Smart village model boosts digital transformation in Dong Thap province
The "smart village” model aims to drive rural development, raise living standards, and promote sustainable agricultural production that yields high economic value, says Huynh Minh Tuan, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee.
A meteorological observation station is installed in Tan Thuan Tay commune, Cao Lanh city, Dong Thap province to support irrigation for over 500 hectares of mango growing area. (Photo: VNA)
Dong Thap (VNA) - The intr🦩oduction of the “smart village” model in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap is helping to raise living standards for residents by imprಞoving infrastructure and supporting sustainable farming.
Digital tools for rural areas
Huynh Minh Tuan, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, said the initiative aims to drive rural development, raise living standards, and promote sustainable agricultural production that yields high economic value.
Residents benefit from better connectivity, easier access to public services, and more efficient resource use, all while reducing environmental impact, Tuan noted.
Tan Thuan Tay commune, in Cao Lanh city, was the first locality in the province chosen to pilot the smart village model — a national research initiative approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology and led by the University of Technology (VNU–HCMC).
A station monitoring soil, air, irrigation water quality and smart irrigation system are put in place at Tam Que Hoi Quan, Tan Thuan Tay commune, Cao Lanh city, Dong Thap province. (Photo: VNA)
The province now has six certified smart villages, namely Doc Binh Kieu (Thap Muoi district), Dinh Yen (Lap Vo district), Binh Thanh and My Xuong (Cao Lanh district), and Tan Nhuan Dong and An Nhon (Chau Thanh district). This is a significant step forward in building digital governance, developing the digital economy, and shaping a digital society, bringing numerous benefits through technology-based platforms.
The smart village model builds on the farmers’ community centre in Tan Thuan Tay to encourage agricultural innovation, improve local livelihoods, and help communities adapt to climate change, according to Dang Van Nhung, head of the centre.
Farmers now use QR codes to trace every mango tree across 500 hectares of orchards and apply VietGAP and organic practices to improve income and market responsiveness. They also know how to conduct community-based tourism to promote the value of local resources, and apply advanced science and technology in production and daily life.
Tan Thuan Tay also features a smart village portal for farmers’ groups, data storage and analysis systems, automated irrigation powered by solar energy, smart street lighting, surveillance cameras, an environmental monitoring system, and a mobile app for community members and managers.
Smart tech in agricultural production
Meanwhile, My Xuong commune in Cao Lanh district is pursuing a complementary “e-commerce village” initiative, bringing digital tools into agricultural production.
The model helps build transparent data on farm produce, boosts consumer trust, and expands sales through both direct and online marketplaces in combination with cashless payment options.
The interface for monitoring meteorology, soil and smart irrigation control is integrated on smartphones. (Photo: VNA)
Tran Phu Hau, a farmer from My Xuong, said that applying technology to production helps save time and costs, optimise cultivation, easily monitor product quality, and increase output value thanks to traceability.
Previously, they mostly sold to small traders, but now they can list their mangoes on e-commerce platforms and reach customers outside the region, he said.
Public safety has also improved thanks to new security cameras installed at key locations, making people feel safer, he added.
The provincial Department of Science and Technology plans to continue investing in digital infrastructure, upskilling people in smart villages, and developing technology-driven agricultural models that meet rural needs.
The department will also deepen cooperation with research institutes and companies to deliver practical digital solutions, focusing on smart farm management, energy-saving equipment, and agricultural innovations to benefit rural communities./.
A ceremony was held in My Dong commune in Thap Muoi district of Dong Thap province on June 12 to kick start a project to develop 1 million hectares of high-quality low-emission rice associated with green growth in the Mekong Delta Region.
Vietnam is making bold moves to embrace digitalisation. A major milestone was reached on December 22, 2024, when Party General Secretary To Lam signed Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW, marking a significant step to accelerate innovation, science, and digital transformation nationwide.
Digital transformation encompasses more than just the duties of state agencies, businesses, or individuals; it requires holistic involvement from the whole political system.
The centre will initially operate at a capacity of 30MW and is expected to scale up to 120MW, serving the huge computing needs for AI development and the digital economy sector of the city.
Across the city’s coastal communities, local authorities are adopting specialised digital applications to manage fishing vessels, monitor catch data, and support traceability efforts.
A report from Fortinet in June revealed that automated scanning attempts had surged to 36,000 per second, a 17% increase from the previous year. Alarmingly, 42% of these were account takeover attacks, and leaks involving 1.7 billion sets of credentials. In Vietnam, data from the National Cybersecurity Association showed that 659,000 cyberattacks were recorded in 2024, affecting approximately 46.15% of government agencies and enterprises.
The introduction of AI robots marks a key step in Hanoi’s efforts to streamline administrative processes, modernise public services, and build a more citizen-friendly government.
Under the Poliburo’s Resolution 57-NQ/TW on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation, Vietnam aims to be among the top three ASEAN countries and the top 50 globally in AI development by 2030.
With the ambition to become a leading startup and innovation hub in Vietnam and Southeast Asia by 2030, Da Nang has implemented a range of incentives and actively promoted investment in its innovation ecosystem.
Showcased technologies include AI, IoT, Big Data, drones, robotics, Holobox, and sector-specific solutions such as EdTech, AgriTech, FinTech, and cybersecurity. A dedicated zone for startups also forms part of the exhibition.
According to the Law on Digital Technology Industry, the incentives include full corporate income tax exemption for the first two years and 50 % reduction in the four following years, as well as land rent waivers for three years.
Kenneth Tse, General Director of Intel Vietnam, noted that in nearly 20 years of operations in the country, Intel Vietnam has exported over 4 billion products, contributing more than 100 billion USD to Vietnam’s export revenue.
The fund plans to assist Can Tho through a comprehensive set of initiatives such as the “Digital Transformation for All” programme to promote digital literacy; AI training for public officials and businesses; startup incubation and co-investment; and financial support for AI research and innovation. Additional support includes providing free working spaces for AI developers and formulating a region-specific AI strategy.
Amid growing global demand, fragile supply chains and intensifying geopolitical conflicts, Vietnam is rapidly emerging as one of the most promising players in the global semiconductor landscape, a seminar heard in Ho Chi Minh City on July 2.
Key areas eligible for PPPs include high and strategic technologies; infrastructure for the research, development, and application of high and strategic technologies; and digital infrastructure supporting the digital economy, digital society, and digital government.
During the visit, the parties exchanged ideas on high-tech material solutions and technologies that could be applied to national strategic transport infrastructure projects, particularly the North–South high-speed railway project.
CATI-VLM is an AI model for document reading that has already claimed a spot among the world’s elite, ranking first in Vietnam and among the top 12 globally in the Document Visual Question Answering (DocVQA) category of the Robust Reading Competition (RRC) in June 2025.
General Secretary Lam also emphasised the need to immediately issue policies to attract and retain high-level domestic and overseas talents, particularly in critical fields like AI, semiconductors, and advanced materials.
In addition, the decree encourages the development of research centres focused on data science and innovation in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, blockchain, data communications, the Internet of Things (IoT), big data, and other advanced technologies in order to build, develop, protect, manage, process, and utilise data effectively.
The Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) on June 30 officially launched the Vietnam Science and Technology Exchange, and outlined its future development direction.
Vietnam–Canada relations continue to flourish, with science and technology listed among the seven priority areas of bilateral cooperation. The launch of the Canadian Vietnamese Scholars and Experts Network is expected to contribute to advancing joint innovation and R&D cooperation between the two countries.
Developed by a team of Vietnamese engineers, the chip uses CMOS and III/V semiconductor technologies and is intended for applications in sectors such as UAVs, smart devices and telecommunications.
