The analysis in the previous article highlighted an important reality: urban diplomacy is no longer a trend but a “core capability” for megacities in the era of globalization. Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) is not only the country’s largest economic center but also an actor increasingly deeply involved in international affairs.

Alongside the opportunities, however, come challenges related to institutions, urban competitiveness, climate resilience, and readiness for integration. Major questions have thus been raised: where does HCMC currently stand on the global map of urban diplomacy? And what must it prepare to avoid falling behind? That analytical foundation opens up a new vision: by 2035, HCMC should not only be a “mega economic city” but also become a “responsible, creative, and sustainable global partner.” This means the city should move beyond a purely passive role to assume the position of an actor with a voice in regional issues, with initiatives that bear its own imprint, with the capacity to lead connectivity, and with responsibility toward the shared sustainable development goals of the world. Such a vision requires HCMC not merely to “keep pace with the world,” but to possess sufficient confidence and capability to “help shape the game.” Pillars of the “city diplomacy” strategy to 2035 Accordingly, HCMC’s urban diplomacy strategy toward 2035 should be designed as a comprehensive, interconnected structure linking socio-economic development objectives with new orientations for international integration. The focus is not only on strengthening external relations but also on building a global urban identity in which HCMC is both an economic hub and a convergence point for knowledge, creativity, and global responsibility. In that spirit, the strategy rests on five core pillars. Pillar 1. Economy – Finance: diplomacy to attract, screen, and “upgrade” capital flows This pillar serves as the locomotive and the foundation for all external activities. HCMC should regard economic diplomacy as a central tool to attract high-quality FDI, expand markets, and draw in financial institutions, thereby affirming its position as a regional financial and economic hub. From a policy perspective, first and foremost, the city needs to accelerate the implementation of the International Financial Center (IFC) project, which serves as the “economic diplomacy façade” of HCMC. The IFC should not be merely a standalone project, but must become a meeting space for investment funds, banks, FinTech firms, and international startups, where regional-scale financial and investment forums are regularly held. To enhance its attractiveness, HCMC should design and implement a “green lane” mechanism for strategic investment projects, particularly in high-tech, green finance, and the digital economy. This mechanism should be linked to an “English-language investor support desk” within the one-stop administrative service, acting as an “FDI hotline” that organizations such as NordCham, JETRO, and EuroCham would be ready to recommend to their member companies. In parallel, the Department of Foreign Affairs could consider coordinating with relevant city departments to lead thematic investment promotion programs in key markets (the United States, the EU, Japan, South Korea, ASEAN, and the Middle East), emphasizing messages such as legal reform, prioritization of green and digital projects, and long-term commitment to sustainable development. An open investment and economic data set, integrated into the city’s external information portal, would be an important supporting tool for building trust and improving HCMC’s ranking in indices such as the Global Financial Centers Index (GFCI). Pillar 2. Innovation – Technology: diplomacy to build a knowledge ecosystem If Pillar 1 is the locomotive and foundation, Pillar 2 is the “soul” of city diplomacy in the digital transformation era. HCMC cannot remain merely a place of production; it must become a “regional hub for knowledge and technology transfer.” From a policy standpoint, the city needs to closely link economic diplomacy with science and technology diplomacy. Specifically: (i) Elevate the Saigon Hi-Tech Park, Thu Duc Innovation City, and the Smart City Program into external “anchor points” where international technology delegations are hosted, and new collaborative projects in artificial intelligence (AI), big data, cybersecurity, and smart cities are piloted. (ii) Proactively sign urban cooperation agreements on technology with cities such as Copenhagen, Singapore, and Seoul, focusing on urban data governance, sandbox models, platform economies, and social innovation. To ensure the strategy goes beyond paper, HCMC should establish a program for educational and research cooperation on smart cities and innovation, in which the city partially funds joint projects among universities, research institutes, and international enterprises. A HCMC Scholarship Fund for urban governance, public policy, and urban data science could be created, sending students and young civil servants to study at leading centers while inviting international experts to teach and conduct research in the city. At the same time, HCMC should actively host or co-organize regional technology forums (Tech Summits, AI & Smart City Forums, conferences within the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, etc.), thereby affirming its status as a “natural destination” for scientists, startups, and global technology corporations. Pillar 3. City Branding: cultural diplomacy and soft power This pillar will help shape the image of HCMC as a dynamic, creative, friendly, and livable city. It is a soft power pillar, but one that directly affects the city’s ability to attract capital, talent, and international events. From a policy perspective, HCMC should develop and implement a city branding strategy built around a central message, such as “HCMC – City for Peace, City of Innovation,” or a similar slogan, to be used consistently across all external-facing activities—from international conferences and investment promotion booths to digital communications. The city needs to elevate existing events such as the Ao Dai Festival, HCMC Creative Week, and Vietnam Festival, transforming them into “cultural–diplomatic events” with international guests and activities that connect businesses, investors, artists, and intellectuals. At the same time, HCMC should collaborate with UNESCO, foreign cultural institutes, film producers, and digital platforms to develop a series of media products that portray the city’s image, ranging from documentaries, vlogs, and podcasts to social media campaigns. An important pillar of city branding lies in the overseas Vietnamese community. The city should design “HCMC Ambassador” programs for overseas Vietnamese entrepreneurs, scientists, alumni of foreign universities, artists, and others, equipping them with tools, content, and support to introduce HCMC at conferences, events, or on their personal platforms. In parallel, regular surveys of international perceptions of HCMC (through consultancy reports, online surveys, and digital data analysis) would help the city understand how it is viewed globally and how its messaging should be adjusted. Pillar 4. Climate, Environment, and Sustainable Development: diplomacy for survival and leadership This pillar represents HCMC’s long-term commitment to a green future. As a coastal city facing pressures from flooding, land subsidence, air pollution, and infrastructure congestion, HCMC must treat climate diplomacy as a core axis of its urban foreign policy. From a policy standpoint, the city needs to strengthen its role and voice in global climate networks, first and foremost the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, while expanding cooperation with cities such as São Paulo, Bangkok, and Rotterdam on water management, flood control, green space planning, and sustainable public transport. These partnerships should be translated into concrete pilot projects, such as low-emission public transport routes, flood-adaptive model residential areas, and integrated park–retention lake systems. HCMC should also proactively develop a priority project portfolio for climate-resilient infrastructure (flood control, canal rehabilitation, renewable energy, wastewater, and solid waste treatment) to mobilize ODA and climate finance from UNDP, the World Bank, ADB, and the Green Climate Fund. New PPP projects should be designed to balance investor interests, socio-economic benefits, and emission-reduction goals, turning green infrastructure into an important “diplomatic tool” for the city. At the same time, HCMC can take the lead in urban health diplomacy by signing cooperation agreements with cities that have strong public healthcare systems, facilitating exchanges of experience in epidemic prevention, preventive medicine, and community healthcare. A city that is better able to protect public health will enjoy significant reputational advantages in the eyes of investors, tourists, and international workers. Pillar 5. Global Urban Connectivity – Partnerships and Networks: Diplomacy to expand the sphere of influence This pillar reflects HCMC’s long-term vision within the global city ecosystem. Rather than limiting itself to symbolic “sister-city” arrangements, HCMC needs to move toward building “strategic urban partnerships.” From now to 2035, the city may consider: (i) Reviewing its 58 existing sister-city relationships and selecting a number of strategic partners (grouped by themes such as finance, technology, green urbanism, culture, etc.) to upgrade them into in-depth cooperation programs with three- to five-year plans, clear targets, and monitoring mechanisms. (ii) Proactively deepening participation in global and regional networks such as United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), the ASEAN Urban Forum, KLTC–APEC, and other city networks—not merely as a “participating member,” but as a “proposing member” that puts forward conference themes, hosts events, contributes policy reports, and shares HCMC’s practical experience. A supporting tool for this pillar is the HCMC External Information Portal, which should publicly disclose partner cities, networks in which the city participates, signed agreements, implementation status, and new opportunities. This would not only facilitate internal coordination, but also help international organizations and partner cities clearly see “what HCMC is doing and what it seeks to achieve.” A new soft power architecture for HCMC The five pillars of the city diplomacy strategy do not operate as “standalone components,” but rather interweave and reinforce one another, forming a comprehensive soft power ecosystem for HCMC. The economic–financial pillar provides material resources and investment appeal. The innovation–technology pillar injects new energy, ensuring the city continuously moves forward. The climate–environment pillar establishes sustainability and resilience against global shocks. City branding shapes identity, emotion, and trust among international partners. Global urban connectivity expands the space for dialogue, enabling HCMC to contribute its voice to cross-border issues. For these five pillars to move beyond concepts and become real implementation capacity, HCMC needs to build an “institutional infrastructure for city diplomacy”: a strong high-level City Diplomacy Steering Committee to coordinate strategy; a dedicated task force serving as an analytical, forecasting, and connecting “brain”; a transparent, real-time digital external information portal; a structured program for developing urban diplomacy human resources; and a “Every Citizen – One Ambassador” campaign so that each resident becomes a “micro-ambassador” in daily life. When these five pillars and the institutional infrastructure operate in harmony, HCMC will possess a sufficiently strong foundation to step onto the global stage not only as an economic locomotive, but as a global partner—flexible in approach, humane in action, pioneering in thinking, and ready to contribute to the future of the region and the world by 2035.