Saigon has rolled out a so-called master plan to turn itself into a "smart city" by 2020, promising a bright future for both local residents and businesses, a move that has immediately raised eyebrows over its feasibility.
Tran Vinh Tuyen, the city's vice chairman, said advanced technology will be used in administration and other areas that have a direct impact on local residents.
“The city will learn from residents' feedback and be proactive rather than just trying to fix existing problems,” he said at a recent meeting.
Locals and businesses will be able to complete administrative procedures online instead of wasting time in governement offices waiting for the final seal of approval.
The plan also promises “advanced tools” for better management that will prevent state officials from causing problems for residents and businesses.
The same solution will be applied in public hospitals, allowing patients to book appointments and services online.
In order to make the plan work, the city will have to spend time building a database on infrastructure, population, and public and private investment.
The city believes that it is following a global trend that can help improve living standards and enhance the city's competitiveness.
Singapore, London, Chicago, New York, Seoul and Hong Kong have already achieved that, it said.
However, the plan has been met with widespread skepticism since it was announced on Friday morning.
Many VnExpress readers have commented that the plan is macroscopic and unfeasible, saying what they need now is a city that does not flood so easily with less traffic jams and trash on the streets.
"Is there any smart city that gets flooded for half a day every time it rains for five minutes?" a reader with nickname thoinay wrote in a comment.
"Traffic gridlock, floods, broken plans. I don't know what kind of 'smart' that is. Sounds so vague to me!", said tuyenk.
"Now all we can see is a city filled with floods and trash. There is no vision for a smart city," said ctnguyen707.
"We don't need a smart city. We just need the floods to go away," said Trump45.
Từ vựng liên quan
Tin tức liên quan
Northern Vietnam mountains engulfed in frost
places | 337856562White frost lay sprinkled across many localities in northern Vietnam as temperatures dropped to below zero degrees Celsius.
Dollar-strapped Argentina to loosen foreign exchange rules for tourists
world | 400476555Argentina will allow foreign tourists to exchange dollars at a significantly higher rate than previously available as the country reckons with depleted foreign currency reserves.
Toyota Vietnam recalls nearly 1,600 cars with airbag faults
companies | 132926588Toyota Motor Vietnam Thursday announced the recall of 1,592 Toyota Rush cars to inspect and replace faulty airbag computer software.
VN-Index inches up on blue chips
economy | 384126567Vietnam’s benchmark VN-Index gained 0.89 percent to 1,360.68 points Thursday as most blue chips closed in the green, but trading value remained low due to investors' skepticism on recovery potential.
Deadly pileup jams Vietnam expressway
news | 171576587Two passenger buses and a container truck were caught in a terrible mess that killed one and critically injured five.
Workers clean up trash along Hue pedestrian promenade
places | 96826594As floodwaters began receding, a wood-paneled pedestrian promenade along iconic Perfume River in Hue was swamped in trash.
Most Gen X managers want new jobs, survey finds
data-speaks | 77126630Eighty three percent of people born in 1965-80, of which most are managers or at higher positions, are looking for new jobs, a survey by VietnamWorks has found.
Saigon fines Taiwanese graffiti artist for vandalizing walls
news | 22496599A Taiwanese man has been fined VND1.5 million ($65) for painting graffiti on the walls on Saigon’s streets.
The hidden gem that is southern Vietnam’s second tallest peak
places | 122156618The second highest mountain in southern Vietnam boasts dense forests and steep cliffs but remains off the beaten track.