Digital transformation and innovation: From policy to tangible results

On the morning of October 31, immediately following the opening ceremony of DIGIFEST Dong Nai 2026, a high-level forum was held under the theme “Digital Transformation and Innovation: From Policy to Tangible Results – Creating new growth drivers for Dong Nai City.”

Attending the forum were Pham Duc Long, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology; Le Thu Ha, Deputy Head of the National Assembly Office; Truong Xuan Lam, Vice President of the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations; Tran Thi Quoc Hien, Director of the Department of Digital Economy and Digital Society under the Ministry of Science and Technology; Hoang Huu Hanh, Deputy Director of the National Digital Transformation Agency under the Ministry of Science and Technology; and Nguyen Thi Bich Lan, Director of the Institute of Innovation and Digital Transformation under the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations.

Delegates attend the forum. Photo: Hai Quan.

Dong Nai City leaders attending the event included Ton Ngoc Hanh, Member of the Party Central Committee, Standing Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee, Chairwoman of the City People's Council; Nguyen Van Ut, Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee, Chairman of the City People's Committee; Le Truong Son, Member of the Standing Committee of the City Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee; and Tran Trung Nhan, Member of the Standing Committee of the City Party Committee, Chairman of the City Party Committee's Inspection Commission. Also in attendance were members of the City Party Committee, leaders and representatives of departments, agencies and local authorities, as well as experts, scientists, businesses, universities, colleges and research institutes from within and outside the city.

Developing smart urban areas and an airport city

The forum provided a platform for exchanging experiences and proposing solutions to promote digital transformation in conjunction with science, technology and innovation. At the event, the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) leader presented key reports on Dong Nai City's development strategy in the new context, focusing on smart cities and the airport city model.

Pham Duc Long, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology, speaks at the forum. Photo: Hai Quan.

Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Pham Duc Long emphasized that the forum should focus on three development directions. First, upgrading existing industries while developing high-tech industries. Second, leveraging the advantages of Long Thanh Airport to establish a high-value-added economic ecosystem. Third, organizing implementation to tackle specific challenges, linking responsibilities to measurable results and effectively mobilizing resources.

Le Truong Son, Member of the Standing Committee of the City Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee, speaks at the forum. Photo: Hai Quan.

Nguyen Minh Quang, Deputy Director in charge of the DoST, said Long Thanh International Airport was not merely a transport infrastructure project, but a core growth driver that would connect Dong Nai directly to global value chains. The city is urgently implementing the key components of the Long Thanh Airport City project.

Nguyen Minh Quang, Deputy Director in charge of the Department of Science and Technology, speaks at the forum. Photo: Hai Quan.

Regarding the challenges involved in developing a smart city, Quang said Dong Nai City should focus on addressing four priority urban issues in the coming period. The first is developing multimodal intelligent transport system (ITS) that integrates real-time traffic signal controls, automated traffic violation detection and fines using computer vision, and smart bus management. The second concerns the environmental monitoring and flood warnings. The city will develop automated systems to monitor air and water quality in the Dong Nai River and Tri An Lake, along with automated flood alert systems to notify residents through mobile applications.

The third involves GIS-based technical infrastructure management, including digital mapping of urban trees, smart lighting systems that automatically adjust brightness, underground infrastructure management and GPS-based tracking of waste collection routes. The fourth focuses on public services and the handling of reports about on-the-ground issues. The city aims to process 100% of eligible administrative applications entirely online and raise satisfaction rates among residents and businesses to over 99%.

Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Pham Duc Long said Dong Nai City needed to improve data connectivity and sharing, make effective use of existing platforms and avoid fragmented or overlapping investments. A transparent, convenient and efficiently operated investment environment would benefit both existing businesses and new investors. In particular, to capitalize on opportunities arising from Long Thanh Airport, Dong Nai needs to prepare early in terms of human resources, technological capacity, digital skills and the ability of local businesses to participate in relevant supply chains.

Turning potential into drivers of sustainable development

Also at the forum, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hoang Huu Hanh, Deputy Director of the National Digital Transformation Agency under the Ministry of Science and Technology and a member of the Expert Advisory Council on Development Orientations for Science and Technology, Innovation and Digital Transformation in Dong Nai City through 2030, presented a keynote report entitled “From Architecture Frameworks, Platforms and Data to Tangible Value in Modern National Governance.”

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hoang Huu Hanh, Deputy Director of the National Digital Transformation Agency under the Ministry of Science and Technology, shares his views at the forum. Photo: Hai Quan.

Following this, speakers, experts, scientists and representatives of corporations and businesses presented papers and discussed the city's growth pillars and ways to turn innovation into new growth drivers. Topics included practical solutions to help the manufacturing sector strengthen regional competitiveness; global trends in digital transformation and innovation; international experience in developing digital finance ecosystems; commune- and ward-level digital transformation solutions to promote the digital economy right from the grassroots level; and smart agriculture, from digital transformation to building high-tech agricultural value chains for Dong Nai.

Pham Ngoc Thuan, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Becamex Group, shares his views at the forum. Photo: Hai Quan.

Speaking at the forum, Pham Ngoc Thuan, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Becamex Group, said the group proposed that government agencies and partners select programs addressing genuine needs, clearly define responsibilities, resources and expected outcomes, and maintain transparency, speed and reliability in implementation. These factors would help reassure investors and improve resource mobilization. Becamex hopes to contribute to Dong Nai through its experience, ecosystem development capabilities and network of domestic and international partners, helping translate plans for industrial production, urban development and services, as well as cooperation in science and technology, innovation and digital transformation, into concrete projects in the city.

The forum also featured an expert panel discussion entitled “Promoting Digital Transformation in Conjunction with Science, Technology and Innovation – Turning Potential into Growth Drivers.”

Experts take part in a panel discussion at the forum. Photo: Hai Quan.

In his concluding remarks at the forum, Le Truong Son, Vice Chairman of the Dong Nai City People's Committee, said the presentations, papers and panel discussions at the forum had reaffirmed that digital transformation was not simply about applying technology. It must also involve changing governance methods, reforming procedures and improving service quality. Data should serve as the foundation for decision-making, digital infrastructure must be effectively connected and shared, and technology solutions should help reduce costs, increase productivity and make services more convenient for residents and businesses.

The City People's Committee leader called on relevant departments, agencies and units, as well as communes and wards throughout the city, to review and translate the orientations of Resolution No. 16-NQ/TW and the provisions of the Urban Development Law into programs, plans and tasks appropriate to each agency's functions and authority. The development of smart urban areas, the airport city and the digital economy must be closely integrated with urban planning, infrastructure development, urban management and the city's socioeconomic development objectives.

Relevant departments, agencies and units were also instructed to select urgent, practical challenges for priority action and clearly define objectives, lead agencies, coordinating units, resources, timelines and performance evaluation criteria. Each task must deliver specific results, avoiding scattered investments or the pursuit of technology without first identifying clear needs and practical benefits. At the same time, the city must strengthen the role of commune- and ward-level authorities in implementing digital transformation and developing the digital economy, improve the quality of public services, support businesses and ensure that residents can access and use digital utilities and services.

Delegates pose for a commemorative photograph at the conclusion of the forum. Photo: Hai Quan.

Vice Chairman Le Truong Son emphasized: “With the spirit of ‘Real Challenges – Real Solutions – Real Results,’ I am confident that the support and partnership of central agencies, the expert community, businesses and domestic and international partners will help Dong Nai make better use of its potential and advantages, promote a transformation of its growth model, build a modern and smart city, ensure balanced development and improve residents' quality of life.”

By Hai Quan - Translated by Mai Nga, Thu Ha