The Australia-Vietnam Smart Cities Business Forum 2025 successfully took place today at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City, as part of Smart City Asia 2025. Organized by the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), the forum gathered a diverse group of representatives from government agencies, businesses, academic institutions, and organizations hailing from both Australia and Vietnam.
This significant event underscores the shared commitment of both nations to the development of smarter, greener, and more livable urban centers across Vietnam. Furthermore, it serves to strengthen the economic and trade ties between Australia and Vietnam, with a particular emphasis on the burgeoning digital economy.
The forum’s discussions and outcomes are grounded in the insights derived from the Smart City Focus Group – Vietnam Market Deep-Dive, conducted on April 25, 2025, in Ho Chi Minh City. This focus group, led by Austrade in collaboration with Startup Vietnam Foundation and Dear Our Community, played a crucial role in establishing a foundational understanding of Vietnam’s smart city landscape, the inherent challenges it faces, and the potential avenues for collaboration between the two countries.
In his opening address, Mr. Jonathan Saw, Trade and Investment Commissioner to Vietnam, Austrade, highlighted the increasing importance of the Australia-Vietnam partnership. “The digital economy is a priority for enhancing two-way trade and investment,” Mr. Saw affirmed. He emphasized Austrade’s role in facilitating the introduction of Australian technologies to the region, supporting Vietnam’s digital transformation initiatives, and fostering collaborative partnerships with Vietnamese stakeholders to develop solutions tailored to specific local needs.
Mr. Saw also acknowledged the participation of a delegation comprising 13 Australian companies, showcasing their world-class capabilities in digital innovation and their dedication to contributing to sustainable urban development within Vietnam.
The forum provided a platform to examine the context and current status of smart city development in Vietnam. Participants acknowledged that Vietnam is currently in a uniquely advantageous position for smart city development, driven by factors such as rapid urbanization, a growing middle class, and a high rate of internet penetration, with nearly 80% of the population having access.
It was noted that, as of 2023, 48 out of 63 provinces and cities in Vietnam have already implemented smart city schemes. These schemes include the development of over 40 provincial-level and nearly 100 district-level Intelligent Operations Centers (IOCs) with a focus on improving key urban services such as traffic management, healthcare, education, and disaster warning systems.
However, the forum also addressed the significant challenges that Vietnam faces in its pursuit of smart city development. These challenges include pressures stemming from rapid urbanization, environmental pollution, the increasing demands on infrastructure, and the complexities associated with an aging population. The need for efficient resource allocation and smarter urban management to address these challenges was a key point of discussion.
During the panel discussion at the Australia-Vietnam Business Forum, experts from both Australia and Vietnam engaged in in-depth exchanges of insights on the present state and future potential of smart city development. Panelists representing diverse organizations such as Vietnamese-German University & UN-Habitat, i.Value Corporation, Golden Gate Ventures, EVN HCMC, and the Australian Trade and Investment Commission underscored the critical role of public-private partnerships in driving successful smart city development. The dialogue emphasized that while the private sector, including the startup community, can drive innovation and provide solutions to address citizens’ needs, governments must play a proactive role in creating a supportive institutional framework, ensuring people-centric design principles are followed, and establishing technical standards that promote sustainability and long-term interoperability.
The forum served as an important step forward in facilitating knowledge sharing and fostering increased international cooperation in the smart city sector. Participants expressed confidence in the potential for Australian businesses to play a key role in supporting Vietnam’s efforts to build integrated platforms, enhance digital literacy among its citizens, and adopt a long-term vision for sustainable urban growth.
