Summit seeks advice for Hanoi’s digital transformation, smart city building
The Vietnam-Asia Smart City Summit 2023, themed “Data mining – Building smart cities for sustainable development”, opened in Hanoi on November 29, discussing the capital’s related process and challenges.
At the summit which opens in Hanoi on November 29. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnam-Asia Smart City Summit 2023, themed “Data mining – Building smart cities for sustainable development”, opened in Hanoi on November 29, discussing the capital’s related process and challenges.
Co-organised by the municipal Department of Information and Communications and Vietnam Software & IT services (VINASA), the two-day summit introduces Hanoi’s digital transformation and smart city development programme by 2025, with a vision towards 2030. It also seeks input from experts and businesses regarding the work and promotes business partnership between local IT enterprises and their foreign counterparts.
Toward the goals, three panel sessions are set to mull over the topics of government-citizen-businesses, technology-data-connectivity, and collaboration-development.
In his opening speech, Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Tran Sy Thanh stated that the sustainable smart city model that the capital aspires to achieve will provide a high-quality living environment of convenience, safety, and friendliness for all residents. The city aims to establish an administration that serves the development of organisations and businesses in a dynamic economy, with an increasing emphasis on the digital economy.
Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Huy Dung stressed that the development of smart cities at the local level must be closely integrated with the digital transformation process. The two should be inseparable and non-duplicative, and place people at the centre.
Chairman of VINASA Truong Gia Binh said Hanoi needs distinctive and outstanding mechanisms to attract talents in Vietnam and abroad, while taking the lead in IT training initiatives regarding both hardware and software./.
As of June 28, out of the over 6.22 million e-ID accounts that have been created in Hanoi, more than 4.22 million were activated, according to the deputy director of the Hanoi Police Major General Nguyen Hong Ky.
The Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union of Hanoi recently held a ceremony to launch the Data4life contest on finding AI technology to be applied in the business supply chain connectivity.
A festival for innovative start-ups themed “Connecting the Capital Region – Creativity and Development”, or Techfest Hanoi, is underway in Hanoi from October 12-14.
The Asia Smart City Summit 2023 is scheduled to be held in Hanoi from November 29-30, by the Hanoi Department of Information and Communications in collaboration with the Vietnam Software & IT Services Association.
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.
The week features a rich lineup of activities, including a plenary conference on blockchain and AI development, thematic seminars on future technology trends and investment visions, applications of blockchain and AI in business, the Super Vietnam PitchFest, as well as forums for blockchain and AI.
According to the Politburo’s Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW, dated December 22, 2024, on making breakthroughs in the development of science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation, this is considered a decisive factor in the development of nations. It is seen as a prerequisite and the best opportunity for Vietnam to become prosperous and powerful in the new era of the nation’s rise.
At the summit which opens in Hanoi on November 29. (Photo: VNA) 
