Primarily located on the route directly linking Hanoi city centre and Noi Bai International Airport, the Smart City project is a stepping stone towards Vietnam’s socio-economic development ambitions.

The Smart City project shows the determination of Hanoi authorities to develop and stand on par with the most modern cities in the world

At the same time, it will also form a new gateway connecting trade between Vietnam and other countries in the region and the world.

With the total estimated capital investment of $4.2 billion, the BRG-Sumitomo joint venture’s Smart City project extends over 272 hectares across Dong Anh district and will implement six major smart features, including smart energy, smart mobility, smart governance, smart learning, smart economy, and smart living.

To meet the sustainability trend, all smart projects prioritise applying smart energy solutions. At the Smart City, energy usage will be optimised through the integration of home and building management systems and the centralised energy management system. In addition, the use of innovative renewable energy technologies and practices will also be prioritised.

High-class smart living

Smart mobility is a must. The project will feature an arterial boulevard rich in public spaces kitted out with modern services and facilities to meet the various needs of residents and visitors. People will be able to study, work, meet, and exchange ideas along this integrated walking street which will become the cultural epicentre of the Smart City.

Throughout the Smart City, a modern public transport system will ensure smooth and convenient mobility for residents. This will help to minimise the number of private vehicles on the roads.

A combination of mass urban transit buses and a new metro line will help establish an ultramodern and convenient commuter lifestyle.

Known as the brain of a smart city, smart governance is a key part of the master plan. Smart City residents will be assured of a safe environment through the installation of advanced security control systems. The entire Smart City will make use of advanced security monitoring and warning systems as well as sensors for flood control and the monitoring of equipment to optimise the recycling of rainwater.

To meet the essential requirements of residents, the smart learning system will help city dwellers to connect seamlessly to world education trends. The local school’s digital systems will connect lecturers from all over the world through virtual classrooms so that students can maximise their personal learning potential. The city will also become a centre-point for arts and culture that will provide a colourful and unique spiritual life for residents.

A smart economy will be the heart of the Smart City. Symbolising a lotus flower, the Financial Tower is set to become an iconic spot of Hanoi, attracting all visitors to the capital. The Smart City will also feature a concentrated hub of office buildings to attract leading businesses.

Offering an array of various cashless payment methods, the project will help drive omni-business for smart consumers.

Above all, the Smart City aims to help all residents enjoy smart living to its full extent. To support a healthy lifestyle, residents will be able to enjoy a wide range of sports and invigorating activities, including jogging through the park and the modern cityscape.

Water bodies will be prevalent in many parts of the Smart City and will play a central role in adding more than a simple drop of nature and vitality to the development. The aquatic areas and natural green spaces will blend with modern urban blocks to produce an energetic smart community.

In addition, Smart City residents’ health will be constantly monitored, and care will be provided in world-class, modern facilities, while their health data will be stored in a central medical system.

In adjacent properties, residents will be able to enjoy first-class services at international-quality hotels and retreats. The Smart City will also be home to numerous restaurants serving Vietnamese cuisine and popular dishes from around the world, and shoppers will have an abundance of premium domestic and international branded stores waiting for them.

The "new Hanoi" for future generations

At the ground-breaking ceremony where Vietnamese developer BRG Group and Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation officially announced their Smart City project, Masayuki Hyodo, president and CEO of Sumitomo Corporation, emphasised, “This project does not copy the model of any city, but is a beautiful scheme with the latest 4.0 technologies, for example 5G, facial recognition, and blockchain, bringing an altogether new quality of life for people.”

Nguyen Thi Nga, the originator of the vision for this Smart City, shared that in this city the traditional, historical, cultural, and natural beauties of Hanoi and Dong Anh district will be highlighted in harmony with Internet of Things technologies.

Nga’s favourite architectural spots which she often mentions include the Pearl Lake in the heart of the Smart City, inspired by the immortal Hoan Kiem Lake, and the 108-storey financial tower in the shape of a stunning lotus flower which will become a new financial centre for Hanoi and the Southeast Asian region. There will also be a cultural park honouring the most outstanding cultural elements of ASEAN member states and a square where residents can kick back and relax after work and celebrate the major events and festivals of Vietnam and Hanoi.

To be implemented in five construction phases closely connected and synchronised with each other, the Smart City project is scheduled to be completed by 2028.

Expecting the Smart City project to create a new driving force for the socio-economic development of Hanoi and Vietnam in the future, Chairman of Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung stated that land clearance for the project’s construction has begun before the ground-breaking ceremony and will be continued to soon hand over the premises to the investor so that the first phase can be completed by 2022.

A modern city on par with the most developed cities in the world – a new legendary city is taking shape in the north of the thousand-year-old capital.