Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi, is set to earmark 4% of its annual budget—amounting to over 9 trillion Vietnamese dong (roughly 340 million U.S. dollars—for science, technology, and innovation starting in 2026, according to VnEconomy on Thursday.
Of this allocation, more than 5.5 trillion dong (about 208 million USD) will be directed toward public investment, the report notes.
Truong Viet Dung, vice chairman of Hanoi’s municipal People’s Committee, emphasized that in order to hit growth targets of 8–10% this year and around 11% next year, the city must lean on science, technology, and innovation as a key driver.
Tran Anh Tuan, director of the municipal Department of Science and Technology, added that Hanoi is preparing to launch several large-scale laboratories, each valued at hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars or more.
And this is the part that invites debate: should urban centers commit such substantial public funds to big-ticket research infrastructure, or should emphasis remain on more immediate, broad-based supports for startups and inclusive technologies? What’s your take on Hanoi’s approach—will it spark sustainable, long-term growth, or risk overinvesting in megaprojects at the expense of smaller, practical innovations?
