Hanoi aims to become among the world’s top 50 smart cities by 2030

Hanoi is implementing the Hanoi Smart City Project under Action Plan No. 129/KH-UBND, approved by Decision No. 750/QĐ-UBND dated February 13, 2026. The city aims to be among the world’s top 50 smart cities by 2030.

Project objectives and operating model

The plan’s overall objective is to position Hanoi as a leading smart city in the Asia-Pacific region, while preserving its identity of Thang Long – Hanoi through a modern and sustainable development approach. The smart city model is built on data as the foundation, with smart governance as the primary method for addressing urban bottlenecks and urgent development needs.

Residents and businesses are defined as both beneficiaries of smart city services and stakeholders that participate in managing, operating, and extracting value from the system. Effectiveness will be measured through citizen satisfaction.

2030 targets and core capabilities

By 2030, Hanoi plans to meet the criteria for a sustainable smart city and rank within the world’s top 50. The city will govern via data, provide 24/7 online public services, and build a unified urban data platform shared across the capital region.

Intelligent Operations Center and AI-enabled decision support

A key priority is building a City-level Intelligent Operations Center (IOC), connected to district-level IOCs and sector platforms. Through this platform, Hanoi will gradually apply artificial intelligence to analyze, forecast, and support decision-making in transportation, environmental management, security, urban planning, and fire prevention and firefighting.

Digital planning approach

In planning, Hanoi intends to develop using a “polycentric urban cluster” model, integrating digital infrastructure and data from the outset. Detailed plans will be digitized in 3D and integrated with Geographic Information Systems (GIS), with the goal of improving transparency and enabling easier access for management authorities and investors.

Working session with Surbana Jurong on project research and development

On the afternoon of April 14, 2026, the Hanoi Police Department (CATP) held a working session with Tan Eng Kiat, Vietnam-area Chief Executive Officer of Surbana Jurong (Singapore), to exchange experiences and seek solutions for researching and developing the Hanoi Smart City project.

The session was chaired by Lieutenant General Nguyen Thanh Tung, a member of the City Party Committee, Secretary of the City Party Committee, and Director of CATP Hanoi. Attending were Nguyen Tuan Huy, Deputy Head of Technology at Mobifone; Senior Lieutenant Bui Nhat Quang, Head of Planning; Lieutenant Le Cong Trung, Deputy Head of Telecommunications – Informatics – Cryptography; and representatives from relevant units.

Key points raised by Hanoi leadership

In opening remarks, Lieutenant General Nguyen Thanh Tung expressed appreciation for Surbana Jurong’s hosting and information exchange on smart urban development. He noted that this is a new field without precedent in Vietnam and that research and development must align with the existing legal framework.

He emphasized that Hanoi should not copy Singapore’s urban model. Instead, the city should choose an approach suited to Hanoi’s conditions as a historic city with complex infrastructure developed in stages. He said Hanoi should leverage existing assets and gradually activate infrastructure components above ground, underground, and in the air to integrate technology, aiming to build a smart city model that is feasible, efficient, sustainable, and reflective of the capital’s identity.

Singapore experience and implementation principles

Tan Eng Kiat said Hanoi’s challenges overlap with issues Singapore faced in redeveloping aging urban areas, and he shared practical Singaporean experiences and a holistic approach to implementing smart city projects.

He stated that smart city solutions should be implemented synchronously across planning, design, construction, and operation and maintenance. The focus should include optimizing infrastructure, developing smart transportation, improving quality of life, protecting the environment, and applying technology in urban management.

The Surbana Jurong representative also noted that smart cities do not necessarily require expensive technology, stressing that appropriate technology should be used to optimize resources and address practical problems while improving residents’ quality of life.

Discussion themes: infrastructure, data sharing, and quick wins

During the session, participants focused on solutions for efficient management and monitoring of urban infrastructure; developing communications infrastructure and data sharing to support urban management; and creating “Quick Wins” to address urgent public concerns quickly.

They discussed experiences related to “smart parking,” real-time vacancy sensors, and integrating older infrastructure with new technology for urban management.

Next steps

In closing, Lieutenant General Nguyen Thanh Tung thanked the experts and international partners for sharing practical experiences and expressed a wish for continued close cooperation. Based on research results, assessments of the current situation, and expert advice, the parties will continue to discuss and refine models, plan next steps, organize a conference, and proceed toward making Hanoi an intelligent city with sustainable development that meets both short-term and long-term requirements.