Da Nang is one of Viet Nam’s pioneering localities in developing specific strategies for building ‘smart’ cities.  The city, over recent years, has seen numerous remarkable achievements in its urban development thanks to its effective applications of technology information (IT) in many aspects.  Therefore, local residents have enjoyed the benefits of these achievements.

Staff at a local IT company

In 2012, the municipal government and the International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) jointly started implementing a large-scale project, with a focus on effectively applying ‘smart’ technologies in various aspects.

It is common to see booming urban utilities in the city over recent years.  For instance, Danabus, an application for smartphones, was recently launched by the municipal Department of Transport.

Operated by either IOS or Android systems, the app allows its users to monitor the travel schedules of local bus routes, and then find suitable buses. 

In addition, many other applications have been launched in the city in order to create direct interactions between the city authorities, and locals and visitors.  In particular, the city authorities have already opened a website at http://egov.danang.gov.vn/gop-y to get feedback on local public services from the general public.

Moreover, other positive results from the ongoing project include the installation of public surveillance cameras along some major streets in order to monitor and deal with traffic violations, and the automatic water quality monitoring system at the Cau Do (Red Bridge) Water Supply Plant. 

A camera image of a car running through red lights at the intersections of Nui Thanh and Trung Nu Vuong streets

Furthermore, an environmental monitoring station at the eastern end of Thuan Phuoc Bridge has proved effective.  Its global system for mobile communications (GSM) transmits environmental data from the bridge to the centre for controlling traffic light systems and public transport in the city. 

In 2016, representatives from the city authorities and domestic military-run telecoms group Viettel together entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on building Da Nang into an IT-dependent smart city. 

Under the MoU, Viettel is assisting Da Nang to develop its master plans and detailed designs for a smart city model, with a focus on transport, healthcare, education, food safety and hygiene, the environment, energy and clean water quality monitoring. 

In particular, healthcare and education have been developing into comprehensively smart aspects in order to enhance the efficiency of their practical applications and increase the living conditions of local residents.

Most notably, the city authorities have ceaselessly perfected its e-government system which features the application of the ‘one-stop-shop’ mechanism, and software on managing government employees and administrative dossiers.

Thanks to the great efforts made by the city authorities and its residents, Da Nang has topped the 2016 Viet Nam Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) ranking for the 4^th consecutive year.  Also, the city has taken the lead in the Provincial Public Administration Reform Index (PAR INDEX) 2016 for the 5^th consecutive year, and it has ranked first in the 2017 Viet Nam Information and Communications Technology (ICT) applications and development readiness ranking for the 9^th consecutive year.