The Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee recently issued the Smart City Development Project, which outlines goals for the 2026-2030 period, with a vision to 2045.

According to the project, over the next five years, Ho Chi Minh City will synchronously develop its telecommunications infrastructure, broadband internet, and internet of things (IoT) network. All public areas will feature high-speed free Wi-Fi. The 5G network aims to cover 95% of the population, and 6G will be piloted in several key areas.

Residents use smart devices in central Ho Chi Minh City, 4/2025. *Quynh Tran*

Alongside connectivity infrastructure, Ho Chi Minh City aims for 70% of information systems to operate on cloud computing platforms. It plans for 80% of databases to be digitized and interconnected with the central government, and 85% of departmental data to be integrated into the city's data sharing platform.

A smart city operational data center will be built and connected to the national data center. The city will also implement a digital twin platform, integrating spatial data above ground, underground, and in the air, along with real-time IoT sensors to simulate and support urban management.

In the digital government sector, the city targets 100% of administrative records and resolution outcomes to be digitized. All eligible public services will be provided fully online, and 85% of records will be processed online. The satisfaction rate for online public services among residents and businesses is set at 99%.

The project also aims for the digital economy to contribute 30-40% to the gross regional domestic product (GRDP). The city will have at least 300 innovative startups and a minimum of two concentrated digital technology zones.

In urban planning and construction, all new planning projects will integrate smart city solutions and be developed and managed on a geographic information system (GIS) platform. New construction projects will apply building information modeling (BIM).

In the transportation sector, all traffic lights on main arteries will connect with real-time data to help detect congestion and accidents. Public transport information will be integrated in real-time. Key areas will be equipped with smart cameras for traffic management, security, and safety.

The city also aims for all public transport vehicles to transition to green energy by 2030.

In healthcare, residents are encouraged to have electronic health records, and medical facilities will implement telemedicine. For education, students and teachers will have digital learning accounts, core learning materials will be digitized, and schools will apply artificial intelligence (AI) to support teaching and learning. The city will implement a program for 1,000 digital schools.

Ho Chi Minh City aims to be among the top 50 smart cities globally by 2030. It plans to become one of three national-level smart city operational centers by 2035 and evolve into an advanced smart city in the Asia-Pacific region by 2045.

Le Tuyet