Vietnam Urban Development Forum addresses data and climate resilience

Vietnam urbanization smart city development climate resilience sustainable urban planning marine ecosystem conservation

The Vietnam Sustainable Urban Development Forum 2026 highlighted the critical need to transition from land-based expansion to high-productivity models. Currently, Vietnam has 910 urban areas with an urbanization rate of 53.3 percent, contributing approximately 70 percent of the national GDP.

Experts at the forum emphasized that smart city development requires standardized, connected data to solve management issues. Current urban data remains fragmented across various agencies, hindering the effective use of AI and big data. Additionally, officials stressed the importance of climate resilience, noting that flooding risks already affect one-third of the population. Investing in climate-adaptive infrastructure is viewed as essential for long-term economic stability and maintaining investor confidence.

Discussions also focused on balancing urban growth with marine ecosystem preservation. In Ho Chi Minh City, the 13th World Network of Integrated Coastal Biosphere Reserves (WNICBR) meeting addressed the need to protect biodiversity, such as the Can Gio mangrove forest, while pursuing economic growth. The forum concluded that modern urban value lies in preserving natural assets for future generations rather than trading the environment for immediate economic gains.