How AI Is Transforming Vietnam’s Image Industry and Empowering Creative Voices

AI Transforming Vietnam’s Image Industry

Artificial intelligence is reshaping Vietnam’s image industry by changing how creative work is done, improving production speed, and enriching storytelling. Although AI is still a relatively new concept locally, it is gaining traction across comic books, illustrations, animated films, and video games that reflect Vietnamese culture.

AI in Illustration: A New Creative Partner

A striking example is the illustrated novel Hiep si De Men (Knight Cricket), Vietnam’s first fully AI-illustrated book. Its creator used five specialized AI systems to produce over 200 artworks covering character design, backgrounds, lighting, and post-production. Despite the story being written more than 20 years ago, AI allowed the artist to bring his vision to life. Importantly, AI acts as a collaborator rather than a replacement, adapting to the artist’s intentions and broadening creative options.

AI-Driven Filmmaking on a Budget

The film sector is also experimenting with AI’s possibilities. Filmmaker Pham Vinh Khuong produced the sci-fi movie Loi Nguyen Duoi Anh Trang (Shadow of the Wolf) entirely using AI, without a traditional studio or large team. Using only a smartphone and a custom AI platform, he completed a three-hour film, marking a notable step in AI-assisted filmmaking in Vietnam.

Animation and Efficiency Gains

In animation, AI supports idea generation, story development, and visual design. According to Meritorious Artist and series director Trinh Lam Tung, AI accelerates the process of visualizing creative worlds and automates repetitive tasks. This allows artists to focus more on emotional expression and thematic depth.

Practical Benefits of AI Integration

• Faster production timelines
• Lower costs
• Broader creative possibilities
• Empowerment of independent artists and small teams

Director Khuong highlights that AI can process large datasets for scriptwriting, helping structure engaging stories and increasing creative independence.

Limitations of AI in Creative Work

Despite AI’s usefulness, many creatives acknowledge its limits. Tung points out that AI supports early ideation but cannot replace the unique vision of directors, screenwriters, or lead artists. A film is more than images—it reflects personal perspective and storytelling skill that AI cannot fully mimic.

Associate Professor Dr. Do Lenh Hung Tu, Chairman of the Vietnam Cinema Association, agrees that emotional resonance in art goes beyond AI’s capabilities. For cultural industries to thrive, he stresses the need for balanced investment in technology, production quality, distribution, preservation, artistic training, and international collaboration.

Shifting Roles for Artists

Rather than diminishing artistic roles, AI is changing them. Visual artists who once focused on manual sketching now act more like creative directors, guiding and overseeing the process. “We are not losing our roles, we are being promoted,” says the illustrator behind Hiep si De Men. “We become orchestrators of the creative process.”

Education and Ethical Use of AI

Recognizing AI’s value in education, initiatives like the Creating with AI project introduce students to AI-assisted illustration and digital storytelling. This effort encourages responsible and effective use of AI tools, preparing new creators to integrate technology thoughtfully.

A Forward Path for Vietnam’s Image Industry

As artists blend AI into their workflows and infrastructure evolves to support this, Vietnam’s image industry is positioned to produce culturally meaningful and innovative works. The collaboration between human creativity and AI tools points to a promising future.

For creatives interested in expanding their AI skills, exploring courses on Complete AI Training can offer practical guidance and resources.