Vietnam is looking for a range of solutions – from AI to smart metering and e-governance – to build smart cities. (Photo: austrade.gov.au)

Last week, in Ho Chi Minh City, the Australia-Vietnam Smart Cities Business Forum brought together government leaders, tech experts, and business innovators from the two countries to find smart, sustainable solutions for Vietnam’s rapidly growing cities.

Vietnam is urbanizing fast. Nearly 40% of its population now live in cities. But with growth comes big challenges: traffic jams, pollution, and energy waste. That’s why smart city solutions are more important than ever.

Addressing the forum, Le Hong Minh, Director General of I.VALUE Corporation, a consulting firm, said, "A smart city should be understood as a set of solutions that deliver value to end-users. With the potential of smart cities, we need to find ways to truly activate smart city development in Vietnam so that it ultimately brings real value to the people."

To realize Vietnam’s ambition to build 40 smart cities by 2030, international collaboration is crucial. Australia, with its expertise in urban innovation and digital technology, is stepping up as a trusted partner.

Jonathan Saw, Trade and Investment Commissioner Of Austrade Vietnam, said, "From traffic management and Internet of Things devices to safety platform management tools or AI and cyber security related platforms, Australia offers world-class technologies that can make your city smarter, better, faster, more efficient."  

At the forum, 13 Australian companies showcased cutting-edge solutions tailored to Vietnam’s needs.

(Photo credit: kerb.works)

Parking startup Kerb, for example, demonstrated its parking management platform of the same name capable of helping property owners make good use of their parking lots, while getting vehicles off the roadside.

Its platform works like a “booking.com” for parking spaces, helping drivers find and reserve spots for cars, motorbikes, trucks, even private jets.

Rob Brown, Kerb’s founder and CEO, said, “What joins the two, the public parking and the private – the landowners, the landlords, the property management groups – is a small IoT device called the KerbBox, which works inside any boom barrier and essentially allows drivers to open the barrier if they're allowed to open it. So you don't need new parking equipment. Essentially, you just install a KerbBox inside your boom barrier and you're good to go.”

At the Asia Smart Cities forum, Kerb and KeyTechX formally announced a strategic partnership and mutual shareholding as witnessed by the Australian Trade Commissioner Jonathan Saw. (Photo credit: Kerb)

Smart city innovation isn’t just about traffic. South Australia’s Xylogic is bringing green bio-solutions to Vietnam’s agriculture and mining sectors. Their technology extracts valuable metals without harmful chemicals and produces organic fertilizers from seafood and forestry waste.

Hayden Hung Nguyen, Xylogic’s co-director, said his company has pioneered new technologies that extract value from the carbon fraction and the gaseous and condensed liquids extracted from controlled pyrolysis, in addition to providing wood fiber to pulp, paper and textile manufacturers.

Hayden affirmed that these products can be applied across various sectors from metal extraction to clean agriculture.

“Xylogic is gradually developing a range of agricultural technologies, the most notable being a plant protection agent that helps crops withstand climate change impacts such as drought, frost, and extreme heat. Our company offers green and sustainable solutions for Vietnamese agriculture. These solutions use waste from the seafood and agro-forestry industries to produce organic fertilizers and crop protection agents that shield harvests from climate change effects,” according to Hayden Nguyen.

Xylogic is pioneering applications for biochemicals extracted from plantation hardwoods. (Photo credit: Xylogic)

Australia’s expertise in AI, data analytics, energy efficiency, and sustainable infrastructure can help Vietnam build cities that work better for everyone, says Jonathan Saw, Austrade Vietnam Commissioner.

“The Australian Land Pad aims to drive Australian technologies to the region to boost digital transformation. The Supporting Australian Businesses Department engages companies, governments and institutions to co-develop solutions that meet local needs,” said Saw. 

As Vietnam’s localities race toward smart and sustainable cities, the partnership with international players, including Australia, is vital and could turn new ideas into real benefits for millions.