The creative space on digital transformation in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: hcmcpv.org.vn

Meeting with ICT businesses and experts on Friday, he emphasized five immediate tasks: support mechanisms for businesses in digital transformation; human resource strategy; strategy to ensure information security and safety; data strategy; plan to build Ho Chi Minh City into a hub of transferring, connecting, storing and processing data. Mr. Mai called for active contributions of associations, businesses, experts and individuals to co-design the city's digital transformation.

“It must be a revolution that creates outstanding and breakthrough development, contributes to the development of the city and the country and steer Ho Chi Minh City to move forward in comparison with not only the remaining 62 provinces, but also with big cities in the region and the wider world," Mr. Mai said. 

Ho Chi Minh City has been one of the pioneers in IT application since 2008 and has taken the lead in Vietnam in building digital transformation programs and smart city projects.

By 2030 it strives to become a smart city with fundamental and comprehensive innovation in the digital government apparatus operation and digital enterprise and prosperity and civilization of a digital society.

Ho Chi Minh City has the highest number of smartphone users in Vietnam, while broadband fiber optic and 3G, 4G mobile infrastructure covers all wards, communes and townships of the city.