Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) is accelerating its digital transformation and innovation drive with the ambition of becoming an international center for science, technology, and creative industries by 2030. City leaders have identified digital governance and technological breakthroughs as key pillars to propel Vietnam’s southern metropolis toward a new phase of global competitiveness.
Leading Vietnam in digital transformation
According to the Ministry of Science and Technology, HCMC remains among the top performers nationwide in Vietnam’s 2024 Digital Transformation Index (DTI). The city ranks first in “digital awareness” and “digital institutions,” and continues to perform strongly in “digital infrastructure,” “digital economy,” and “digital society.”
HCMC currently offers nearly 2,000 online public services, with more than 1,700 fully digitalized, allowing residents and businesses to complete procedures entirely online. The city’s digital economy now contributes around 22% of its gross regional domestic product (GRDP) and is expected to reach 25% by 2025.
Officials say digital infrastructure and open data platforms have become the “backbone” of the city’s smart governance and innovation ecosystem, enabling higher transparency, faster service delivery, and greater citizen participation.
Aiming for international innovation status
Beyond digital governance, HCMC is setting its sights higher—toward becoming an international innovation hub by 2030. Under the city’s new socio-economic development strategy, key targets include raising the digital economy’s share of GRDP to 30–40%, placing its startup ecosystem among the world’s top 100 most dynamic cities, and establishing at least five international-standard research and technology centers focused on strategic fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, robotics, blockchain, and biomedical sciences.
The city has identified three strategic breakthroughs:
1. Policy and investment mechanisms – creating a more flexible legal framework to attract high-tech and startup enterprises.
2. Strategic technologies and innovation ecosystems – connecting universities, research institutes, businesses, and venture capital funds.
3. Digital governance and human capital – building a skilled workforce capable of driving the knowledge economy.
Among flagship projects is a $2 billion AI data center developed in partnership with UAE-based G42 Group, along with the Eastern Innovation Hub in Thu Duc City and regulatory sandboxes for emerging sectors like fintech, smart mobility, and green energy.
Opportunities and challenges ahead
Experts say HCMC’s population size, infrastructure capacity, and technology talent base give it a clear advantage in becoming Southeast Asia’s leading innovation hub. The city currently hosts over 140 science and technology enterprises, hundreds of startups, and accounts for more than 55% of Vietnam’s software developers.
However, challenges remain. Data infrastructure is still fragmented, the regulatory framework for science and innovation needs greater flexibility, and the startup ecosystem must attract more venture capital and global partnerships.
City officials stress that HCMC will focus on data-driven governance, public–private partnerships, and digital skills training to ensure inclusive, sustainable innovation. “We aim not only to lead Vietnam in digital transformation but also to position HCMC as a regional innovation powerhouse,” a representative from the city’s Department of Science and Technology said.
With strong political will, robust infrastructure, and a growing innovation ecosystem, HCMC is steadily transforming itself into a digital and creative powerhouse—turning ambition into momentum for Vietnam’s next decade of growth.
*Sources: Tuoi Tre, Nguoi Lao Dong, HCMC Government Portal, The Saigon Times, Vietnamnet.
