In an era where cities are increasingly judged by measurable outcomes, Vietnamese developer Vinhomes is taking an uncommon approach: embedding internationally recognized smart-city standards into large-scale developments from day one. Through landmark partnerships with global certification bodies, the company aims to demonstrate that future cities can be designed not only to be greener and smarter, but also to perform against internationally benchmarked metrics.
The global competition for capital, talent, and innovation has made data the new currency of cities. Investors now demand evidence that infrastructure is resilient, mobility is efficient, governance is transparent, and environmental commitments translate into long-term economic value. According to the OECD, data governance has become a foundational element of smart-city development, while standardized indicators such as ISO 37122 enable cities to measure performance consistently, benchmark against global peers, and inform better policy and investment decisions. The World Council on City Data (WCCD) adds that ISO-standardized, independently verified, and globally comparable city data enables cities to make better planning and investment decisions, benchmark performance, and attract investment through greater transparency.
ISO 37122, developed by the International Organization for Standardization, establishes globally comparable indicators for evaluating smart-city performance across mobility, energy, environmental management, digital infrastructure, governance, public safety, and innovation. For governments and developers alike, the implication is significant: future cities will be judged by what they can measure and verify. Few developers have attempted to integrate these standards before a city is even built. Yet that is precisely Vinhomes' strategy. Instead of treating certification as a post-construction credential, the company is embedding smart-city metrics into the planning process itself, a strategy that could place Vietnam among a new generation of countries helping redefine how future cities are conceived, governed, and evaluated.
On March 3, 2026, Vinhomes Green Paradise - Can Gio officially launched its Smart City Certification Project in partnership with Korea Management Association Consulting (KMAC), the WCCD, and the Standardized Urban Metrics (SUM) initiative. The collaboration aims to achieve the WCCD/SUM ISO 37122 Custom Smart City Certification, a framework derived from ISO 37122 and developed for large-scale greenfield urban projects. KMAC provides strategic consulting and technical advisory services, while WCCD and SUM oversee certification, with an interim certification targeted within 2026. This approach reflects a broader evolution: greenfield developments offer the opportunity to integrate sustainability, digital governance, and performance measurement from the outset rather than retrofitting them later.
Mr. Chulse Oh, Head of AX Group at KMAC, called the project a landmark collaboration between Vietnam and Korea, adding that Vinhomes Green Paradise will become a model for data-driven governance, sustainability, and smart innovation. Situated across 2,870 hectares, Vinhomes Green Paradise borders the Can Gio Sea and the UNESCO-recognized Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve. The project features 121 kilometers of coastline while maintaining a construction density of just 16%, reflecting a development strategy that prioritizes environmental resilience. Its ESG++ framework adds Regeneration and Climate Adaptation to traditional Environmental, Social, and Governance principles. Once fully operational, the development targets 100% clean electricity from offshore wind, solar, and battery storage, and envisions a net-zero transportation ecosystem. A dedicated Forest Regeneration and Climate Adaptation Fund supports research and mangrove conservation.
Dr. Patricia McCarney, President and CEO of WCCD and Director of SUM, praised Vietnam's emerging role in global urban innovation, noting that Vinhomes Green Paradise is a remarkable development deserving global recognition. The project has also become the first official participant in the '7 Wonders of the Future Cities' campaign initiated by New7Wonders, reinforcing its aspiration to be a benchmark for AI-ready, data-driven, and environmentally resilient urban development.
Less than two months later, Vinhomes unveiled Vinhomes Global Gate Ha Long, a coastal mega-city spanning over 6,200 hectares in Quang Ninh Province. Positioned as a 'New Hanoi' beside the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ha Long Bay, the project is designed as a fully integrated urban ecosystem. More than 2,500 hectares are dedicated to green landscapes, water systems, and mangrove forests, including 680 hectares of naturally filtered sea and approximately 200 kilometers of white-sand coastline. The development is envisioned as the world's first ESG-oriented city progressing toward the emerging ISO 37125 standard.
Taken together, the two developments reveal Vinhomes' distinctive strategy: rather than viewing international standards as external certifications to pursue after construction, the company is integrating them into the earliest stages of planning, governance, and infrastructure design. By building around those standards from the outset, Vinhomes is making the case that Vietnam can help shape the next chapter of global smart-city development, one where data, governance, and environmental resilience become as important as architecture itself.
