The history of IBT consists of 3 following periods  

1. BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT, INSTITUTE OF NATURAL SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, NATIONAL COMMITTEE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (1967-1975)

In 1975, when National Scientific Research Center (NSRC) was established, Biology Department was reorganized into 5 different laboratories directly belonging to the NSRC. It included both general and experimental biology fields. These were Animal Laboratory, Plant Laboratory, Human and Animal Physiology – Biochemistry Laboratory, Plant Physiology – Biochemistry Laboratory, and Microbiology Laboratory.  

2. INSTITUTE OF BIOLOGY (IB) AND OTHER RESEARCH CENTERS DERIVED FROM THE IB OF THE NSRC (1975-1993).

In May 1975, the Institute of Biology (IB) of the NSRC was established based on the unification of the above biological research laboratories. Prof. Nguyen Huu Thuoc and Prof. Dang Huy Huynh were appointed to the IB Vice Directors. In 1983, Prof. Le Xuan Tu was nominated to the IB Director.

In 1983, the IB general biology laboratories were reorganized into the Center of Ecology and Biological Resources of the NSRC. This Center was led by Prof. Dang Huy Huynh.  

In 1982, the Human and Animal Physiology and Biochemistry Laboratory became a Center of the NSRC and Prof. Nguyen Tai Luong was nominated to the Director of the Center.

In 1989, the Center of Microbiology of the NSRC was established and Prof. Ly Kim Bang was appointed to the Director.

In 1990, the Center of Applied Biochemistry of the NSRC was established and Prof. Dai Duy Ban was nominated to the Director.

3. INSTITUTE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY (IBT)

In 1993, when Vietnamese Government reorganized the NSRC to form the National Center of Natural Science and Technology (NCST), Institute of Biotechnology (IBT) of the NCST was established on June 19th 1993, based on the reunification of the Institute of Biology, Center of Human and Animal Physiology and Biochemistry, Center of Applied Biochemistry, and Center of Microbiology. Prof. LE THI MUOI was nominated to the Director of the first tenure (1993-1997).

Prof. LE TRAN BINH was selected to be the Director in the second tenure (1997-2003) and the third tenure (2003-2008). Since 2004 when the NCST was renamed as Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST)and the IBT has been one of the biggest research institutie of VAST.