Aspiring to become 'digital citizens' and build smart cities.

In response to the 2026 Action Month for Children and International Children's Day on June 1st, on the morning of May 29th, leaders of Ho Chi Minh City met with, listened to, and exchanged views with 150 outstanding child delegates, representing nearly 3 million children in the city.

Báo Tin Tức•29/05/2026

Photo caption — A view of the "City Leaders Meet and Listen to Children" program in 2026. Photo: Trung Tuyen/TTXVN

This was the first program organized by city leaders to meet and listen to children after the merger of Binh Duong province, Ba Ria - Vung Tau province, and Ho Chi Minh City. The meeting therefore focused on current issues facing Ho Chi Minh City, namely urban expansion, education and learning after administrative reorganization, digital transformation, green transformation, and the development of a smart city.

With a particular focus on digital transformation and digital technology , nearly 30 delegates directly proposed ideas and contributed opinions on practical issues in daily life, learning, and the holistic development of themselves and the city's children in general, revolving around four themes: Lifelong learning in the digital age; connected and developing digital citizens; smart cities from a children's perspective; and building a digital culture and ensuring safety in cyberspace.

The students stated that the digital age has brought many positive things to learning, scientific research, knowledge acquisition, and the holistic development of children and students. According to Vo Nguyen Ha Thanh (6A3 class, Nguyen Gia Thieu Secondary School, Tan Hoa ward) and Le Thi Quynh Hoa (9A6 class, Le Quy Don Secondary School, Ben Cat ward), the applications of technology, digital technology, software, and especially artificial intelligence (AI) with its data analysis capabilities and adaptive learning environment, help students improve their learning quality and overcome boredom and laziness in studying.

However, the students also recognize the increasing misuse of digital technology and AI, highlighting the need for appropriate and effective use of AI in the learning and scientific research environment among young people. Along with this, they also aspire to a safe digital space, with widespread access to professional training and skills to participate in digital transformation, as well as skills to identify and prevent negative impacts and ensure safety in cyberspace.

With a digital foundation and digital adaptation skills, the students aspire to become "digital citizens" to participate in building a smart city, developing Ho Chi Minh City to an international level, preserving and promoting the city's heritage and cultural identity so that young citizens can grow up in a smart, developed city with a deep historical and cultural heritage.

On behalf of the Ho Chi Minh City leadership, Mr. Huynh Thanh Nhan, Vice Chairman of the City People's Council, affirmed that the program of meeting and listening to children is a concrete activity contributing to the implementation of the 2016 Law on Children, and Directive No. 33-CT/TU dated April 26, 2024 of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee on implementing Directive No. 28-CT/TW dated December 25, 2023 of the Politburo on "Strengthening the work of caring for, educating and protecting children to meet the requirements of a prosperous and happy country". Through this, it contributes to the implementation of the 2016 Law on Children and promotes children's right to participation, creating an environment for children to participate in the process of contributing to the construction and development of Ho Chi Minh City.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/thoi-su/mong-muan-tro-thanh-cong-dan-so-xay-dung-thanh-pho-thong-minh-20260529124315342.htm