According to a Politburo resolution, Hanoi must strive to be the leading locality in promoting industrialization and modernization.

The Hanoi People's Council has also issued a resolution on building a smart city, via the adjustment to the “Program of applying information technologies in State agencies’ operation in Hanoi in 2016-2020”.

The budget for implementing the program was lifted to VND 3 trillion (more than USD 127.7 million) from VND 1.25 trillion, creating a foundation for Hanoi to promote socio-economic development and become a smart city.

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Hanoi officially put bus systems using clean fuel into operation on August 1, 2018

According to Nguyen Ngoc Ky, director of the municipal Department of Information and Communication, the process for developing Hanoi into a smart city includes three phases, focusing on forming core parts, smart systems and a digital economy; encouraging locals to join social management; and developing a knowledge-based economy.

Currently, Hanoi is working to build the smart infrastructure in transport, tourism, health, environment and energy, while paying heed to human resources and ensuring security and social order.

Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung said the basis of an e-Government has also been slowly formed, adding that the city completed the building of a population database for more than 7.5 million people and connected wide area network (WAN) to all departments, 30 districts, towns and 584 communes and wards.

This year, Hanoi is focusing on building a smart governance center and developing some basic smart transportation and tourism infrastructure systems, Chung noted.

Three functional centers of the smart governance center have been set up, including those for monitoring information confidentiality and safety, supporting staff in using information technology and managing media information.

The building of some basic components of smart transport systems such as an integrated traffic information system, a system for monitoring and handling road traffic violations by images and a smart traffic signal control system, is also underway.

Additionally, an online tourism information portal, mobile applications for tourism and an online Hanoi tourism map application will be put into operation soon, Chung added.

As well as smart governance, transportation and tourism centers, Hanoi is also concentrating on establishing other basic infrastructures for the energy, education and health sectors, towards creating a better living environment for citizens.

Smart cities are places that apply information technology and artificial intelligence to manage urban life, improve the quality of government services and effectively use energy resources.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc recently approved the sustainable smart city development plan until 2025 with a vision toward 2030.

The plan aims for Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho to become smart cities based on green growth and sustainable development, utilizing the strengths of the cities to raise the living standards of residents.

With the goal of having at least three smart cities by 2020, the Government has also launched policies to prioritize the development of the digital industry, smart tourism, smart agriculture and telecommunications infrastructure.

Source: VNA