HCMC – Ho Chi Minh City will launch an 18-month pilot program for software designed to manage the temporary use of sidewalks, as the city steps up efforts to digitize urban governance and improve oversight of public space.
The technology platform is expected to serve as a key tool for improving transparency, synchronizing administrative data and optimizing urban space management across the city.
After the initial pilot phase, authorities will conduct a comprehensive review of the program’s implementation, according to the directive recently issued by the HCMC government, approving the pilot plan proposed by the Department of Construction.
Any decision on expanding or continuing the project will depend on the effectiveness of the first phase and compliance with the Law on Bidding and other relevant regulations.
Funding for the pilot phase will be fully arranged by VNPT HCMC, a branch of Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT), without any reimbursement from the city under any circumstances.
City authorities also emphasized that the socialized investment model would not give VNPT HCMC any preferential advantage in future contractor selection for later management or operational phases.
To ensure cybersecurity and data protection, VNPT HCMC will be required to complete the software system in accordance with technical standards set by the HCMC Department of Science and Technology and the city’s Digital Transformation Center. The company must also conduct regular information security assessments, comply with regulations on personal data protection and system security, and commit not to use the data for commercial purposes.
The software developer will coordinate with the Department of Construction and related agencies to integrate the platform with the Ministry of Construction’s administrative procedure system to ensure consistency in application processing.
Earlier this month, An Dong Ward, part of former HCMC’s District 5, began implementing software-based registration, management and fee collection for the temporary use of sidewalks through a platform called “An Dong Street and Sidewalk Licensing.” The ward became the first in HCMC to introduce software-based licensing after the city adopted its new two-tier local government model.
Residents can scan a QR code or access the online portal to submit information, verify identity through VNeID or chip-based citizen ID cards, upload required documents and receive results by email. The system also generates QR codes for cashless payments.
