Da Nang holds potential to become ‘Silicon Valley’ of Southeast Asia: seminar
The central city of Da Nang holds great potential to become a ‘Silicon Valley’ of Southeast Asia, especially when it receives more investment, technology and resources of firms which come from the US’s ‘Silicon Valley’, an official has said.
Da Nang (VNA) – The central city of Da Nang holds great potentialto become a ‘Silicon Valley’ of Southeast Asia, especially when it receivesmore investment, technology and resources of firms which come from the US’s ‘SiliconValley’, an official has said.
At an October 17 seminar on digital transformation andsmart cities between companies operating in the information and communicationstechnology (ICT) sector of the US and Da Nang city, deputy head of the International Cooperation Department under the Ministry of Information and Communications Hoang Anh Tu pointed out that Da Nang is home to the most high-tech parks,concentrated information technology parks, and software parks in the centralregion.
It also ranked first in Vietnam in terms of digitaltransformation in 2021, he said, adding that the US’s ICT enterprisescooperating with Da Nang will see a lot of opportunities to succeed in digitaltransformation, and can easily expand collaboration with other Vietnameselocalities, and even cities of other countries in the region.
Adam Sitkoff, executive director from the American Chamberof Commerce (AmCham) Hanoi, said that US firms are able to see Da Nang’spotential in digital transformation.
Therefore, this business linkage programme will create a newmark for cooperation between the two sides, he added.
Deputy director of the municipal Department of Informationand Communications Le Son Phong said that his city began building thee-government from 2010, and piloting several smart apps in transport, theenvironment, health, education and food safety and hygiene from 2014.
To successfully implement the smart city model and digitaltransformation, Da Nang has put forward many important solutions, includingstrengthening cooperation with both domestic and foreign organisations, groupsand buinsesses.
It won ASOCIO Smart City Award 2019 by the Asian-OceanianComputing Industry Organisation (ASOCIO), Smart City Award Vietnam in 2020 and 2021,and also ranked first in Vietnam’s Digital Transformation Index in these years.
Revenue from the city’s ICT sector enjoys an average annualgrowth rate of 20%./.
The central city of Da Nang’s economy has continued to grow in the post-COVID-19 period, affirming its position as a leading tourist destination and an attractive investment environment.
The second phase of the Hoa Cam Industrial Park (IP) in the central city of Da Nang has attracted great interest from investors, according to head of the Da Nang Hi-tech Park and Industrial Zones Authority (Da Nang HPIZA) Pham Truong Son.
The Da Nang Tourism Promotion Centre on September 15 hosted an event to introduce the updated version of the application ‘A Virtual Vacation in Da Nang’.
Under the European Union (EU)’s global initiative on Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence (CoE), Vietnam has implemented numerous projects aimed at strengthening national capacity in detecting, preventing, and preparing for CBRN-related threats.
The course aims to promote knowledge exchange between scientific and educational schools from different countries, while deepening participants’ expertise in modern technology and technical education. It comprises two main specialisations of electronics-automation and nuclear technology.
ANTARA and VNA can design global-scale cooperation programmes or joint media campaigns, demonstrating the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Indonesia, as well as the cooperation between the two national news agencies.
As Vietnam’s digital transformation accelerates, both the frequency and severity of cyberattacks are growing. The National Cybersecurity Association (NCA) reported that in 2024 alone, there were some 659,000 separate cybersecurity incidents, impacting around 46.15% of government agencies and businesses.
A key highlight will be the technology cluster pavilion, showcasing top enterprises selected for their innovation, market potential, and practical applications. These firms will display flagship products and solutions, supported by government policies to strengthen the tech sector.
Since 2022, more than 500 Vietnamese startups have engaged in Google’s Startup Academy, Google for Startups Accelerator, and Google Startup Masterclass. Nearly 100 of these firms received support to develop and improve their products, benefiting more than 300,000 customers and creating over 300 new jobs through successful fundraising and team expansion amidst Vietnam’s competitive economy.
Over the past three decades, Binh Duong has cemented its status as one of Vietnam’s most dynamic industrial hubs, building a robust foundation in manufacturing, exports, and investment. The province now has 30 operational industrial parks spanning over 13,000 hectares, with an occupancy rate exceeding 90%.
The diplomat emphasised that Vietnam places the highest priority on the development of science, technology, and innovation, viewing them as critical drivers for the country’s advancement in the new development era.
The PM revealed Vietnam’s plan to develop nuclear power in the near future, and called on the Swedish side to assist Vietnam in developing and refining legal and policy frameworks for the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes; training and developing human resources; ensuring nuclear safety; and conducting training and drills to improve incident management capabilities.
More than an art showcase, the second “Technology with heart” contest seeks to inspire innovation and spotlight the humanistic values that technology can bring into daily life, expected to contribute to a sustainable digital future.
The average speed of the national mobile broadband network remained stable, with download speeds reaching 76.86 Mbps and upload speeds reaching 26.98 Mbps.
Under the MoU, AMD will support several key initiatives spearheaded by HCM City’s authorities, including piloting policies, co-hosting innovation events, and evaluating the investment environment within the Saigon Hi-Tech Park.
The centre is a joint initiative between Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology, with PTIT and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) serving as co-leads, and global telecommunications giant Nokia as founding industry partner.
The new centre, staffed by a team of scientists, researchers, and AI specialists working in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, forms part of Qualcomm’s global AI research group.
As a flagship initiative of the community project “Digital Literacy for All”, the programme forms part of a national scheme to equip 20 million young people with digital business skills.
The organisers hope the competition will help shape a generation of exceptional engineers who will make significant contributions to Vietnam’s scientific and technological progress in this era of transformation.
In the digital age and amidst the Fourth Industrial Revolution, IP plays an increasingly critical role, not only in safeguarding inventions but also in reducing copyright infringement and curbing piracy.
Ambassador Nguyen Minh Vu laid stress on the significance of the Hanoi Convention, particularly to the Asia – Pacific, to handling legal gaps in international cooperation against rapidly increasing global cybercrime.
A corner of Da Nang city (Photo: VNA) 
