As a major administrative centre of the country, Hanoi always identifies digital transformation as a top priority, to support management as well as resolve procedures for people and businesses.

The capital city considers it a vital task and part of a long-term strategy to development.

A big step

With a population of more than ten million and a large number of administrative units, including 30 districts and 579 communes and wards, digital transformation in Hanoi is more challenging than in other provinces and cities.

However, especially in the period of 2022-23, with the strong direction of Party committees at all levels and across the entire political system, digital transformation has been deployed by the city on a large scale, achieving many positive results.

Hanoi is the first locality in the country to issue a resolution stipulating free charges when performing online public services.

For the first time, the city's leaders allowed digital signatures entirely on the shared software system for document management. Units are actively carrying out procedures in the online environment.

The city's local government service platform (LGSP) has been deployed to connect with seven municipal information databases and 14 national information databases.

In June this year, Hanoi kicked off a number of information systems and applications serving citizens and businesses.

The city provided smart urban services, such as the digital capital citizen application (iHaNoi) which puts people and businesses in the centre of service.

It used electronic health records which manage medical examination and treatment connecting with 661 medical facilities and the Vietnam Social Security.

In addition, the application Hanoi Traffic Ticket which uses dynamic QR codes, is being tested for public passenger use across the transport system.

The city is also piloting cashless vehicle parking, aiming to create transparency in fee collection and reduce congestion in the city centre.

Many major events on digital transformation were successfully organised including national-scale ones such as the Vietnam – Asia Smart City Conference 2023 - with the participation of experts and presenters from many countries and nationwide.

Solutions

Deputy Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Hà Minh Hải said that despite the great efforts of the entire political system, there were still some problems and obstacles in the way of digital transformation, such as the shortage of information technology (IT) human resources.

Communes have not had regulations on specialised positions for the field, while the workload is increasing and requirements are getting higher.

Some specialised databases have not made significant progress, especially the land databases.

Hanoi is raising determination to accelerate digital transformation with many solutions.

It will clearly assign organisations and individuals to direct, monitor, inspect and realise digital transformation tasks, ensuring unified leadership, responsibilities and efficiency.

The Hanoi People's Committee has directed leaders of departments and sectors to properly perceive their leading role in digital transformation. To thoroughly resolve slow and late tasks, focusing on completing specialised databases, especially the land database.

Heads of units should arrange priority order and give focus to tasks that are eligible for implementation. Tasks that are stuck or need guidance from competent units, must report to the municipal People's Committee and propose solutions.

The city requires all levels and sectors to urgently consolidate and arrange staff specialising in IT and digital transformation at units to ensure appropriate expertise.

They should promote training and improving knowledge and skills to serve the advisory work and deploy digital transformation tasks for IT staff.

In addition, the municipal People's Committee is building a mechanism to attract talents to work in the city's State agencies, especially in the fields of information technology and digital transformation.

It directs departments to proactively coordinate with ministries to organise guidance for districts and related units to digitalise data in the fields under their charge, ensuring compliance with the Government’s policies and orientations.

At the same time, the city has assigned relevant agencies to strengthen the inspection and evaluation of digital transformation and periodically announce the implementation results on the city's information systems.