VN — VnExpress
28 nm Security Chip Developed by Vietnamese Engineers
Chips1 min read
Viettel engineers and the Government Cipher Committee of Vietnam built VGC v1.0, a 28 nm security chip meant to protect data on digital devices. The chip was launched on November 3 and is the first product of a new Vietnamese secure chip platform.
A new Vietnamese security chip
Viettel and the Government Cipher Committee (Ban Cơ yếu Chính phủ) launched the VGC v1.0 chip on November 3. The chip encrypts and decrypts data about 15 times faster than software alone. It adds Vietnam's national encryption algorithm, MKV, directly into the chip's hardware, so the protection does not depend on imported chips.
Key facts
- The chip has 300 million transistors, which are tiny switches that process data.
- It is made with a 28 nm CMOS process, and Viettel says it can be produced at its own factory.
- The chip package measures 10 x 10 mm.
- In the first quarter of 2026, the first batch passed technical tests and received a certificate for use in the economy and society.
Why build it inside the chip
The Cipher Committee says it already fully controls encryption software that protects state secrets. The concern is that an imported chip could leak data. Putting the encryption inside the chip itself is meant to close that gap. Viettel's chip design team handles the circuit design, and the Cipher Committee sets the security rules and test standards.
Why it matters
This shows Vietnam is trying to control key technology from start to finish, from encryption math to chip design and testing. The chip is dual-use, meaning it can serve both government and civilian needs. Its first uses are secure USB drives for Party, state and defense bodies, and digital signature tokens for the national digital signature system.
What to watch
- Mass production under the new cooperation deal between the Cipher Committee and Viettel.
- Whether the chip is used in digital signature tokens and wider public services.
- New chips planned for AI, 6G telecom, smart cameras, drones and robots.
- Training of engineers in chip design, encryption and hardware security.
Glossary
- Viettel
- A large Vietnamese telecom company that also designs and makes chips through its semiconductor center.
- Ban Cơ yếu Chính phủ
- The Government Cipher Committee, which handles secure communications and encryption for the Vietnamese government.
- MKV
- Vietnam's national block encryption algorithm, which scrambles data so only authorized people can read it.
- 28 nm CMOS process
- A chip-making method using 28 nanometer features. It is a common, mature method for making chips.