Vietnam is rapidly evolving into a futuristic hub with its ambitious smart city projects, aiming to revolutionize urban living with cutting-edge technology. As the world increasingly moves towards digitalization, Vietnam's focus on developing smart cities marks a significant leap towards modernization and sustainable development.

In 2018, Vietnam's government identified smart city development as a priority, with major cities like Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang, and Can Tho spearheading this initiative. These cities are undergoing a comprehensive digital transformation, which includes revamping city and government services to enhance the quality of life and infrastructure.

The Vietnam-Asia Smart City Summit 2023 highlighted the country's progress and the growing awareness among consumers and investors about the importance of sustainable and smart urban spaces. Vietnamese cities are tailoring their smart city roadmaps to address specific local needs, focusing on creating green, efficient, and resilient urban environments.

The smart city development in Vietnam is guided by the 2021 government-approved Decision No. 749/QD-TTG, or the Program for National Digital Transformation for 2025-2030. This program serves as a blueprint for provinces and municipalities to formulate their smart city plans. However, the journey is not without challenges. Larger cities, with their established infrastructures, face complexities in integrating new technologies. In contrast, smaller cities like Da Nang have clearer paths, with changes being applied to completely new developments.

Ho Chi Minh City exemplifies Vietnam's smart city ambitions. The city has mapped out four priority tasks to transform into a smart city by 2025. These include developing a shared database, a simulation research and forecasting center for socioeconomic policies, a smart administration center, and an information security center. Significant investment has been made, including international collaboration, to build a Smart Urban Operation Center. This center is expected to manage and monitor city-wide data and camera systems, contributing significantly to urban management and governance.

Despite the challenges, the commitment to smart city development in Vietnam is clear and strong. The nation is poised to become a regional example in smart urban development. By leveraging technology and innovation, Vietnam is not only enhancing urban living but also paving the way for a sustainable and resilient future. This visionary approach marks a new era in urban development, one where cities are not only efficient and technologically advanced but also sustainable and livable.