Three key goals for building smart cities in ASEAN
As part of the seminar series under the AFEO Midterm 2025 Conference in Da Nang, jointly organized by AFEO and VUSTA, the seminar “Smart Cities - Towards Enhancing Quality of Life” identified three key goals for building smart cities across ASEAN.
These goals are developing a competitive economy; creating a sustainable environment; and most importantly, ensuring a high quality of life where all citizens benefit from urban development.
The development of smart cities is an inevitable trend
At the seminar, experts from Vietnam and other ASEAN countries delivered presentations and engaged in discussions on various aspects of smart city development.
View of the “Smart Cities - Towards Enhancing Quality of Life” seminar, jointly organized by AFEO and VUSTA .
According to Dr. Dang Viet Dung, President of the Vietnam Federation of Civil Engineering Associations, smart cities are an inevitable trend in modern urban development, leveraging data and technology to optimize management, deliver sustainable services, enhance quality of life, protect the environment, and drive economic growth. Vietnam’s smart city model is structured around eight core pillars: ICT infrastructure; digital government; smart transportation, energy, and utilities; environment and sustainable development, smart economy; smart public services and lifestyle; and active citizen participation. The development roadmap dates back to the 1990s, beginning with initiatives to computerize state management, build national databases, and implement e-government.
In 2018, Decision 950/QD-TTg laid the strategic foundation for 2018-2025 with a vision toward 2030. The 2020 National Digital Transformation Program further expanded this scope. To date, 37 provinces and cities have approved smart city development plans, with many deploying Integrated Operations Centers (IOC), AI-powered traffic monitoring, smart lighting and water systems, and advanced online public services. Looking ahead, Vietnam aims to deepen AI applications, develop cutting-edge digital infrastructure and open data, and align with sustainable urbanization goals, placing citizens at the center - both as beneficiaries and as active participants in design, operation, and oversight of smart cities.
Dr. Dang Viet Dung, President of the Vietnam Federation of Civil Engineering Associations, highlighted the benefits of smart cities.
Sharing the Philippines’ experience, Engr. Romulo R. Agatep, President of International Relations at the National Registry of the Philippine Council of Engineering and Technology, said the country is vigorously implementing a smart city strategy to address urban challenges such as traffic congestion, pollution, security issues, and rising demand for public services. The focus is on enhancing citizens’ quality of life, optimizing urban governance, driving economic growth, and protecting the environment.
The strategy leverages digital technologies, artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and big data to manage transportation, energy, waste, public safety, healthcare, and education more effectively. E-government and online public service platforms are being developed, encouraging citizens to actively participate in monitoring and providing feedback.
Engr. Romulo R. Agatep, President of International Relations at the National Registry of the Philippine Council of Engineering and Technology, shared the Philippines’ strategy for smart city development.
Cities like Manila, Cebu, and Davao have deployed smart transport systems, AI-enabled surveillance, IOC-driven operations, smart grids, sustainable energy management, and mobile applications for public services, traffic updates, and emergency management. However, challenges persist due to uneven technological infrastructure, high investment requirements, and data security concerns. Looking ahead, the Philippines aims to expand 5G infrastructure, develop open data platforms, integrate services on unified systems, and advance sustainable, climate-resilient cities with circular economies and green mobility.
The development of smart cities helps safeguard citizens’ rights
The seminar consolidated numerous ideas and practical initiatives on implementing smart cities, while highlighting the challenges: from strategic planning and sustainable infrastructure design to developing a skilled workforce, advancing smart governance, and building “smart nations”.
The presiding panel moderated the seminar, responding to questions and feedback frompthe participants.
Engr. Federico A. Monsada, President of AFEO, noted that ASEAN governments launched the ASEAN Smart Cities Network (ASCN) at the 32nd ASEAN Summit in Singapore on April 28, 2018. ASCN is a collaborative initiative to promote sustainable urban development through smart technologies and innovation, enabling ASEAN cities to learn from one another, co-develop solutions to social challenges, and attract global industries and partners toward building livable, sustainable cities.
Engr. Federico A. Monsada, President of AFEO, noted that ASEAN member governments have also launched the ASEAN Smart Cities Network (ASCN).
Since its launch, several ASCN pilot cities have become some of the fastest-growing urban centers in the world. According to Engr. Federico A. Monsada, ensuring sustainable smart city development in ASEAN requires achieving three interdependent goals: building a competitive economy driven by innovation and technology; fostering a sustainable environment through green urban planning; and ensuring a high quality of life by improving infrastructure and urban services. A smart ASEAN city must balance these three strategic objectives to guarantee that no citizen is left behind.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Ngoc Linh, Vice President of VUSTA, delivered remarks at the seminar.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Ngoc Linh, Vice President of VUSTA, affirmed that smart city development is the right direction, especially in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. He emphasized that smart cities require robust, connected, secure, and efficient digital infrastructure; seamless intelligent connectivity and integration across all sectors and levels; and the active participation of all stakeholders, including e-government with public services and open data, and cutting-edge science, engineering, and technology.
