AI Hay, the first and largest Vietnamese AI-powered Q&A social network, has been recognized in the Forbes Asia 100 to Watch 2025 list. It is the only Vietnamese tech startup featured this year, continuing the trend set by notable names such as Logivan (Logistics), Finhay (FinTech), and ELSA Speak (EdTech/AI) that have put Vietnam on the regional tech map.
AI Hay’s success, especially in the highly competitive AI generation field, showcases that the domestic startup ecosystem is not only catching up with trends but also capable of creating core technology products that can reshape the game.
The three founders, including CEO Tran Quang Duc, CTO Dr. Nguyen Tho Chuong, and co-founder Nguyen Hoang Hiep, share a background of studying and working in the US. Dr. Chuong also previously worked at Zalo AI Lab.
AI Hay’s founding team
What AI Hay Offers to Vietnamese Users
AI Hay positions itself not as an ordinary chatbot but as an AI-powered Q&A and knowledge-based social network, addressing the unique needs of Vietnamese users.
Its core features include:
- In-depth learning support: Users, mainly students, can snap a photo of their homework in subjects like Math, Literature, Physics, and Chemistry, and receive step-by-step guidance instead of just the final answer.
- Reliable information lookup: Unlike global AI models, AI Hay combines AI with community power to provide highly accurate answers that align with Vietnamese culture and context, complete with cited sources for verification.
- Intelligent entertainment and interaction: One of the most unique features is the “AI Characters” function, allowing users to chat with chatbots modeled after familiar figures from history, literature, and K-Pop idols. This feature enhances interaction while effectively collecting natural language data.
AI Hay’s Vietnamese chatbot
The “Winning by Weakness” Strategy
AI Hay’s success stems from a product strategy that avoids direct confrontation with giants and instead focuses on dominating niche markets.
Their market penetration is evident through specific figures. According to Decision Lab’s 2025 report, AI Hay ranked among the top 6 AI tools used by Vietnamese. More impressively, Sensor Tower’s August 2025 report revealed that AI Hay is the only AI app from Southeast Asia in the top 10 most-used AI apps in the region.
This growth is fueled by the development of specialized data models. The company has built a proprietary dictionary with a vocabulary 10 times larger than ChatGPT, covering both technical terms and everyday language. This is a key factor in the app reaching over 15 million downloads.
AI Hay has successfully raised over $18 million from international funds such as Argor Capital and Square Peg, despite the global capital market tightening.
The founders’ ambition is evident in Dr. Nguyen Tho Chuong’s statement:
“Just as Zalo has become a familiar app on most Vietnamese phones, we want AI Hay to achieve the same level of recognition.”
Convincing Nvidia
AI Hay made headlines by persuading Nvidia, the global chip giant, to provide its DGX H100 server system. In 2023, with Vietnam on the restricted list for importing high-end AI chips from the US, this seemed like an impossible task, potentially halting any tech startup’s ambitions.
However, instead of accepting this limitation, the AI Hay team directly approached Nvidia. They didn’t merely place an order but presented a compelling case about their mission: to use the most powerful chips not for sensitive purposes but for education, to “democratize AI,” and enhance the productivity of Vietnamese people.
By demonstrating the potential, practical value, and noble objectives of their product, they secured Nvidia’s approval.
This event, along with the Forbes recognition, can create a positive ripple effect, inspiring founders and attracting further attention from international investors. It signals that Vietnam is not just a consumer market but an emerging tech innovation hub in the region.
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