Hanoi pushes for digitalization in urban management

THE HANOI TIMES —  Hanoi is fast-tracking the digitization of all urban planning data this year, aiming to build a unified, transparent and GIS-based planning management system to meet the demands of rapid urbanization and a streamlined two-tier local government.

City officials say the goal is to replace paper-based records with real-time, application-based lookup tools, ensuring residents, businesses, and authorities have instant access to accurate planning information.

At least 30% of planning data will be fully integrated into the Geographic Information System by 2030, with complete integration and linkage to national databases targeted for 2035.

From paper maps to 3D planning

Hanoi has a long tradition of regulated urban planning. Since 1914, new housing projects have required construction permits that meet strict planning, fire safety, and sanitation standards. For buildings in prominent areas, architectural design rules also apply.

Early in the 20th century, the city developed a comprehensive cadastral mapping system, a foundational tool for urban management. These maps, which track land plots, ownership, and structures, remain in use today. More than 900 cadastral sheets currently cover the capital, providing granular detail from dense city neighborhoods to suburban villages.

In Cua Nam Ward, for example, 53 city blocks are mapped from 82 cadastral sheets dating back to 1933–1956. Such historical maps, combined with photographs and surviving architecture, support heritage preservation and help reconstruct early 20th-century urban layouts.

According to Tran Huy Anh, Standing Member of the Hanoi Architects Association, integrating updated planning boundaries into cadastral maps provides reliable guidance for land management, construction oversight, and taxation.

Anh said modern tools now make it possible to create 3D renderings of existing buildings overlaid on updated cadastral maps, enabling direct comparisons between old and new structures for regulatory purposes.

“With advanced graphic software and AI, preparing research and management records is faster, more accurate, and more cost-efficient,” said Anh.

Anh points to international examples. While Google Earth offers attractive 3D visuals of cities like New York, official management relies on more robust platforms such as “NYC Planning,” which integrates detailed datasets for public access.

The Grand Paris Express project in France also illustrates the benefits of integrated planning. The $30 billion public-private investment, due for completion in 2031, will add 200 kilometers of metro lines connected to extensive bus, cycling, and pedestrian networks, plus more than 30 million square meters of new housing.

If Hanoi’s local governments adopt similarly robust GIS systems, they can improve survey accuracy, secure better returns on major infrastructure investments, and avoid poorly conceived projects that fail to attract investment,” said Anh.

Building the digital backbone

In 2025, Hanoi has prioritized urban planning digitization under a series of city plans. Plan No. 58/KH-UBND calls for universal fiber-optic and 5G coverage by 2026, IoT sensor networks, and cloud computing adoption across government agencies.

Plan No. 150/KH-UBND aligns with the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 06/QD-TTg, creating a shared planning database between central and local governments, integrating population, identification, and electronic authentication data into national digital transformation efforts.

Urban planning experts say the revised Urban and Rural Planning Law removes barriers to integration and decentralization, paving the way for faster technology adoption.

“Hanoi’s challenge is not just building a digital system but ensuring it is unified, transparent, and linked with national databases. If done right, it will reshape how the city manages growth for decades to come,” said Anh.

According to Anh, amid rapid urbanization and the operation of a streamlined and effective two-tier local government system, improving urban planning management through digital technology is an urgent need.

Associate Professor Dr. Tran Hai Duong, an urban technology expert, remarked that digital transformation in urban planning should go beyond simply digitizing documents. It must involve building an intelligent data ecosystem that integrates AI, IoT, and predictive analytics, as many major cities are already doing.

“Hanoi is on the right track; the challenge is to accelerate progress and avoid a siloed mindset,” said Duong.

He said that Hanoi is entering a pivotal stage in digitizing urban planning, one of the core foundations for becoming a smart and sustainable city. Concrete steps such as digitizing data, investing in infrastructure, improving the legal framework and strengthening human resources reflect the municipal government’s strong commitment.

He believed that to move further, the city must maintain its momentum and effectively address existing bottlenecks. Only with a modern, transparent and integrated digital ecosystem can urban planning truly serve people, shaping a capital that is harmonious, modern, and livable, Duong continued.

Alongside infrastructure, a legal framework is equally important. The amended Law on Urban and Rural Planning, effective July 1, 2025, will address previous bottlenecks between different types of planning and encourage the use of digital technology in planning, appraisal, and management.

Dr. Architect Dao Ngoc Nghiem, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Association of Urban Planning and Development, noted that the new law resolves many issues related to integrating and decentralizing planning.

"More importantly, it encourages localities, including Hanoi, to take the initiative in accelerating technology adoption to improve management efficiency," he said.