September 2025. Professor Nguyen Quang Trung RMIT Vietnam Asia Pacific Smart and Sustainable Cities Hub. Vietnam at pivotal moment. By end 2024 many localities established smart city initiatives, operational centres for transport, healthcare, digital education. As of end 2023, 2,200 e-services via National Public Service Portal. By 2050 cities flexible sustainable data-governed. Digital twins allow real-time planning, automated public transport, renewable energy dense urban zones. Immediate priorities: 5G networks, data centres, broadband access, human capital development

September 2025. Vietnam with fast urbanisation, young population, open economy has foundations but gaps in planning, infrastructure, governance. Da Nang led early pilots smart water and transport, Hanoi HCMC introduced smart cards public Wi-Fi. Hanoi HCMC Da Nang part ASEAN Smart Cities Network. Should develop national roadmap based on ADB five-phase framework: City Diagnostics, Readiness Assessment, Strategy Development, Implementation Planning, Monitoring Evaluation. Cities like Seoul Shenzhen Tokyo integrated digital twins real-time data green infrastructure

May 6, 2025 workshop Sustainable Urban Areas SUA 2025 at Hanoi University of Civil Engineering. Co-organized HUCE, TU Dortmund Germany, BMUV Development Cooperation Program Germany. Present outcomes research, promote practical application digital twin models, green building technologies, renewable energy, virtual reality in planning design operation sustainable urban areas. Topics: digital shadows AR VR applications, MBR water filtration, economic aspects green infrastructure, cooling effects greening solutions. Site visit TestBed 02 showcasing smart green building technologies

February 1, 2024. Vietnam made strides since Hanoi HCMC Danang took lead ASEAN Smart Cities Network 2018. 48 out of 63 provinces have or building smart urban schemes. Ministry of Construction: 57 localities implementing smart urban utilities and services focusing traffic, healthcare, education, warning applications. 19 provinces piloting smart urban services. Hanoi HCMC Danang Binh Duong Thua Thien-Hue Bac Ninh Binh Phuoc achieved successes. Trend: leverage command centres capture data via sensor networks, process data, dashboards, develop digital twins, introduce AI capabilities. Key advantages: improving quality of life, shaping competitive economy, developing sustainable environment

March 17, 2022 Earth.Org. PM issued policy 2018 to implement Sustainable Smart City Development Project 2018-2025 completed by 2030. October 2019 project began 272-hectare site Da Nang one of earliest. Vinhomes Smart City by Vingroup Vietnam’s largest private corporation. Phan Thanh Son FPT: Vietnam has roughly 800 urban regions, first wave 2017-2020, second wave 2021-2025, third wave after 2025. 40+ cities have initiatives. 10 provinces designed authorised smart city initiatives. Solar power encouraged, rooftop installations facilitated

YCP Solidiance white paper. Smart city infrastructure currently piloted, COVID-19 sped up adoption digital e-services. Development prioritized since 2018 with HCMC Hanoi Da Nang Can Tho at forefront. Government approved Decision No. 749/QD-TTG (National Digital Transformation 2025-2030) 2021 as guideline. Challenges for HCMC and Hanoi slowing development. Smaller cities like Da Nang have clearer paths. HCMC approved Smart Urban Operation Center VND30B ($1.4M) 2019. Case studies: HCMC Smart City, Da Nang Data Portal, Saigon Sport City district-level

Focus of key panel discussion at Tashkent International Investment Forum (TIIF) June 12, 2025. Session: ‘Urban Development and Construction: Modernizing Infrastructure for Sustainable and Comfortable Growth.’ Hussam Raouf (BCG Partner/Director) moderated conversation with leaders from Alstom, Zaha Hadid Architects, Cross Works, Synergy Consulting, Anhor Evolution, KOC Construction. Raouf highlighted traditional urban models no longer sufficient. Cities must manage territory and population in smarter, more inclusive ways. Digital technologies: autonomous vehicles, digital twins, smart control centers reshaping how people live, move, work. Planning not just about creating space, but rethinking how cities built to be inclusive, resilient, technologically advanced. Goal: people-centered city supported by smart systems and sustainable practices.

Initiative in Tashkent region developing modern, sustainable urban area leveraging cutting-edge technologies. Situated at heart of Old Silk Road, transforming region into hub of innovation and economic growth. Features: advanced infrastructure, smart transportation systems, energy-efficient buildings, digital services. Strategic location boosting regional connectivity, attracting foreign investment, preserving historical legacy while embracing future urban development. Advanced urban environment equipped with modern roads, transportation networks, digital technologies. Special economic zones, favorable tax regime, business support programs for investors and entrepreneurs. Project envisions transforming region into global model of intelligent, green, sustainable urban development, integrating technology, economy, education, logistics, finance, culture into single interconnected ecosystem. Area: 1,037,110 hectares (16.4% commercial/tourism), 1,257,344 hectares (19.8% industry), 1,604,580 hectares (25.3% parks/green areas).

Systematic implementation of BIM methodology at national level involving policies, standards, training, technological adoption. Led by RICI, BIMe Initiative and Dr. Bilal Succar. Latin American advisor Dr. Danny Murguia (Cambridge, Pontifical Catholic University Peru). Coordinators for macro BIM adoption in Mexico: Industry (Dulce Barocio), Government (Osvaldo Mireles), Academia (Elias Tavera). Investigates what 3 levels of government doing to facilitate BIM adoption and accelerate digital transformation. Investigates digital transformation tools, workflows, standards within BIM framework used by construction companies