HCM City eyes driving smart urban development through digital data
Ho Chi Minh City is aiming for a digital economy contributing about 25% and 40% to its gross regional domestic product (GRDP) by 2025 and 2030, respectively.
At a workshop on smart city strategy held in Ho Chi Minh City in March (Photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNA)ꦚ – Ho Chi Minh City is aiming for a digital economy contributing about 25% and 40% to its gross regional domestic product (GRDP) by 2025 and 2030, respectively.
Duong Anh Duc, Vice Chairman of the municipal People's Committee, stated that the local authorities have issued a scheme to transform the southern largest economic hub into a smart city, a digital transformation programme, a data governance strategy, and a research and development programme for artificial intelligence (AI) applications for 2020-2030.
These key policy mechanisms for digital data-driven transformation are to not only ensure the set targets but also maximise the city's potential to rise to the level of major peers in the region and other countries.
At a workshop on smart city strategy held in the metropolis last month, Nguyen Manh Cuong, Director of the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Southern Office, emphasised the importance of databases.
Associate Professor, Dr. Hoang Huu Hanh, Head of the Vietnam Innovation and Digital Transformation Institute’s scientific council, said that linking and managing databases will bring economic and social value to the country, localities, and enterprises. Conversely, if the databases are not of high quality, efficient digital models or applications cannot be achieved.
Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Pham Duc Long recommended localities to build a common understanding that smart urban development is about implementing digital transformation within the scope and scale of urban areas focusing on addressing such major issues as transport, environment, energy, and social security.
This is a continuous and long-term process, requiring significant resources from the social community, he said.
Currently, the ministry is drafting a government decree on regulations for shared databases and is expected to submit it to the Government in May 2024./.
A centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) in Ho Chi Minh City is scheduled to be officially launched in September, with a mission to be Vietnam’s top facility in advising national industrial policies, piloting their implementation in the southern metropolis, and promoting economic transformation in the revolution.
Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Information and Communications Vo Minh Thanh has provided details concerning orientations to the city's digital transformation this year, with a roadmap comprising nine key tasks.
Ho Chi Minh City will implement different measures to promote the digital economy, with the goal that it will contribute 20% to the city’s gross regional domestic product (GRDP) by 2025, and 40% by 2030.
The North-South Expressway project is scheduled for completion by 2030, aiming to establish the groundwork for Vietnam’s modern railway industry and stimulate regional economic development, positioning the country for a significant economic leap in the era of national rise.
The probe, initiated on June 11 following a petition by the US Coalition for Fair Trade in Hardwood Plywood, targets products classified under HS Code 4412 and 9403 imported from China, Indonesia and Vietnam.
Sun PhuQuoc Airways was born as a perfect piece in Sun Group’s strategic vision to build a premium ecosystem of tourism, entertainment, real estate, and aviation. With a pioneering ambition, Sun PhuQuoc Airways is not just an airline, but a symbol of connection – bringing the world to Phu Quoc and taking Phu Quoc to the world.
A key change in the draft decree is a provision requiring bank transfers for gold transactions valued at 20 million VND (765 USD) and above, to enhance transparency and verify customer identities.
In the first four months of 2025, trade turnover between Vietnam and Cambodia surpassed 3 billion USD, marking a 7% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
On June 19 alone, a total of 2,005 trucks completed customs clearance at Lang Son’s border gates — the highest single-day figure ever recorded in the province. Of these, 634 carried exports and 1,371 imports.
The OECD Economic Surveys: Vietnam 2025 report focuses on analysing the country’s macroeconomic fundamentals, the impact of international integration on attracting foreign investment and trade, and the country’s prospects for developing a low-carbon economy.
Antoine Colin, Senior Vice President for Global Supply Chain Digital Transformation & Resilience at HP Inc., affirmed HP’s strategic commitment to building a supply chain and ecosystem in Vietnam and the region.
Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT)’s Trade Promotion Agency Bui Quang Hung emphasised that logistics has evolved from a technical function into a core capability for Vietnamese exporters to maintain their competitive advantage in the US market.
A trade official has suggested companies work closely with shipping lines, airlines, and freight forwarders to monitor routes, transit times, and potential surcharges while exploring broader cargo insurance to cover risks like war and terrorism.
In addition to institutional reform, the agency is also rolling out key solution groups to combat counterfeit goods, imitations, and intellectual property infringements in the digital environment.
The event, co-organised by the Vietnam Trade Office in the UK and TT Meridian, a local importer of Vietnamese fresh produce, aims to build a national lychee brand and encourage broader recognition of Vietnamese fruits in a competitive, high-end market.
The industry's performance has been powered by bold investments in modern production lines, enabling Vietnamese firms to produce complicated products which were exclusive to advanced economies.
Outcomes of ABAC III will shape ABAC’s final policy recommendations to be submitted to the ABAC-APEC leaders’ dialogue, scheduled to take place in the Republic of Korea this November.
This is the second year the magazine has released the ranking, which is based on total revenue and key financial indicators of enterprises from seven countries in the region: Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, and Cambodia.
At the summit, publishing, tech, and media sectors will discuss emerging trends, business models, and sustainable solutions for digital publishing development in Vietnam.
This year’s “Vietnam Goods Week” marks a significant milestone as it is being held simultaneously for the first time in four locations across Asia: Japan, Hong Kong (China), Cambodia, and Malaysia, from June 19 - 22.
