Ho Chi Minh City to expand AI traffic camera network to former Binh Duong, Ba Ria Vung Tau Provinces

Binh Duong and Ba Ria-Vung Tau are now part of Ho Chi Minh City following a major administrative restructuring that took effect on July 1, reducing the number of provinces and cities in Vietnam from 63 to 34.

At a socio-economic press conference on Thursday, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Thi Thanh Nga, deputy head of the Traffic Police Division under the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Public Security, provided updates on the use of AI cameras for traffic monitoring and violation handling.

Nga said the deployment of AI cameras is part of the national plan for building smart cities and follows the Ministry of Public Security's direction for Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi to lead in reducing the need for on-street police patrols.

More than 1,000 traffic surveillance cameras are now connected across Ho Chi Minh City, including 31 AI-powered cameras capable of detecting multiple types of violations. 

These cameras automatically transmit data to the Traffic Police Division's command center, where officers review footage, verify offenses, and forward cases to relevant authorities for issuing violation notices.

Each confirmed case is linked to a vehicle's license plate, and violation details are transferred to the corresponding local police team for processing, allowing citizens to resolve cases at nearby police stations. 

Drivers are notified by mail, official channels, or an online portal managed by the Ministry of Public Security.

Nga said one major advantage of AI cameras is their ability to detect several violations simultaneously, whether involving one or more vehicles, day or night, which greatly reduces the number of officers required on the streets.

The 31 AI cameras are positioned along eight major routes with heavy traffic and frequent violations, including Dien Bien Phu, Vo Thi Sau, Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Nguyen Thi Dinh, Dang Phuc Vinh, Nguyen Huu Canh, Pasteur, and Xo Viet Nghe Tinh. 

Several of these roads are notorious congestion hotspots.

As of September 1, the AI camera system had recorded more than 3,400 violations, generating fines totaling VND2 billion (US$75,900). 

Many cases involved a single vehicle committing multiple offenses.

Since AI enforcement began, the number of violations has dropped as drivers have become more compliant.

However, Nga noted a challenge in identifying offenders, as many motorcycles still use old-style three- or four-digit license plates, often resold without title transfers, making it difficult to trace owners. 

Ho Chi Minh City police are now coordinating with local police units to encourage citizens to update registration and ownership records for these older vehicles.