Vietnam’s three cities to join ASEAN smart cities network
Three major cities of Vietnam - Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang - will be part of the ASEAN network of smart cities being proposed by Singapore, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on April 26.
Singapore (VNA) – Three major cities of Vietnam - Hanoi,Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang - will be part of the ASEAN network of smartcities being proposed by Singapore, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong onApril 26.
At a dinner he hosted for his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen XuanPhuc, who has been on a three-day official visit to Singapore ahead of the 32ndASEAN Summit, PM Lee said he was very impressed with the cities’ rapid urbandevelopment, adding that their inclusion in the smart cities network will addto ASEAN's vibrancy.
The smart cities network, which aims to better connect digitalinfrastructure and services like e-payments across the region, is Singapore'sflagship initiative as the chair of ASEAN this year.
Singapore is keen to strengthen ASEAN's resilience andinnovation by developing e-commerce regulation and technology infrastructure,and boosting cyber security in the region. ASEAN's digital economy is forecastto hit 200 billion USD by 2025, according to a report by Temasek and Googlelast year.
The proposal on the smart cities network is scheduled to be approvedby ASEAN leaders at the 32nd ASEAN Summit on April 28 and will belaunched within the framework of the next ASEAN Summit hosted by Singapore inNovember.
ASEAN now groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia,Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.-VNA
The Thai Government is discussing with Austria future cooperation on the East Economic Corridor (EEC), particularly a project to build a smart city in Rayong province, according to Thai Minister of Industry Utama Savanayon.
The central city of Da Nang and FPT, a Vietnamese software giant, inked on April 19 a Memorandum of Understanding on building Da Nang as a ‘smart city’ for the 2018-20 period.
Experts and scientists have discussed how to promote the application of technological solutions to produce clean energy, and form communities using smart energy, towards making over Ho Chi Minh City as a smart city.
A delegation of the Hanoi People’s Committee visited Canada from April 18-20 to learn about the operation of people-elected agencies and development of smart cities in the North American country.
The Vietnamese Government has given a range of priorities to foreign investors to develop production and do business in Vietnam, including those from Singapore, said Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.
Vietnam has over 4.8 million people exposed to AO/dioxin, including hundreds of thousands in the second, third, and even fourth generations. Many live with severe disabilities, facing high medical costs and loss of earning capacity.
Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Hoang Giang reaffirmed that amnesty is a humanitarian policy of the Party and State, reflecting the Vietnamese tradition of compassion and winning attention and high praise both domestically and internationally.
Vietnam officially grants limited-term visa-free entry to high-profile foreigners whose presence is deemed beneficial to the country’s socio-economic development.
With support from the Vietnamese Association in Ufa, Vietnamese language classes for children have been offered for many years. Currently, 60 children of various ages are attending two classes taught by Duc Anh, free of charge.
Vietnam ranked among the top four countries and territories at the 2025 International Olympiad on Artificial Intelligence (IOAI), reaffirming its strong position in international academic competitions.
All 20 crew members aboard the Vietnamese oil tanker GT Unity were successfully rescued from a fire in the vessel’s engine room, thanks to the swift response of the Liberian-flagged ship Androusa and Vietnamese maritime rescue teams.
Describing Agent Orange as one of the most severe and enduring legacies of the war in Vietnam, Vietnam's former Honorary Consul to Belgium Joseph-Michel de Grand Ry warned that its impact – still affecting generations more than five decades later – could last another two to three decades.
Running from August 4 to September 2, under the hashtag #TuHaoVietNam, the campaign invites participants in two categories: “I Love My Country” video clips and “I Love My Country” check-in photos.
Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP, which took effect on the issuance date, introduces amendments that integrate the procedure for reporting and explaining the demand for foreign workers into the process of submitting applications for work permits.
With a tight 13-month deadline, the move is under a strategic and urgent policy to bridge educational gaps, train the local workforce, and shore up territorial sovereignty in some of the country’s most remote areas.
The parade and personnel send-off ceremony will officially take place on August 10 at the area surrounding the Statue of King Ly Thai To and Dinh Tien Hoang street of Hoan Kiem ward, with the participation of nearly 3,000 officers, soldiers, and local residents.
According to national technical regulations, AIS installation is mandatory for boats carrying more than 50 passengers. However, operators of smaller vessels (under 50 seats) in Ha Long Bay have voluntarily committed to completing installation by the deadline to enhance operational safety.
The activities include a Vietnamese language teaching training course for overseas Vietnamese teachers from August 13 to 28 in Hanoi, Ninh Binh, and Thai Nguyen.
Specifically, the ships will carry out patrols from 7am to 6pm daily along the main tourist routes in Ha Long Bay, with one ship permanently stationed at Ti Top island. From 6pm to 7am the following day, the mobile vessels return to Tuan Chau island to maintain a 24/7 on-call duty shift, ensuring constant readiness.
The Ministry of Construction (MoC) plans to open to traffic 208km of expressways of six key projects by August 19, bringing the country’s total expressway network to 2,476km.
As of July 1, a two-tier local government model started in 34 provinces and cities, streamlining administration but creating a surplus of public properties. If not promptly addressed, these assets could become a financial burden.
Whether they grow up to become journalists, diplomats, or professionals in other fields, these children can one day become bridges of friendship and cooperation, telling new and inspiring stories of Vietnam – China relations, said Ambassador Pham Thanh Binh.
A 21-year-old Indian tourist was successfully resuscitated and treated by doctors at Hoan My Da Nang Hospital after a near-drowning incident left him in critical condition. After three days of intensive care, the man was discharged from the hospital and has since returned to India.
In an document issued on August 5, the PM emphasised the need to stablise living conditions for people hit by floods, landslides, and flash floods in late July and early August in northern and north-central provinces, especially Dien Bien, Son La, and Nghe An which suffered some of the worst damage.
Although millions of Vietnamese were affected by AO, only over 626,000 individuals, including war veterans and their children suffering from dioxin-related conditions, are currently receiving state benefits.
Dragon Bridge in Da Nang city (Source: VNA) 
