HÀ NỘI — The municipal government of Hà Nội, in partnership with trade associations and technology leaders, is driving an aggressive digital transformation initiative aimed at empowering small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with artificial intelligence (AI) and e-commerce capabilities. Speaking at the 2026 Hà Nội Economic Forum on Friday, officials underscored that integrating advanced technologies into local business operations is vital to unlocking productivity gains and achieving double-digit economic expansion.
The forum, themed “AI and E-commerce: Enabling Double-digit Growth for Hà Nội's Small and Medium-sized Enterprises,” focused on bridging the gap between tech innovators, financial institutions, and local merchants in Vietnam's capital.
High Growth Benchmarks Demand Technological Innovation
Addressing forum attendees, Cù Ngọc Trang, Director of the Hà Nội Department of Science and Technology, presented the capital's economic landscape. Hà Nội’s Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) expanded by 8.22 percent during the first half of 2026—marking its strongest H1 performance in years. However, meeting the city's ambitious annual macroeconomic targets will require GRDP to surge by 13.44 percent in the second half of the year.
Furthermore, municipal authorities aim for the digital economy to contribute 22 percent of the total GRDP by the end of 2026, up from 16.7 percent in the first six months.
Trang stressed that traditional growth models and conventional operating methods are no longer sufficient to hit these aggressive benchmarks. Instead, new productive momentum must be forged through science, technology, and commercial innovation.
“Hà Nội can only achieve double-digit economic growth if its business community—particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, which represent 98 percent of all firms in the capital—also records double-digit growth,” Trang stated.
He highlighted that Hà Nội possesses a formidable foundation for tech-led development, home to more than 11,000 digital technology companies, over 1,000 startups, and 221 specialized science and technology enterprises. The primary objective now is building structured conduits between tech developers and SMEs to accelerate real-world AI implementation.
Practical Frameworks for SME Digital Adoption
Mạc Quốc Anh, Vice President and General Secretary of the Hanoi Small and Medium Enterprises Association (HANOISME), outlined the critical operational needs of local businesses. He emphasized that SMEs must deepen their understanding of government support policies, expand access to capital, and adopt pragmatic digital tools—such as enterprise management software, digital payment gateways, e-commerce channels, and automated workflow systems.
Quốc Anh stressed that technological adoption must directly serve business fundamentals by driving sales and steady cash flows. He urged tighter collaboration between SMEs, financial institutions, universities, and logistics networks, while calling on regulators and commercial lenders to design flexible financing packages tailored to SME cash flows.
Offering guidance on AI deployment, Nguyễn Chiến Thắng, Director of the Development Centre at Saigon-Hanoi Commercial Joint Stock Bank (SHB), cautioned against viewing AI as a quick profit tool. Instead, he recommended a structured, three-tiered implementation roadmap:
Level 1 (Individual Tools): Utilizing basic AI software to improve individual employee task management and productivity.
Level 2 (Process Integration): Embedding AI into core operational workflows to optimize logistics, inventory, and customer service.
Level 3 (Autonomous Systems): Deploying advanced AI models capable of analyzing market data, forecasting trends, and executing complex decisions autonomously.
Thắng noted that while productivity-focused AI tools might not yield immediate direct revenue, process optimization delivers clear return on investment (ROI) over a long-term strategic horizon.
Structured 100-Day Action Plan and Digital Infrastructure
To translate forum discussions into tangible results, HANOISME unveiled a multi-stage post-forum action plan designed to guide SMEs through technology adoption over a 100-day window:
Single Contact Point: HANOISME is establishing a central contact center to receive SME requests regarding AI adoption, e-commerce onboarding, intellectual property, and access to credit.
Support Teams & Matching: Advisory teams specializing in digital transformation, finance, and product commercialization will host regular business-matching sessions connecting SMEs with banks, venture funds, and large corporate distributors.
Progress Tracking (30-60-100 Days): Participating SMEs will be categorized by need during the first week. Progress will be monitored closely, culminating in a comprehensive evaluation report after 100 days measuring supported firms, processed credit applications, and created economic value.
HANOISME announced it will host a follow-up economic forum on August 21, 2026, to review early progress, refine support mechanisms, and showcase successful SME digital adoption models across the capital.
In a parallel move to bolster the city's overarching digital ecosystem, Hà Nội officials confirmed the rollout of a regulatory framework for the city's Digital Investment Map. Managed by the Hanoi Department of Finance, this centralized data platform will digitize information on municipal investment projects, streamline inter-agency coordination, and facilitate streamlined investment promotion.
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