HCM City Launches Pilot Phase of Digital Government Operating System to Enhance Transparency and Efficiency
HCM City, The Gulf Observer: The People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City has launched the first phase of its Digital Government Operating System pilot programme, marking a significant step forward in modernising public administration and improving transparency in governance.
Developed by the Office of the municipal People’s Committee in collaboration with the city’s Digital Transformation Centre, the new platform connects all city departments, districts, wards, and special administrative zones, enabling seamless coordination across government levels.
According to Dương Hồng Thắng, Chief of the Office of the People’s Committee, the software — compatible with smartphones — facilitates real-time management of documents, tasks, and progress reports from both the central Government and the city’s Party Committee.
“It allows leaders to supervise all departments and districts through a unified digital platform,” Thắng said.
A key feature of the rollout is the mandatory use of Gantt charts — visual project-scheduling tools designed to track workflows, responsibilities, and timelines — aimed at strengthening accountability and streamlining administrative work.
During an inspection of the Rạch Xuyên Tâm Canal renovation project, municipal Party Committee Secretary Trần Lưu Quang urged agencies to apply detailed Gantt charts that clearly outline tasks, responsible officers, and deadlines.
“Without a Gantt chart, it’s impossible to see who’s working, who’s delaying, and where accountability lies,” Quang emphasized.
At a recent meeting of the city’s Steering Committee on implementing Resolution 57-NQ/TW on digital transformation, Quang stressed that such visual management tools were essential for enhancing leadership efficiency and transparency.
Võ Thị Trung Trinh, Director of the city’s Digital Transformation Centre, said the platform integrates several existing systems, including administrative procedure handling, document management, and the 1022 citizen feedback hotline.
“It will generate daily analytical reports to help leaders monitor operations and key socio-economic indicators such as public investment, budgets, and administrative reform, supported by artificial intelligence,” Trinh explained.
The integration marks a major advance toward a fully digital government, with HCM City now connected to 11 national databases — including the National Public Service Portal, the national payment platform, and the national population database.
In 2024, the city prioritised institutional reform and the deployment of seven core digital platforms, focusing on areas such as social media monitoring, complaint management, and digital oversight of public IT investments.
Experts describe the incorporation of AI-enabled analytics and Gantt-chart-based governance as a shift toward evidence-based decision-making.
Nguyễn Trần Nhự Khê, head of the Law Department at the HCM City Cadre Academy, noted that the use of Gantt charts enhances the transparency and measurability of evaluations for both individuals and teams, though further refinement may be needed for complex projects.
Under the pilot phase, the city aims to fully digitise administrative operations in the coming years, ensuring a transparent, efficient, and citizen-oriented governance model. The system already automates task assignment, reminders, and key performance indicator (KPI) tracking for departments and officials.
Future versions are expected to include management tools for socio-economic, cultural, defence, and environmental indicators. The city is also pursuing international partnerships with countries such as Australia and Singapore to support training, technology transfer, and institutional reform.
In addition, AI training programmes have been launched for civil servants to enhance digital skills and reinforce HCM City’s smart city vision.
However, experts caution that technological infrastructure alone is not enough. They call for deeper interdepartmental coordination, sustainable financing, and continued investment in innovation to ensure long-term success.
The new system complements VNeID, the national electronic identity platform introduced by the Ministry of Public Security in 2021, which enables secure digital verification and document storage. Recent updates to VNeID include expanded services for foreigners, vehicle registration, and ID card exchanges, providing a foundational identity layer for digital public services.
Meanwhile, Việt Nam’s digital ecosystem continues to expand, with Qualcomm opening an AI research and development centre in 2025 and Google reportedly considering establishing its first major data centre near HCM City.
These developments underscore the momentum driving the city’s digital governance transformation.
The launch of the Digital Government Operating System, combined with the structured accountability of Gantt charts, represents a bold stride toward transparent, efficient, and data-driven public administration — setting a benchmark for digital governance across Việt Nam.
