In rapidly expanding cities like Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, change is often visible: newly paved roads, high-rise buildings stretching into the sky, and residential zones rising from empty lots. Yet, a quieter transformation is unfolding inside these structures in the very rhythms of life they sustain.
Why Smart Cities Matter For Vietnam’s Future
The Vietnamese government has long recognized that sustainable urban development cannot rely solely on physical expansion. In 2018, it launched a national program to develop smart cities through 2025, with a vision to 2030. According to the Ministry of Information and Communications, as cited by VietnamPlus in a September 2023 article, 54 out of 63 provinces and cities across Vietnam had joined this effort by that time. The program aims to apply technology to solve pressing urban challenges, from pollution and traffic congestion to energy inefficiency and public service delivery.
Smart cities, and by extension, smart buildings are essential to Vietnam’s sustainable development strategy. They represent an opportunity to align rapid growth with long-term livability and environmental responsibility. By integrating AI, IoT, and data-driven systems, cities can become not only larger but also cleaner, safer, and more human-centric.
Sustainability Starts From The Core
Traditionally, urban infrastructure has been defined by static elements: pillars, beams, and concrete blocks. But in the 21st century, infrastructure must also account for internal flow, where people, technology, and energy must move and adapt seamlessly.
Questions like “How can a high-rise run smoothly without congestion?” or “How can we cut energy waste without sacrificing comfort?” are increasingly answered with the help of smart technologies.
In Vietnam, innovations like AI-powered elevators from global companies such as KONE Vietnam are shaping this evolution. These are not abstract visions of the future; they’re being implemented now. In fact, as part of the government’s smart city program, AI is already being deployed in areas such as traffic signal control, public lighting, and air quality monitoring, particularly in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. These applications are quietly transforming how cities function and how citizens experience urban life.
KONE Vietnam: Data-Driven Design For Daily Life
Founded in Finland in 1910 and present in Vietnam since 2009, KONE has quietly championed sustainable infrastructure. Instead of flashy showcases, KONE Vietnam focuses on embedding green foundations where they’re often overlooked, inside elevator shafts.
With its 24/7 Connected Services, KONE’s mobility systems no longer “operate in silence.” They are continuously connected, analyzed, and forecasted using AI. Each movement generates data. That data is then processed in real-time to predict malfunctions, reduce downtime, and extend equipment lifespan.
AI also helps elevators understand human behavior: peak hours, traffic-heavy floors, and energy-saving windows. In high-rise buildings, among the top consumers of urban electricity, such micro-adjustments make a significant difference in both efficiency and environmental impact.
Real-World Application: Smart Mobility At Phenikaa University Hospital
One striking example of KONE Vietnam’s innovation is its collaboration with Phenikaa University Hospital in Hanoi. KONE deployed MiniSpace™ DX elevators integrated with KONE’s Service Robot API, allowing autonomous delivery robots to move medical supplies across floors. The result: optimized logistics, reduced staff workload, and improved hospital efficiency — all powered by smart connectivity and AI.
This project not only highlights KONE’s technology in action but also showcases how smart infrastructure can drive sustainable, real-world outcomes, especially in critical sectors like healthcare.
Beyond Green Architecture: Smart Sustainability In Motion
A truly sustainable building is not just about eco-friendly design or recyclable materials. Its real value lies in how effectively it operates, where people, machines, and energy flow in harmony to minimize waste and enhance daily life.
KONE doesn’t take a loud approach. Instead, it sows seeds of sustainability through quiet, calculated movement, optimizing every elevator ride, learning every usage pattern, and implementing thoughtful responses. This is how infrastructure learns to “breathe”: through AI, data, and a long-term commitment to a more livable city.
"As Vietnam accelerates its green transition, we are proud to support this journey with AI-driven predictive maintenance, IoT-enabled energy savings, and solutions that minimize environmental impact. Elevators are the heartbeat of smart cities, and making them greener is core to our mission. Partnering with the Green Industries Summit reflects our dedication to collaboration—because building a sustainable future requires shared vision, cutting-edge technology, and relentless innovation”, shared King Cheng, Managing Director, KONE Vietnam.
From Concept To Conversation: What Happens Next?
The upcoming Green Industries Summit 2025, organized by NordCham Vietnam, will convene over 200 public and private sector delegates to explore future-forward innovations from AI-powered supply chains to circular design and responsible investment.
At the summit, KONE Vietnam will represent the voice of smart urban infrastructure during the panel “AI for Sustainability: Risk or Revolution?”. They will share practical insights from Vietnam and discuss how European green standards can be contextualized for Southeast Asia.
Vietnam Innovators Digest (VNID), the strategic media partner of the event, will document these conversations in depth. With a commitment to “deep understanding for informed action,” VNID aims to amplify visionary ideas and help Vietnamese businesses navigate the road to ESG transformation.
They’re quietly taking shape within Vietnam’s cities where data, technology, and people work together to create a greener, smarter, and more resilient urban rhythm every day.
Green Industries Summit 2025
Vietnam Innovators Digest is proud to partner with the event as its strategic media ally, working alongside others to spread innovation models that pave the way for a more sustainable Vietnam.
Time: 9:00–15:00, Thursday, June 19, 2025
Venue: Sofitel Saigon Plaza, 17 Le Duan, District 1, HCMC
Register here