For the first time introduced to Vietnam’s cybersecurity community, the open forum BSides Hanoi 2025 creates opportunities for collaboration and in-depth knowledge sharing between Vietnamese cybersecurity professionals and the global community.
BSides Hanoi 2025, the first specialized security event in Vietnam under the international BSides series, took place on October 9. The event was hosted by VSEC, with support from the National Cybersecurity Association (NCA), the Vietnam Internet Association (VIA), and several other partners.
With the theme “AI hack you,” BSides Hanoi 2025 follows the international Cybersecurity BSides model and is designed specifically for the cybersecurity community, researchers, and senior representatives from domestic and international technology corporations. The event opened a space for discussion and exchange on security challenges in the era of artificial intelligence.
BSides Hanoi 2025 carries special significance as Hanoi is preparing to host the signing ceremony of the United Nations’ “Hanoi Convention” on combating cybercrime. This is not only an opportunity but also a responsibility for Vietnam to assert its pioneering role in fostering regional and international collaboration against borderless cyber threats.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Vu Duy Hien, Deputy Secretary-General and Chief of Office of NCA, emphasized the importance of building strong human resources and quickly bringing cybersecurity policies and legal regulations into real-life implementation. He also affirmed that enterprises and cybersecurity experts are indispensable “extended arms” that enable the Association to fulfill its missions.
Regarding BSides Hanoi 2025, Mr. Hien expressed his hope that the event would help Vietnam’s cybersecurity community gain a broader perspective, share insights, and draw valuable lessons; thereby contributing to a stronger national cybersecurity posture and supporting sustainable national development in the new era.
Explaining the decision to choose AI as the central theme of BSides Hanoi 2025, the organizers shared that AI is increasingly involved on both sides of the “cyber battlefield”—offense and defense. On the offensive side, cybercriminals can become more sophisticated, faster, and less predictable. On the defensive side, if applied effectively, AI enables earlier detection, more accurate containment, and more efficient mitigation. The question today is no longer “Should we use AI?” but rather “How do we use AI to reduce risks and strengthen defense?”
Moreover, in Vietnam, the Government has identified AI as one of the foundational pillars of the national digital technology industry. The Ministry of Science and Technology is updating the National AI Strategy to 2030 and preparing to submit the draft AI Law, aimed at completing the legal framework and ensuring safe and responsible AI development and application.