Cooperation in building smart cities

In Vietnam, urban areas occupy 10% of the country's land area but contribute over 70% of the total national budget revenue (GDP), with the five centrally-governed cities accounting for 50% of the national GDP. Nearly 20 provinces and cities in Vietnam have launched smart city projects.

Major information and communication technology (ICT) companies have signed numerous cooperation agreements with provinces and cities to build smart cities.

The smart city development model in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Contributor

Decision No. 1819/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister approving the National Program on the Application of Information Technology in the Activities of State Agencies has set out the goal and task of deploying smart cities in at least three locations according to criteria guided by the Ministry of Information and Communications. Resolution No. 05/NQ-TW on "Some major guidelines and policies to continue reforming the growth model, improving the quality of growth, labor productivity, and competitiveness of the economy" also states the priority task of developing a number of smart cities.

Vinh City: Allowing cars to park on sidewalks on some streets.

At the workshop, delegates discussed several topics, including: Smart City Initiatives, Global Challenges and Opportunities; Smart Cities and the Internet of Things; Smart City Development in Vietnam; the Relationship between Smart City Planning and Smart Transportation; Citizen Services and E-Government; Financing and Implementation Roadmap for Building Smart Cities...

According to Mr. Nguyen Duc Chung, Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee, in order to achieve sustainable development and move towards building a smart city, Hanoi has identified the application of science and technology, especially information technology, in important and urgent areas.

There, information and communication technology is applied, making the construction, management, and development of the city more efficient and smarter; at the same time, providing services and amenities to citizens and businesses, contributing to improving the quality of life and increasing the competitiveness of the economy.

Over the past period, Hanoi has implemented an online public service portal providing level 3 public services in fields such as: Justice, Natural Resources and Environment, Construction, Education and Training, and Information and Communication on a unified and synchronized platform across 30 districts and 584 communes and wards in the city.

The city currently has 391 online public services at levels 3 and 4 (including 281 level 3 online public services and 110 level 4 online public services), accounting for nearly 20.4% of the total administrative procedures of the city's state agencies.

The rate of online transaction applications for some public services has achieved high results, such as: Justice sector at the commune, ward, district, and county levels reaching over 90%; business registration over 70%; and taxes 97%. In the coming time, the city will complete at least 55% of online public services at level 3; and complete the construction of a shared electronic one-stop system across three levels connecting the online public service system.

A view of Vinh city. Photo by PV.

Hanoi's goal in building a smart city by 2020 is to fundamentally establish the core components of a smart city, including: infrastructure platforms (broadband telecommunications network, sensor systems, surveillance cameras, information security infrastructure, Data Center, etc.); core databases (population, land, businesses, etc.); and to complete the construction of Hanoi's e-Government.

With that goal in mind, Hanoi has identified the development of e-government as the core element in building a smart city, creating the most favorable conditions for citizens and businesses when interacting with government agencies, and gradually improving the quality of life for citizens based on selecting the most essential areas.

At the workshop, representatives from Da Nang city also shared their local experience in building a common information technology data system. Within this data system, citizens and businesses can participate by providing feedback, submitting images, monitoring the results of work handled by departments and agencies, and even rating these departments and agencies.

In 2016, Da Nang received over 10,000 comments and feedback from citizens on various aspects of transportation, health, and the environment through its shared data system. Da Nang also provided free Wi-Fi, facilitating citizens' access to the shared data system.

Speaking at the conference, US Ambassador to Vietnam Ted Osius emphasized the importance of building smart cities given the rapid pace of urbanization in countries around the world, especially in Southeast Asia and Africa.

Urbanization gives rise to many problems and challenges for city managers and urban authorities; therefore, it is essential for countries and localities to build smart cities. The United States is ready to provide funding, support, and share experience in building smart cities with Vietnam in general and Hanoi in particular.

Manh Khanh/baotintuc