The high ranking was mainly thanks to Hanoi’s efforts to improve its investment environment, address enterprises’ concerns regarding institutional aspects and administrative procedures.

Hanoi maintained its second place nationwide in the 2018 Public Administration Reform (PAR) index with a combined score of 83,98%, according to the PAR Index 2018 report.  

The report, which was released last week, attributed the result to Hanoi’s efforts to improve its investment environment, address enterprises’ concerns regarding institutional aspects and administrative procedures. 

 Notably, Hanoi took the first place in the sub-component of “Modernized administrative procedures” with 12.07 scores of the maximum of 13.5, up 15 places compared to last year’s ranking. 

 Over the past few years, Hanoi has been pushing for greater IT application, with 100% applications for business registration and over 98% of tax declarations are now processed online, while the processing time for administrative procedures has been reduced to within three working days, and in some cases to two days. 

 Additionally, Hanoi is now home to 3,530 technology companies which generate revenue of VND244.26 trillion (US$10.44 billion) in 2018, indicating the capital’s effort in attracting major technology companies for the goal of building a smart city. 

 Hanoi considers smart technology solutions the major solution to enhance state governance capability and help the city address current issues, said Chairman of Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung at the national forum on developing Vietnam technology companies held on May 9. 

 Currently, Hanoi is using technologies for better linkage among local agencies, while the process of digital transformation has reduced time, cost and improved efficiency in interactions among local authority, citizens, and enterprises, Chung added. 

 According to Chung, Hanoi aims for greater access to digital services for its citizens and realize the potential of technologies through various ways, including the utilization of digital services, e-document, and encouraging the use of digital technologies among citizens.

 Previously the capital was named among top 10 business-friendly localities for the first time, claiming the 9th rank out of 63 provinces and cities in the provincial competitiveness (PCI) index report, up four places against last year. 

 “The result showed strong efforts from Hanoi to realize its potential as one of Vietnam’s economic hubs and also of ASEAN in the future,” said Vu Tien Loc, chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) at the launching of the 2018 PCI report on March 28. 

 Nguyen Doan Toan, vice chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee, said the capital strives to maintain its top 10 status in the coming years, saying “the recognition would serve as motivation for Hanoi to enhance governance capability for greater business and investment environments.”

 Hanoi also attracted the largest portion of registered capital with US$7.5 billion in 2018, the record number of the city over the last 30 years and accounting for 21.2% of total foreign investment nationwide. 

 In the first five months of 2019, the city maintained the lead with US$4.79 billion of FDI commitments, or 28.6% of total investment nationwide.