Although a newly established cooperative framework, the relationship between the two localities carries strategic significance in the context of Ho Chi Minh City's ongoing efforts to accelerate digital transformation, develop high-quality human resources, modernize education, and seek smart urban governance models. This Memorandum of Understanding provides a foundation for both sides to implement substantive cooperation programs in smart classrooms, international schools, student exchanges, the development of education and vocational training infrastructure, the digital economy, and smart cities.
Former Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Bui Xuan Cuong and the Deputy Mayor of Tampere sign the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee and the Tampere City Government—Photo: Ho Chi Minh City Press Center
With regard to its economy and key strengths, Tampere is the third-largest city in Finland, with a population exceeding 263,000 as of 2025, and serves as a significant development hub for the Tampere region. The city is renowned as a technology, education, innovation, and digital transformation center in the Nordic region. Tampere possesses a cohesive development ecosystem that integrates municipal government, universities, research institutes, technology enterprises, and the startup community. The city's outstanding strengths are concentrated in information and communication technology (ICT), artificial intelligence (AI), open data, digital services, urban technology, education, smart healthcare, creative industries, and digital solutions for public services. Beyond its advantages in urban scale and quality of life, Tampere is particularly distinguished by its capacity to test, deploy, and scale technological solutions in urban governance, thereby generating valuable experiences that align with Ho Chi Minh City's smart urban development orientation.
The initial cooperative achievements between the two localities have been recognized through the clear identification of priority areas from the 2025 Memorandum of Understanding. According to information announced at the signing ceremony, Ho Chi Minh City and Tampere aim to strengthen cooperation in building smart classrooms, developing international school models, expanding student exchange programs, upgrading educational infrastructure, promoting vocational training, building smart cities, and developing the digital economy. These are highly practical initiatives that align with Ho Chi Minh City's needs in enhancing educational quality, standardizing enterprise-linked vocational training, and deploying modern urban governance platforms.
A notable example is the Smart Tampere program, which clearly demonstrates Tampere's capacity to apply data, digital technology, and innovative solutions to urban operations. Through Smart Tampere, the city promotes the use of technology in public services, transport, energy, healthcare, education, open data, and sustainable urban governance. For Ho Chi Minh City, the experience from Smart Tampere can serve as an important reference in building smart schools, developing digital government, improving public service quality, testing smart transport solutions, and fostering an innovation ecosystem for urban management in the context of rapid urbanization.
Looking toward the future, particularly within the framework of the Ho Chi Minh City Friendship Dialogue (FD) 2026, the City may expand its cooperation corridors and attract investment flows, technology, and governance knowledge from partners in Tampere across five key areas:
1. Smart Education and Vocational Training: Developing smart classrooms, student exchange programs, lecturer training, international schools, and vocational training models linked to the practical needs of enterprises.
2. Smart Cities and Open Data: Exchanging experiences in urban data, digital public services, data-driven governance, digital infrastructure, and decision-support platforms in urban management.
3. Artificial Intelligence and Innovation: Connecting startup ecosystems, universities, research institutes, and technology enterprises in the fields of AI, software, educational technology, and digital solutions.
4. Smart Transport and Sustainable Development: Collaborating on testing mobility management solutions, optimizing public transport, reducing emissions in urban transport, and applying technology to transport planning.
5. Digital Economy and Public Services: Promoting digital transformation projects serving education, healthcare, public administration, urban management, and enhancing service quality for citizens.