Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh has called for closer integration between smart urban development and underground space to build modern, sustainable cities.
On October 2, Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh chaired a conference on two draft schemes concerning national smart urban development and the governance, exploitation and protection of underground space.
Minister Tran Hong Minh chairs the conference on October 2.
The first scheme outlines orientations for national smart urban development for the 2026-2030 period, with a vision to 2035.
Minister Tran Hong Minh said urbanization plays an important role in driving economic growth, restructuring the economy and improving quality of life.
Smart urban development has moved from research to practical implementation through projects, shared databases, operation centers and sector-specific applications. However, progress remains uneven and data are still fragmented.
Some systems mainly serve display purposes, while integration with infrastructure planning, investment and operation remains limited. Their effectiveness has also yet to be consistently assessed.
The minister noted that urban development remains fragmented, with a lack of synchronized smart amenities such as international schools, green parks and integrated architectural planning.
He highlighted a significant gap between smart development above ground and underground space, saying connectivity between the two remains insufficient.
Urban infrastructure has also yet to be modernized in a coordinated manner. Prolonged urban flooding remains unresolved, while the slow development of metro systems has contributed to severe traffic congestion.
In Ha Noi, one metro line has yet to be fully completed 17 years after construction began, while underground metro lines in Ho Chi Minh City remain in their early stages.
Minister Tran Hong Minh stressed that underground space is an inseparable component of smart cities.
It should serve multiple functions, including transport, particularly metro systems; commercial services and utilities such as supermarkets and technical infrastructure; as well as national security and defense.
He said the two schemes on smart urban development and underground space are closely interconnected.
Effective implementation would help modernize infrastructure, address bottlenecks in transport and flood control, and contribute to the country’s sustainable development.