Hanoi was recognized as an attractive city for innovation and startups at the Vietnam Smart City Awards 2023 ceremony held in Hanoi on November 30.

The awards ceremony was held as part of the Vietnam-Asia Smart City Summit 2023, which took place from November 29 to 30.

Director of the Hanoi Department of Information and Communication, Nguyen Viet Hung (right), and representatives from the provinces and cities that win the Vietnam Smart City Awards 2023. Photo: Thanh Hai/The Hanoi Times

The annual award, initiated by the Vietnam Software and IT Services Association (VINASA), aims to recognize and encourage localities and businesses with smarter and more sustainable urban development solutions and to promote supply-demand connectivity and collaboration in building smart city models in Vietnam.

In July, Hanoi released an open data list, including specialized data to be shared with government agencies, citizens, and organizations. Hanoi also focuses on building digital infrastructure and a data center, which will be operational in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Danang and the southern province of Tay Ninh were also honored in categories such as city management, management-infrastructure-smart public services, smart environmental management, and innovative and startup-attractive city.

The organizers also presented an award for industrial real estate and 24 awards for outstanding services and technological solutions, recognizing domestic and foreign companies for their excellent digital applications and products that contribute to Vietnam's digital transformation and smart city development.

Launched on July 20, the Vietnam Smart City Awards 2023 received 100 nominations after nearly three months.