Determined to build Da Nang into a smart city.

The City People's Council's unanimous decision to draft the Resolution "Determined to build Da Nang into a smart city by 2035" is not merely an administrative procedure, but a necessary step to establish a long-term vision, create a legal foundation, and affirm the government's commitment to the people in the context of a rapidly transforming urban environment.

The Da Nang IOC Center is considered the "hub" for implementing smart city management. Photo: Mai Que

Establish a legal basis

Da Nang faces new development demands: rapid urbanization, traffic congestion, environmental issues, social welfare, climate change, and the need for a high quality of life and modern governance. These problems cannot be solved by traditional approaches but require a management model based on data, digital technology , intelligent systems, and broad citizen participation. Therefore, choosing the goal of "Smart City 2035" is not simply a choice of technology, but a choice of a comprehensive development model for the future.

In this context, the demands from the central government have become clear. Government Decree No. 269/2025/ND-CP on smart city development specifically stipulates the responsibilities of provincial-level authorities in developing orientations, projects, and plans for smart city development, integrating them into urban planning, improving digital infrastructure, urban data, and monitoring and management systems. These contents can only be implemented synchronously and sustainably when approved by the Provincial People's Council through a legally binding document.

Without a resolution from the People's Council, the People's Committee's plans would lack legal basis, face difficulties in resource allocation, lack consistency, and struggle to meet the oversight requirements of elected bodies. The People's Council represents the will and aspirations of the people; therefore, having a resolution to concretize the goals of a smart city is consistent with its legally mandated function of deciding on important local issues.

Furthermore, Da Nang has implemented the first phase of its smart city initiative from 2018 to 2025 and achieved many positive results, from digital infrastructure and online public services to platforms serving urban management. However, the new phase requires a shift from "technology application" to "comprehensive smart governance" with a long-term vision.

The city needs a roadmap for 2035 to ensure continuity, avoid fragmentation, and overcome the situation where each sector implements its own approach, lacking data interconnection and coordination. A resolution from the City Council would create a common framework, clearly defining objectives and implementation methods, thereby helping departments, sectors, and localities to act in a unified manner.

A policy with many implications.

Beyond simply meeting central government requirements or creating unity within the system, the resolution carries a deeper meaning: affirming that the development of smart cities is for the people, with the people at its center. A smart city is not about making the city "modern" on the surface, but about enabling citizens to live in a safer, more convenient, transparent, and humane environment.

When data is connected, when public services become more accessible, when traffic is efficiently coordinated, when the environment is effectively monitored, and when disaster warnings are issued promptly, the people themselves are the direct beneficiaries. Putting the people at the center is not a slogan but an operating principle: every policy, every technology, every investment must be aimed at improving the quality of life for the community.

The People's Council's resolution on smart cities is therefore a correct step to ensure the right to enjoy better urban services, the right to participate in providing feedback and monitoring, and the right to benefit from the city's development.

The resolution also represents a strong political commitment between the government and the people. When the People's Council – the highest representative body of the people at the local level – votes to approve this goal, it affirms that the city chooses a path of development based on knowledge, technology, and modern governance; the government takes responsibility before the people to consistently pursue that goal; and the people demonstrate their agreement, trust, and partnership with the government.

A resolution, once issued, is not just a legal document; it is a promise, a belief, and a driving force for the entire system to work together towards the future.

On the other hand, the resolution also provides a basis for allocating resources rationally and strategically. Items such as digital infrastructure, urban data, improvements to public services, and smart city monitoring and management systems all require long-term investment plans, extending beyond the scope of a single year's budget.

Without a resolution outlining the vision for 2035, the city would find it difficult to develop a medium-term public investment plan, mobilize legitimate resources for implementation, and maintain progress. The resolution helps define priorities, provides the political system with a basis for resource allocation, and enables the People's Committee to be more proactive in implementation.

At the same time, the resolution also strengthens the supervisory mechanism of the People's Council. Once the goals and tasks have been recorded in the resolution, the People's Committee is responsible for reporting periodically, and the People's Council has a basis to monitor, evaluate progress, and recommend adjustments. This ensures transparency, accountability, and effectiveness of the government throughout the implementation of the goals by 2035.

More importantly, the resolution clearly demonstrates Da Nang's determination to maintain its pioneering role in digital transformation and smart city development nationwide. The city already has a good foundation, but without a new strategy, long-term direction, and a unified leadership mechanism, Da Nang could lose its advantage.

The target for 2035 is not too far-fetched, but close enough to create momentum for action; it shows that the city wants to move quickly but surely, to innovate but with a clear roadmap.

All these reasons demonstrate that the City People's Council's unanimous decision to draft a Resolution "Determined to build Da Nang into a smart city by 2035" is an essential requirement. This step reflects the will of the people, the responsibility of the government, the direction of the Central Government, and the objective needs of urban development. Such a resolution will create a foundation for Da Nang to continue developing in the right direction, improve the quality of life for its people, and build the city's future on a foundation of knowledge, technology, and modern governance.

Source: https://baodanang.vn/quyet-tam-xay-dung-da-nang-tro-thanh-thanh-pho-thong-minh-3314976.html