Lyon is one of France's leading centres for economic development, higher education, research, and innovation, and serves as a key economic hub of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region. The City benefits from a dynamic innovation ecosystem that brings together businesses, universities, research institutes, investment promotion agencies, and creative communities. Lyon's key strengths include life sciences, healthcare, clean technologies, digital technologies, creative industries, research and development (R&D), higher education, high-value services, and sustainable urban solutions. These areas of expertise closely align with Ho Chi Minh City's development priorities, making Lyon an ideal partner for sharing experience in green urban development, improving urban services, fostering innovation, preserving cultural heritage, and promoting a balanced model of economic growth that enhances quality of life.
Photo: Representatives of Ho Chi Minh City and the French Consular Corps pose for a commemorative photo at the exhibition celebrating the beauty of Ho Chi Minh City and Lyon.
Photo: Tuoi Tre Newspaper
For Ho Chi Minh City, Lyon has become a strategic partner in urban governance, cultural infrastructure, and the green economy. One of the most notable outcomes of this partnership is the inauguration of the architectural lighting system for the Ho Chi Minh City Central Post Office, a project that enhances the city's iconic heritage architecture while enriching its urban landscape and international image.
The close relationship between the two cities has also been vividly reflected through the urban photography exhibition by French photographers Adrien Jean and Tony Noël, held at the historic French Residence in Ho Chi Minh City. Through authentic portrayals of everyday urban life, riverside landscapes, and public spaces in both cities, the exhibition fostered a meaningful visual dialogue, highlighting the shared cultural values and enduring friendship between the sister cities while creating new opportunities for sustainable people-to-people exchanges.
Beyond these achievements, Lyon offers valuable expertise across three strategic areas: urban governance and cultural infrastructure; innovation and the green economy; and education, healthcare, and people-to-people exchanges. Lyon's experience in urban planning, architectural lighting, public transportation, heritage conservation, and high-tech industries provides important references for Ho Chi Minh City as it continues to upgrade public spaces, develop high-value service industries, strengthen its innovation ecosystem, and enhance its position as an internationally connected metropolis. At the same time, cultural and educational cooperation continues to serve as a lasting bridge that deepens subnational cooperation between Viet Nam and the French Republic.
Looking ahead, particularly within the framework of the 3rd Ho Chi Minh City Friendship Dialogue (FD 2026), Ho Chi Minh City aims to broaden its cooperation framework with the City of Lyon by encouraging investment, technology transfer, and the sharing of management expertise in the following five priority areas:
Urban Lighting, Urban Planning and Public Spaces: Build upon the successful cooperation within the LUCI network by further advancing architectural lighting projects, urban landscape design, public space enhancement, and the preservation of iconic architectural heritage.
Public Transport and Sustainable Urban Development: Promote the exchange of expertise in urban management, green mobility, low-carbon development, integrated urban planning, and heritage conservation in the context of sustainable urban modernization.
Life Sciences, Healthcare and Applied Research: Strengthen partnerships among hospitals, universities, research institutes, biomedical enterprises, and Lyon's innovation ecosystem in the fields of advanced healthcare, life sciences, and urban health.
Clean Technologies and the Green Economy: Expand cooperation in environmental protection, energy, water management, green materials, low-carbon technologies, and circular economy models that support Ho Chi Minh City's sustainable development objectives.
Culture, Education and Heritage Tourism: Enhance collaboration through cultural events, student exchanges, artistic cooperation, heritage tourism, talent development for the creative industries, and joint initiatives to promote the international profiles of both cities.