A “digital brain” for smart urban development

Many practical challenges remain

At the end of January 2026, the People’s Council of Ha Noi approved a Resolution on the Smart Ha Noi Urban Development Scheme to 2030, with a vision to 2045. Accordingly, the objective for smart urban planning by 2030 is that 100% of detailed plans will be digitised in 3D and integrated into a unified GIS (Geographic Information System). The city’s overarching viewpoint is to develop Ha Noi into a smart city of Asia–Pacific standing, with capabilities comparable to leading cities in areas such as urban data, artificial intelligence, smart transport, urban security, environmental management, and data-driven governance…

Beyond spatial organisation, Ha Noi’s smart urban planning to 2030, with a vision to 2045, also ensures the integration of digital infrastructure, urban data, and intelligent operational capacity. Projects involving transport infrastructure, landscape spaces, new urban areas, industrial zones, and key functional areas of the city must be planned in a “smart-from-the-outset” manner, ready for connectivity, monitoring, data utilisation, and centralised management throughout their lifecycle.

The People’s Committee of Ha Noi will compile and propose solutions to address difficulties, obstacles, and bottlenecks in the course of implementation; study and develop appropriate mechanisms and policies in accordance with the Capital Law and other relevant legal regulations within the authority of the municipal People’s Council, to ensure the effective and smooth implementation of the Scheme.

According to leaders of the People’s Committee of Ha Noi, the Scheme will serve as an important foundation to concretise major policies and orientations of the Party and the State on science, technology, and innovation development; and provide a legal basis for building and developing Ha Noi into a smart, cultured, civilised, modern, and happy city. At the same time, it will gradually implement and bring the Ha Noi Capital Master Plan with a 100-year vision into reality.

In practice, most land management data is still maintained in paper-based documents, with overlapping legal and planning frameworks leading to management shortcomings. Unauthorised construction, violations of permits, encroachment on public land, and improper land use occur in many places and have not been thoroughly addressed. Associate Professor, Dr Nguyen Truc Anh (Viet Nam Urban Planning and Development Association) noted: Building a comprehensive, multi-sector integrated database (covering land, planning, transport, environment, etc.) will create a “digital brain”. This “brain” will enable the simulation and analysis of urban development scenarios; forecast the impacts of planning schemes on transport systems, the environment, and society before approval, thereby supporting more scientific and accurate decision-making.

A foundation for strengthening trust

According to many experts, over the past 20 years Ha Noi has promoted the application of information technology in state management operations, and technological infrastructure as well as human resource quality have been upgraded. However, in reality, many challenges remain to be addressed. Digital transformation has become an urgent necessity, including a shift in governance mindset, offering an opportunity for each commune and ward to improve the effectiveness of managing planning, land, and construction. Nevertheless, data fragmentation and lack of interoperability among agencies remain among the greatest obstacles. In addition, the application of GIS in planning still lacks specific technical guidelines, creating difficulties in implementation. Operating GIS requires a team of experts with knowledge of both urban planning and information technology, while universities currently do not train enough specialists combining these two fields.

Architect Tran Huy Anh, Standing Committee Member of the Ha Noi Association of Architects, recommended that Ha Noi Capital must proactively train and attract talent. In addition, it should learn from international experience and purchase data developed by private technology enterprises. The city should acquire digital data on land management and planning, which would both ensure progress and enhance practical applicability. A digital data system will help shorten the time required to process administrative procedures, reduce errors, and particularly enhance transparency in planning information, an essential foundation for strengthening the trust of residents and businesses.