Nineteen initiatives receive Vietnam Smart City Awards 2024
The Vietnam Software and IT Services Association (VINASA) presented the Smart City Awards 2024 to 10 localities and authors of nine smart technological solutions during the Vietnam-Asia Smart City Summit 2024, held in Hanoi on December 3.
Representatives of 10 cities receiving the Smart City Award 2024. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - The Vietnam Software and IT Services Association (VINASA) presented the Smart City Awards 2024 to 10 localities and authors of nine smart technological solutions during the Vietnam-Asia Smart City Summit 2024, held in Hanoi on December 3.
VINASA Chairman Nguyen Van Khoa said the winners were selected from 70 nominations, aiming to recognise localities, organisations, and businesses pioneering technological solutions in the journey to build smart cities.
Over the past five years, the awards have supported the Government, provinces, cities, and various units in sustainably developing smart urban areas in Vietnam, he noted.
Dr. Nguyen Quan, former Minister of Science and Technology and Chair of the Awards Council, noted that this year, the organisers introduced "green" criteria to align with the dual goals of Vietnam's national digital transformation. He added that this year's nominations were of high quality, with winners evaluated on intelligent approach, sustainability, and innovation.
Prominent cities such as Da Nang, Thu Duc, Tay Ninh, Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh City have shown clear progress in participating in the awards, said Quan.
Da Nang, a pioneer in smart city building, has consistently received the highest honour, the "Vietnam Smart City Award 2024", along with accolades for smart operations and management (IOC), start-up and innovation hub, and smart environmental management.
Meanwhile, Thu Duc city in Ho Chi Minh City was awarded for smart operations and management.
Vice Chairman of the Thu Duc People's Committee Mai Huu Quyet said that this recognition reflects local efforts in 2024 to promote digital transformation and develop the digital economy through IT applications. The "Thanh pho Thu Duc” (Thu Duc City) app was a key feature, functioning to integrate 28 sectors with intelligent camera systems, and smart neighbourhood projects to enhance residents' quality of life.
In the field of cybersecurity, the "Smart Firewall" solution developed by SafeGate won the Smart City Award.
Do Hung Thuan, Director of SafeGate, said that the "Make in Vietnam" product, developed by local engineers, caters to the specific needs of Vietnamese organisations, particularly state agencies. He expressed hope that the recognition will inspire his team to further refine the product.
🅘 As Vietnam's digital transformation and smart city development remain in their early stages, the organisers plan to elevate the awards' criteria, influence, and value in the coming years to encourage more significant achievements in this field./.
The 2024 Vietnam-Asia Smart City Summit commenced in Hanoi on December 2, aiming to put forward technology solutions and management strategies that help cities modernise infrastructure and develop smart and sustainable services for residents.
The 2024 Vietnam – Asia Smart City Summit will take place in Hanoi on December 2-3 under the theme “Smart city – Digital economy – Sustainable development", according to the Vietnam Software & IT Services Association (VINASA).
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.
Three Vietnamese engineers have won Gold Award at The Global AI Challenge for Building E&M Facilities 2025, held in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (China).
With the government's strong direction and active participation from businesses and citizens, national digital transformation is deepening, with a focus on building a digital government, economy, and society.
VietNEST (Vietnamese Nurturing Education for Science & Traditions) is a mobile app and digital platform for Vietnamese language learning among overseas children.
The networks bring together universities, research institutes and domestic and foreign businesses. Members will work closely in training, research, and technology transfer by sharing curricula, improving faculty capacity, providing access to laboratories and research facilities, and jointly implementing science and technology projects.
The Better Choice Awards (BCA) 2025 is a key highlight in the lead-up to Vietnam Innovation Day that falls on October 1, an annual event expected to attract hundreds of innovative enterprises, research institutions, investment funds, and startups from both Vietnam and abroad.
The new line serves as a critical backup route, strategically complementing existing submarine cables and enhancing the resilience, proactivity, and security of Vietnam’s telecommunications infrastructure.
Vietnam is actively yet cautiously preparing for the construction of its first nuclear power plant in Ninh Thuan (now the south-central coastal province of Khanh Hoa). The resumption of the programme after years of suspension carries considerable significance for the nation’s development in a new era as it strives to gradually reduce and ultimately phase out coal-fired power to realise the Government’s commitment to Net Zero by 2050.
The government leader reaffirmed Vietnam’s goal of achieving self-reliance in the design, manufacturing, and test of necessary semiconductor chips by no later than 2027.
With the launching of its two-tier local administration model, the city is incorporating technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain to enhance service delivery for citizens and businesses, aligning with the Politburo’s Resolution 57-NQ/TW on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation.
Vietnam has issued many key policies to support semiconductor development, notably the Politburo’s Resolution 57 on science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation. Other initiatives include the Semiconductor Industry Development Strategy to 2030, with a vision to 2050, and the Human Resources Development Programme for the Semiconductor Industry.
Vietnam is no longer just an emerging blockchain market, it is stepping into a leadership role, with global investors, developers, and experts recognising its growing potential to become a leading hub for digital assets in the region.
Taking place on August 1–2, the event features more than 20,000 attendees and over 200 speakers from Vietnam, the h Korea, Singapore, the UAE, Hong Kong (China) and the US.
Dung directed the Ministry of Science and Technology to revise the national startup scheme, ensuring it clearly defines the scope and content, grounded on strong political and legal foundations, international best practices, and well-reasoned arguments for submission to the Government.
The two-day academic forum, themed “Resilience, Sustainability & Digital Transformation in a Changing World: Perspectives from Southeast Asia”, aims to share interdisciplinary research insights, focusing on adaptive capacity, sustainable development, and digital transformation amid evolving global and regional landscapes.
With such a rapid economic growth, Vietnam must diversify energy sources and nuclear power is a rational choice to ensure the national energy security, said Associate Professor Kei Koga from the Nanyang Technological University (Singapore).
Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung emphasised that Vietnam has a clear strategy and ambition in this field, and is rapidly emerging as a central hub and key link in the regional and global semiconductor value chains.
According to Cushman & Wakefield’s latest Asia-Pacific Data Centre Investment Landscape report, Vietnam now ranks second in the region for data centre investment returns, with a yield on cost (YoC) of 17.5–18.8%, just behind Singapore’s 21–23%.
Vietnam is taking drastic yet cautious steps in building a culture of nuclear safety and security, with the aim of having its first nuclear power plant operational by the end of 2030 and using this specific energy source effectively and sustainably.
Vietnam’s 5G strategy has been clearly outlined in national digital technology and infrastructure policies. A wide range of solutions is being vigorously implemented to achieve the target of an average internet speed of 100 Mbps by 2025 and full nationwide 5G coverage by 2030.