The digital economy in Vietnam is maintaining a high growth rate. According to the General Statistics Office, in 2024, the digital economy accounted for over 13.17% of GDP, an increase of over 14% compared to the previous year; in Ho Chi Minh City, the proportion reached 21.5% of GRDP and is expected to increase to 25% by 2025. Core sectors such as electronics, telecommunications, and software play a leading role, accounting for over 60% of the total value, creating the technological infrastructure foundation for the deployment of smart cities.
This development is also supported by a crucial legal framework, particularly Decree No. 82/2024/ND-CP amending Decree 73/2019/ND-CP, which facilitates investment in information technology, encourages IT service outsourcing models, and increases the operational efficiency of digital systems. This is a mechanism that Resolution 57-NQ/TW requires to be further expanded, aiming to promote investment in digital infrastructure, population and business data, and platforms serving the development of the digital economy.
In the field of smart cities, the Government has issued a strategy until 2030 with the goal of having more than 1,000 cities meeting digitalization and smart governance standards. Telecommunications infrastructure, especially 5G networks as per Decision 37/2025/QD-TTg, is being deployed to support IoT, real-time data, and intelligent operations centers (IOCs). In Hanoi , Ho Chi Minh City, and many other provinces and cities, shared data platforms are being built in a synchronized manner, ensuring inter-sectoral connectivity and information security, in accordance with the requirements of Resolution 57 on "promoting the formation of a national data ecosystem and ensuring network security and safety".
Citizens continue to be at the center of smart urban governance. Interactive platforms like Hue-S in Thua Thien Hue or the Community Social Network feature on iHanoi allow citizens to submit feedback, monitor processing, and access official information from government agencies. The formation of "digital habits" helps citizens become more proactive in urban life and enhances the effectiveness of social management.
IOC centers play a central role in managing and operating urban areas, supporting the government in monitoring infrastructure, analyzing data, and providing early warnings. Information technology transforms data into concrete actions such as traffic regulation, lighting management, environmental monitoring, disaster warning, and energy optimization. These models reflect the spirit of Resolution 57 on "developing digital cities, digital governments, and providing high-quality online public services."
By 2030, Vietnam aims to have over 1,000 smart cities, an urbanization rate exceeding 50%, master strategic technologies such as AI, 5G, blockchain, and autonomous robots; deploy shared data infrastructure and IOCs in many localities; and promote digital human resources and innovation. These are also key requirements of Resolution 57-NQ/TW aimed at strengthening technological capabilities, promoting research and development, and attracting high-quality investment.
Vietnam currently possesses the advantage of strong political will and a public-private partnership model, facilitating the mobilization of social resources for digital infrastructure development. Many smart city projects combining government, business, and startup collaborations have formed flexible and sustainable models. However, challenges remain, such as a lack of inter-sectoral data interoperability, a shortage of high-quality human resources, high infrastructure maintenance costs, and increasingly stringent security requirements. Resolution 57 also clearly states: The legal framework for data must be perfected, information security ensured, and digital governance capacity enhanced throughout the entire system.
The digital economy and smart cities, when implemented synchronously in accordance with the direction of Resolution 57-NQ/TW, will create important momentum to help Vietnam improve productivity, modernize governance, and enhance the quality of life for its people.
With the development of telecommunications infrastructure, national data, foundational technologies, and a digital workforce, Vietnam has a solid foundation to realize its goal of creating smart, connected, efficient, and sustainable cities by 2030.
Source: https://mst.gov.vn/kinh-te-so-va-do-thi-thong-minh-tao-luc-moi-cho-chuyen-doi-so-viet-nam-197251210190450034.htm
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