking but also shape how people perceive their own emotional needs.[1] 

Building systematic reforms—such as developing a robust mental health workforce and shifting cultural attitudes—takes time. Which is why we must look for support mechanisms that can scale quickly, are culturally tailored to address local attitudes, and meet people where they are: on their phones.

 The Case For AI-Based Support

Globally, AI-driven mental health tools and platforms like Wysa, Woebot, and Tess are improving access to low-intensity support. Wysa reports users open up three times faster than in traditional therapy settings. Accessible 24×7, these platforms offer privacy and non-judgmental engagement—a critical feature in contexts where stigma is a persistent barrier.

For some, AI tools like these represent a safer, more approachable first step. However, these technologies are not without risk: not all AI based solutions are created equal. Generative AI models like GPT can be impressive conversationalists but can produce inappropriate responses when used without safeguards—particularly in emotionally complex or high-risk situations. Stories of teens misled by AI companions on open platforms like Replika are cautionary tales.

That’s why AI for mental health must be designed with clinical input and ethical safeguards. The most responsible models use a “human-in-the-loop” approach, where AI provides immediate support and flags higher-risk issues to trained professionals.

Vietnam’s Opportunity to Lead Responsibly

Vietnam is well-positioned to innovate. With a digitally connected, young population and growing interest in mental well-being, the environment is ripe for solutions. But success depends on localization. Effective tools must go beyond translation to reflect tone, cultural contexts, and the indirect ways emotional distress is often communicated.

Trust will be key. People will only engage with tools they believe are safe, credible, and aligned with their lived experience. This requires partnerships across sectors—technologists, health professionals, policymakers, and civil society—to ensure solutions offered by these tools are clinically sound and socially attuned.

Regulation: A Fork in the Road or A Collaborative Approach to Systemic Change

The UK’s recent MHRA ruling has moved to regulate well-being apps as medical devices while Rwanda and Kenya are exploring more flexible sandbox-style regulation to encourage digital health innovation while ensuring oversight through agile, iterative policymaking.

The private sector must also play a proactive role. Startups and tech developers have the potential to design scalable, culturally grounded AI tools tailored for Vietnam’s diverse population.

Clear regulations would support innovation while protecting users. What’s needed is a framework that enables ethical deployment and sets data privacy standards, and encourages collaboration between clinicians, technologists, and policymakers.

Building an Ecosystem Not Just a Product

To build lasting trust and adoption, systematic integration is essential. This means embedding AI-enabled mental health tools not just into clinical settings but into everyday environments: workplaces, schools, and communities. Employers must incorporate these tools into employee assistance programs, making mental health support routine and accessible. Schools and universities can introduce students to these tools, helping normalize the idea of seeking help.

And in a society where personal conversations around mental health are often difficult, trusted institutions like community centers can play a pivotal role to build trust in AI-driven therapy and outreach efforts.

By taking inspiration from successful global models and tailoring them to Vietnam’s unique needs, we have a chance to bypass traditional barriers. If implemented with care, AI-driven mental health tools can extend the reach of mental health services, particularly for those who have limited access to traditional care, increase access to early interventions, reduce stigma, and offer more consistent mental health support.

The opportunity is not only about expanding services, but also about expanding how we define care. Vietnam can shape a mental health ecosystem that is inclusive, responsive, and rooted in local realities.  Where these efforts align—through awareness, access, and inclusion, the benefits extend well beyond individual care. Increased use of early interventions, reduced stigma, and more consistent mental health support, improve population-wide emotional well-being, and build a more resilient society

[1] Dessauvagie, A., Dang, H., Truong, T., Nguyen, T., Nguyen, B.H., Cao, H., & Groen, G. (2022). Mental Health Literacy of University Students in Vietnam and Cambodia. International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 24(3), 439–456. https://doi.org/10.32604/ijmhp.2022.018030