Hanoi will develop into a smart city powered by urban data, digital technologies and artificial intelligence (AI), aiming to build a digital government that offers better public services for people and businesses.

The direction is part of a plan issued by the Hanoi People’s Committee on September 8 which sets out tasks and solutions to transform the capital into a smart city by 2030.

Under the plan, Hanoi targets to becoming a part of the national, regional and global networks of smart cities, and a driving force for the Red River Delta, the northern key economic region and the entire country.

Hanoi also sets eyes on leading in data-driven management and governance and use of digital technologies and data analytics across state agencies and socio-economic activities.

The city targets an average GRDP growth rate of 8.5% in 2025, laying the groundwork for double-digit growth in the following years. Meanwhile, the people are the center of development, with all initiatives aimed at improving quality of life and optimizing public services.

Smart city development will also ensure information security, cybersecurity and national digital sovereignty.

Key priorities include strengthening infrastructure for science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation, attracting and nurturing high-quality talents.

Hanoi will focus on smart urban services such as adaptive traffic signal control, traffic monitoring and analytics, cashless toll collection, smart parking, smart energy, smart lighting, intelligent water supply and drainage systems.

The city also supports smart city projects serving as testbeds for new technologies, products and services in line with national strategies on science, technology, innovation and digital transformation.

All initiatives must ensure transparency, proper risk management and protection of the public interest during their test runs.

The city government tasks communes and wards to experiment with smart urban areas and buildings that apply advanced technologies such as Building Information Modeling (BIM), City Information Modeling (CIM), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), AI-powered GEOAI and Internet of Things (IoT).

They are also expected to develop digital twins of urban areas and buildings to accelerate Hanoi’s smart urban development.