CIMI 2025 - A Global picture of Smart and Sustainable Cities

• Economy: Updated population and GDP data to better reflect inflation and global fluctuations.
• Social Cohesion: New indicators measuring women's safety and leadership opportunities.
• Environment: Added data on green spaces and renewable energy usage.
• Technology: Introduced assessments of 4G/5G coverage, foundational to digital transformation.
• Mobility and Transportation: Added indicators on access to public transport.

Due to changes in methodology and data sources, the 2025 results should be seen as a snapshot of the current landscape rather than directly compared with previous years.

Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) remains the only Vietnamese city included in CIMI 2025. This year, it ranks 132 out of 183, categorized as "low performance" (CIMI score below 45).

Across the Asia-Pacific region, several cities ranked significantly higher:

Despite challenges, HCMC holds important advantages:

As HCMC enters a new phase of urban expansion - integrating with Binh Duong and Ba Ria-Vung Tau - the city's modest ranking is also a wake-up call. It presents a strategic opportunity to reshape the smart, sustainable megacity model.

CIMI 2025 sends a clear warning to other Vietnamese cities: without serious investment in planning, digital infrastructure, governance, and livability, they risk falling further behind in the regional and global race.

In addition to CIMI, policymakers, researchers, and businesses can refer to other respected global indices:

Vietnamese cities typically rank in the lower half of these indices, reflecting a development gap in smart, sustainable urban growth.

To realize the vision of smart, sustainable, and livable cities - with clean environments, thriving innovation ecosystems, fairness for all, and long-term sustainability - Vietnam must take systemic, coordinated, and effective actions

The Triple Helix model - cooperation among government, industry, and academia - provides a foundation for this transformation. In this model:

• Government plays a central role in direction-setting and policy leadership
• Citizens are the core, both as beneficiaries and active drivers of sustainable development
• Technology and data provide a solid base for evidence-driven decisions, enhancing speed, precision, and adaptability
• Businesses act as essential partners, contributing to economic growth and co-creating community and environmental solutions

City rankings should not be seen simply as a competition of scores. Behind every number lies a reflection of resident satisfaction, attractiveness to investors, international talent and visitors, and capacity to host major events. Most importantly, they serve as measures of real quality of life.

Indices like CIMI are not just measurement tools - they are mirrors for Vietnamese cities to reflect on strengths, identify weaknesses, and develop strategic, holistic, and future-focused plans for sustainable urban development.