Developing a smart city is a really complicated and expensive challenge that requires specific plans and strategies, especially fully tapping the endless sources of innovative ideas from the general pubic, and youths in particular.

Da Nang People’s Committee Chairman Huynh Duc Tho (1st left) talking with the young participants about smart city development ideas

The above remark was made by Da Nang People’s Committee Chairman Huynh Duc Tho at Monday’s open dialogue at which more than 300 local young people presented their ideas to develop a smart city.

The event also aimed to motivate the youth’s sense of responsibility and determination to develop Da Nang into a smart city.

Mr Duong Minh Quan, the Chairman of the Students’ Association of the University of Da Nang underlined the significance of making the best use of creative ideas and startup projects developed by local youths to implement the smart city project, instead of appealing for ODA capital and cooperating with foreign partners. He, therefore, urged the city authorities to provide necessary support to bring such ideas to fruition.

For instance, talented students from the Da Nang University of Technology and Science are indulging themselves in enhancing the efficiency of solar panels.

If it is successful, this research project will help the city possess locally-developed technologies, instead of importing expensive devices and equipment from foreign countries worldwide.

In reality, in many cases, such foreign-made devices do not fit Vietnamese circumstances indeed. Also, if there are any technical problem facing these machines, it costs much time and expenses to contact their manufacturers for dealing with.

Chairman Tho highly appreciated the new energy solution developed by the local students. He asked relevant local agencies to consider granting the funding from the city budget to this research project in an effort to promote the wide use of solar panels in life.

Representatives from the municipal Youth Union signing commitments to implement the 2018 Youth Month programme

In his response to concerns raised by the youths about the current traffic overload in the city centre, Chairman Tho affirmed that the city would focus on developing smart bus and underground traffic systems, and promoting the IT applications into traffic management.

Alongside, the city is planning to open 6 new subsidised intra-city bus routes in early July in an effort to encourage local residents to use public transport services rather than their own personal vehicles with the aim of easing congestion. 

In a similar vein, more public parking lots will be developed across the city.
Special heed will be paid to enhancing the efficiency of online public services for the benefits of local citizens.

In particular, an e-government system has proved effective over recent years, featuring the application of the ‘one-stop-shop’ mechanism, and software on managing government employees and administrative dossiers. The successful operation of this system, indeed, helps the city become ‘smarter’ in the years ahead.

Also the event, representatives from local government agencies proposed the city ask for the youth’s help in developing smart management software in terms of demography, land management, construction management, and more.