Vietnam is exploring new 5G equipment deals with Chinese technology firms, sources told Reuters, a move that signals Hanoi may keep Chinese vendors in its network plans despite sustained warnings from Washington about the security risks of Chinese telecom gear.

The report, published exclusively by Reuters, does not name the specific companies or operators involved, and no contract values, spectrum details or rollout timelines have been disclosed. What it does establish is direction: Vietnamese interest in Chinese 5G suppliers remains alive at a moment when many Western governments have pushed operators toward European, South Korean or domestic alternatives.

Why does this matter for Vietnam's 5G build-out?

Vietnam sits in an unusual position. The country has one of Southeast Asia's most competitive mobile markets, and its operators have already run 5G trials with a mix of vendors. At the same time, Hanoi has cultivated its own telecom equipment ambitions, with state-linked Viettel developing homegrown 5G radio technology.

Against that backdrop, new deals with Chinese suppliers would represent a pragmatic commercial choice rather than a political statement. Chinese vendors typically price their radio equipment below European rivals, and for a market where operators must cover dense urban areas and difficult rural terrain, cost per site carries real weight.

The Reuters report describes the talks as ongoing, which means any agreements could still shift in scope or fall apart entirely. Sources-based reporting on procurement discussions often precedes formal announcements by months, and Vietnamese operators have historically kept vendor selections close until contracts are signed.

What is the US position?

Washington has spent years pressing allies and partners to exclude Chinese equipment from their 5G networks, arguing that the gear could enable state-directed espionage or network disruption. The United States has tied some of that pressure to tangible consequences, including restrictions on countries that use Chinese technology in networks co-funded or jointly operated with American firms.

Vietnam, like most of Southeast Asia, has not adopted outright bans. Regional operators from Malaysia to the Philippines and Thailand have continued buying Chinese equipment while managing relations with both Beijing and Washington. Vietnam's calculus adds another layer: China is its largest trading partner, and the two countries share a land border alongside long-standing maritime disputes.

Reuters frames the story around that tension — commercial interest on one side, US warnings on the other — without suggesting which way Hanoi will ultimately lean.

What comes next?

No timeline has been attached to the discussions, and Reuters cites sources rather than official statements from Vietnam's Ministry of Information and Communications or its operators. If deals materialize, they would test how far Vietnam can balance its equipment sourcing between Chinese suppliers, Western pressure and Viettel's domestic radio technology, a balance the country will have to strike as its national 5G rollout advances.