Hanoi consults AI experts for smart city development

Hanoi Department of Information and Communications held a conference on July 22 attended by representatives from many city departments and sectors, as well as leading AI solution providers in Vietnam such as Mobifone Global, MISA, BKAV, Viettel, and FPT.

Nguyen Viet Hung, director of Hanoi Department of Information and Communications (HDIC) said, "We hope to advise the city on establishing a big data and AI advisory council to assist Hanoi in its socioeconomic development and ensure national defence and security."

Nguyen Viet Hung, director, Hanoi Department of Information and Communications

Debating the applicability of Generative AI (GenAI) in public administration, professor Nguyen Le Minh, an AI expert, said, "GenAI can automate many processes from text processing and automatic email responses to handling citizen requests, thereby reducing time and costs while improving work efficiency. GenAI can also provide automated services such as virtual assistants to help citizens find information or submit online applications."

"GenAI's predictive models can help the government make more rational public policies based on real data. For example, GenAI can analyse socioeconomic data to forecast trends and support development planning. Additionally, GenAI can be used to detect fraudulent behaviour in administrative transactions and protect citizens' personal data and information," Minh added.

At the event, Vu Phi Long, general director of MobiFone Global Technology JSC, introduced the ‘MCentralized Smart Centralised Camera Management Solution’. MCentralized is an intelligent, centralised camera management platform that helps connect over 99 per cent of different camera lines, applying AI technology for accurate and secure image analysis. The advantage of this solution lies in its facial recognition technology and number plate recognition.

"This model can be fully applied at four levels from village, commune, district, to city. The integration of AI in this solution is for facial recognition, vehicle number plate recognition, behaviour detection, and fire explosion warnings," said Long.

Prof. Ho Tu Bao from the Institute of Advanced Mathematics Research also proposed ideas for effective and synchronous AI operation, saying "For AI applications to be truly beneficial for Hanoi, they need to be placed in the digital transformation ecosystem of the capital linked with national programmes. Additionally, to strengthen Hanoi's AI capabilities, it is crucial to link and coordinate with technology institutes and businesses, organise advisory councils, and AI working groups."

Speaking about the future direction AI implementation in smart city projects, Nguyen Viet Hung, director of the HDIC, said, "The HDIC will soon advise Hanoi People's Committee to establish an AI application advisory council, from which to take basic long-term steps as well as quick, timely actions that can bring benefits to the residents."

The HDIC advised the committee in February, to issue Plan No.57/KH-UBND on digital transformation and building Hanoi into a smart city. The plan includes tasks to develop digital data and build and develop specialised applications using AI technology for the internal operations of the city's state agencies.

Smart city training programmes seek to enhance capacity for future development While more than 40 cities and provinces across the country have smart city operation centres, many experts believe that urban development progress still falls short of expectations and call for better training programmes for future management.

Hanoi to develop smart city in green, harmonious direction The Hanoi People’s Committee has approved the adjustments of the detailed planning for the construction of a smart city in the area along the Nhat Tan – Noi Bai road with about 140.23 hectares in the city’s outskirts district of Dong Anh.

Hanoi’s ambitions to be a sustainable smart city For the second consecutive year, Hanoi has been included in the list of the top 100 smartest cities in the world.