Hanoi 'opens the door' to a new era
WVR - Hanoi is focusing on developing science, technology, and digital transformation to create breakthroughs in the new context, with decisive direction from leadership at all levels.
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| Hanoi streets during the 80th anniversary of August Revolution and National Day (A80) Grand Celebration. (Photo: Ngo Minh Chau) |
Recently, Hanoi has focused on developing science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation, in line with the spirit of Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW by the Politburo. The city faces new demands to create breakthroughs in this field.
Emphasizing innovation and digital transformation
Since the beginning of the 2020-2025 term, the Hanoi Party Committee and city administration have prioritized the development of science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation. The city proactively incorporated these elements into Resolution No. 15-NQ/TW dated May 5, 2022, by the Politburo on "Directions and tasks for the development of Hanoi Capital until 2030, with a vision to 2045" and the Capital Law of 2024 to institutionalize these tasks.
The Hanoi Party Committee also issued Resolution No. 18-NQ/TW on December 30, 2022, on "Digital transformation, building a smart city by 2023, with orientation to 2030" to lead and direct the implementation. For two consecutive years (2023 and 2024), Hanoi has led the local Innovation Index, with three main pillars: Digital Government, Digital Economy, and Digital Society.
By merging three steering committees, Administrative Reform, Digital Transformation, and the implementation of Decision No. 06/QĐ-TTg dated January 6, 2022, by the Prime Minister, the city has directed and organized the implementation of administrative reform, digital transformation, and Project 06 comprehensively and consistently across the political system and sectors. The city has pioneered many new tasks such as electronic health records, issuing judicial record certificates via VNeID...
On December 22, 2024, the Politburo issued Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW on "Breakthroughs in the development of science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation". The Standing Committee of the Hanoi Party Committee established the "Steering Committee 57" to implement this resolution.
On March 7, the Steering Committee held its first meeting, assigning tasks to members, establishing working regulations, and discussing the action program. The Hanoi Party Committee once again demonstrated its pioneering spirit in implementing the resolution by announcing eight shared digital transformation applications across three levels of the political system.
A revolution in thinking
Experts, managers, and businesses highly value Hanoi's vast potential in human resources and technological development advantages; they also propose ways to address policy and regulatory obstacles, as well as the decisive and bold application of priority mechanisms to encourage businesses and innovative research in practical development.
Prof. Le Xuan Tung, former Politburo member and former Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee, affirmed that for Hanoi to lead in the new era, it must first become a center of science and technology; to achieve this, it must harness the "gold mine" of the largest intellectual workforce in the country.
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| Hanoi has ample space and a foundation to accelerate digital transformation. (Photo: Ngo Minh Chau) |
Some experts noted that applying digital technology is not merely about deploying software or applications—it is a revolution in mindset, working methods, and administrative reform. Change must come from within: from agencies, organizations, and every cadre and Party member.
Sharing his perspective, Mr. Vu Xuan Hung, Head of the Management Board of Hanoi’s High-Tech Park and Industrial Zones, highlighted that the 2024 Capital Law allows controlled experimentation—an exclusive mechanism for Hanoi.
“I propose that the city promptly implement and concretize special pilot policies to foster research, development, testing, application, and transfer of science and technology in national strategic and key areas of the city. Attracting talent is the decisive factor for breakthroughs, clearly identified in Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW. Therefore, the city must focus on harnessing Vietnamese intellect to develop source technology. Foreign businesses or researchers will never bring their core technology here; if we want source technology, we must cultivate Vietnamese ideas… Only then can we generate momentum for scientific and technological development,” he stressed.
Implementation of the resolution must not be spread thin but should focus on specific fields, enterprises, and scientists with outstanding capacity, ensuring concentration and priorities to produce successful models. At the same time, Hanoi should build an attractive image and strengthen communication to invite experts, intellectuals, and talents to contribute to the capital’s development.
Offering her viewpoint, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Thi An, Director of the Institute for Natural Resources, Environment and Community Development, and Chairwoman of the Hanoi Women Intellectuals Association, praised the city for simultaneously directing the drafting of six resolutions. This demonstrates Hanoi’s strong political will and initiative in turning “policy” into “practical action”.
Prof. Dr. Sci. Nguyen Dinh Duc of the University of Engineering and Technology (Vietnam National University, Hanoi) recommended that the city issue detailed directives to ensure strong coordination between grassroots levels and universities in the digital transformation process, while also incorporating localities into the innovation ecosystem.
Meanwhile, Dr. Pham Duc Nghiem, Deputy Director of the Department of Startups and Technology Enterprises (Ministry of Science and Technology), emphasized that the resolutions were developed under the principle of “six clarities”: clear subjects, clear scope, clear authority, clear responsibility, clear resources, and clear outcomes. This provides the foundation for transparency and feasibility in implementation.
According to Dr. Nghiem, for the resolutions to truly enter life, three main groups of solutions are needed, including enhanced supervision and reduced administrative procedures. The supervisory mechanism must be tightened, while administrative reform should be carried out through technological application and greater use of online systems. This would both ease burdens on citizens and businesses and ensure faster, more effective policy implementation.
Implementation of the resolution, he reiterated, must not be broad-brush but targeted, focusing on fields, enterprises, and scientists with outstanding capacity. Alongside this, Hanoi should create an attractive image and actively promote itself to invite experts, intellectuals, and talents to contribute to the capital’s development.
At the seminar “Developing resolutions of the Hanoi People’s Council to serve science and technology development in connection with implementing Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW of the Politburo and Capital Law No. 39/2024/QH15”, Standing Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Le Hong Son stressed that the development of science, technology, and innovation has drawn much interest from delegates and experts, reflecting their dedication to the capital. The resolutions are not only about consultation or issuance—the crucial point is that they must be put into practice, creating added value to boost socio-economic growth in the capital.
“Based on the resolutions, Hanoi must fully prepare infrastructure, human resources, and funding. In particular, it needs chief engineers and architects with sufficient capacity and experience to ensure the resolutions are effectively implemented in practice,” Mr. Le Hong Son affirmed.
