Vietnam is shifting from pilot smart city projects to full-scale implementation, using technology to tackle pressing urban challenges like traffic, flooding, and energy efficiency.
On December 23, the 2025 Vietnam-Asia Smart City Summit opened in Hanoi, organised by the Vietnam Software & IT Services Association (VINASA) in collaboration with the Hanoi People’s Committee and under the patronage of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MST). The summit marked a turning point for smart city development in Vietnam, ushering in a phase of implementation, standardisation, and effectiveness, driven by Decree No. 269/2025/ND-CP and accelerated AI adoption.
Read more: Vietnam charts path to mature smart cities with AI at the core
Vietnam’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Law introduces one of the world’s first comprehensive AI regulatory frameworks, outlining risk-based classifications, compliance requirements, innovation incentives, and strategic opportunities for businesses investing in AI technologies.
Effective March 1, 2026, Vietnam’s newly-approved Law on Artificial Intelligence established a comprehensive legal framework governing the development, deployment, and management of AI.
Read more: Formalizing Artificial Intelligence Governance: Vietnam’s First AI Law
The central city earning top scores in three categories: smart governance, innovation and start-up attractiveness, and green environment.
Central Da Nang city was named Vietnam’s Smart City of 2025 at a ceremony held on December 23 by the Vietnam Software and IT Services Association (VINASA), marking the sixth consecutive year the city has received the prestigious title.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as the core engine of modern urban governance, shaping how cities plan, operate and deliver services, participants heard at the Vietnam–Asia Smart City Summit 2025, which took place in Hanoi on December 23.
The conference drew more than 600 policymakers, technology experts, businesses and domestic and international organisations. The event was jointly organised by the Vietnam Software and IT Services Association (VINASA), the Hanoi People’s Committee, the city’s Department of Science and Technology and relevant agencies.
Read more: AI moves into daily life as Vietnam accelerates smart city development
The development of smart satellite cities is reshaping Hanoi's spatial structure. In Hoa Lac, where science, technology, and education converge, the Tien Xuan Smart City is envisioned as the urban core that connects research, production, and everyday life.
On December 17, based on the orientation and direction of the Hanoi People's Committee regarding the completion of the Tien Xuan urban area project towards a smart city model, integrated with and supporting the Hoa Lac High-Tech Park, SJ Group announced the implementation of Tien Xuan Smart City with a workshop themed "Creating a smart city vision".