Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) is undergoing a period of rapid transformation driven by urbanisation, population growth, and an increasing demand for sustainable development.
The Australia Vietnam Policy Institute (AVPI) and Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Development Studies (HIDS) Digital Transformation and Megacity Governance Roundtable was held at Aurecon’s Ho Chi Minh City office on November 29 2024.
The roundtable was facilitated by Louise Adams, incoming Chief Executive Officer at Aurecon, Australia’s Business Champion to Vietnam and AVPI Advisory Board member. The roundtable brought together leaders from the AVPI’s partner institute HIDS, the Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) Government, the Australian Government, the Victorian Government, RMIT University and RMIT Vietnam, as well as business leaders from the advisory, think tank, and digital technologies industries.
The roundtable built on discussion themes from the AVPI Digital Cities Roundtable hosted in Melbourne in May 2024 in collaboration with the Victorian Government during a HCMC delegation visit led by Chairman Mai.
This summary paper highlights the ways in which digital transformation can be used as a tool for governance and greater efficiency, particularly in megacities such as HCMC. It brings to light the opportunities surrounding Public-Private Partnerships, methods for building trust and inclusive governance, and the need for sustainable and scalable solutions tailored to Vietnam’s needs.
Key Takeaways
- Digital technologies offer transformative potential for megacities, such as HCMC, in addressing complex urban challenges.
- In HCMC’s ongoing urban transformation, public-private partnerships (PPPs) play a vital role in bridging resource and expertise gaps. Drawing from successful Australian PPP models, these partnerships can be tailored to support local infrastructure needs.
- HCMC’s active citizenry is a key asset in driving urban improvement.
- There are many opportunities for Australia-Vietnam collaboration. Australian academic institutions and industry leaders like Aurecon have the potential to provide critical expertise in sustainable urban planning, renewable energy integration, and digital governance.
- Australia’s experience in sustainable infrastructure development can serve as a model for HCMC’s urban development strategy.
