General

Smart City

City applying data and I&T to improve services and quality of life.

How the laws define this

Every framework agrees that a smart city uses data and digital technology to optimize city operations, manage public services, and improve quality of life. The primary divergence across these instruments centers on whether artificial intelligence is explicitly required within the definition. The Da Nang Smart City AI Initiative, the Hanoi Smart City Development Action Plan to 2030 (Plan No. 243/KH-UBND), and Chương trình “Nghiên cứu và phát triển ứng dụng trí tuệ nhân tạo (AI) tại Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh giai đoạn 2020-2030” all explicitly incorporate AI, alongside technologies like electronic sensors, big data, and ICT. In contrast, the Smart City Blueprint for Hong Kong 2.0 frames its scope more broadly around applying data, innovation, and technology across infrastructure, platforms, and pilots, without specifically citing artificial intelligence.

Synthesised from the 4 statutory definitions below. Each one is quoted in full, with its source.

How jurisdictions differ

What is distinctive in each definition, binding law in force first.

Jurisdiction	Instrument	Status	What is distinctive
Hong Kong	Smart City Blueprint for Hong Kong 2.0	In Force	Adds economic competitiveness as a goal alongside quality of life and services, and frames it through cross-cutting infrastructure, platforms, and pilots.
Vietnam	Hanoi Smart City Development Action Plan to 2030 (Plan No. 243/KH-UBND)	In Force	Specifies use of electronic methods and sensors for data collection to manage assets, resources, and services efficiently.
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam	Program for Research and Development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Applications in Ho Chi Minh City for the period 2020-2030	In Force	Particularly emphasizes AI within ICT to optimize operations, services, and promote sustainable development.
Vietnam	Da Nang Smart City AI Initiative	In Force	Highlights sharing information with the public alongside enhancing efficiency, services, and citizen welfare.

Definitions (4)

A city that applies data and innovation & technology to improve quality of life, public services and economic competitiveness, as framed by the Blueprint through cross-cutting infrastructure, platforms and pilots.

Smart City Blueprint for Hong Kong 2.0Definition 1 of 4

An urban area that uses different types of electronic methods and sensors to collect data. Insights gained from that data are used to manage assets, resources and services efficiently; in the context of Hanoi, it refers to a city that leverages urban data, digital technologies, and AI to enhance governance, public services, and quality of life.

Hanoi Smart City Development Action Plan to 2030 (Plan No. 243/KH-UBND)Definition 2 of 4

An urban area that utilizes information and communication technologies (ICT), big data, IoT, and AI to enhance operational efficiency, share information with the public, and improve government services and citizen welfare.

Da Nang Smart City AI InitiativeDefinition 3 of 4

An urban area that leverages information and communication technologies (ICT), particularly AI, to improve the quality of life, optimize city operations and services, and promote sustainable development within Ho Chi Minh City.

Chương trình “Nghiên cứu và phát triển ứng dụng trí tuệ nhân tạo (AI) tại Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh giai đoạn 2020-2030”Definition 4 of 4

Not to be confused with

AI-Driven Smart City

AI-Driven Smart City specifically positions AI as the primary engine for urban development in Taipei, unlike the broader technology mixes in these definitions.

Society 5.0

Society 5.0 focuses on human-centered integration of cyber and physical spaces, while these definitions center on urban data and technology applications.

Questions and answers

What technologies define a smart city in Hong Kong?

Hong Kong's definition applies data and innovation & technology, framed through cross-cutting infrastructure, platforms, and pilots across six digital priority areas.

How does Hanoi use data in its smart city plan?

Hanoi leverages urban data, digital technologies, and AI gained from electronic methods and sensors to enhance governance, public services, and quality of life.

What is distinctive about Da Nang's smart city approach?

Da Nang utilizes ICT, big data, IoT, and AI to enhance operational efficiency, share information with the public, and improve government services and citizen welfare.