ĐÀ LẠT — An exhibition displaying smart city products and solutions kicked off yesterday in the provincial administrative building of Đà Lạt, opening a series of activities celebrating the 125th anniversary of the establishment of the city in the Central Highlands province of Lâm Đồng.

The exhibition provides an opportunity for organisations, enterprises and individuals to meet, exchange experiences, introduce new technological solutions and promote the development of technological and communication applications to meet the province’s socio-economic development demands.

There are 20 stands representing domestic and international enterprises, 10 of which exhibit IT products used to construct a smart city. The rest showcase advancements in high-tech agriculture and Đà Lạt’s representative food and agricultural products.

According to Nguyễn Viết Vân, director of the provincial Department of Information and Communication, the province will pilot a Tourism Information Port, City Planning Information Port, Smart Lighting System and Public Wifi System as part of its plan to construct a smart city.

The Tourism Information Port and smart tourism mobile application have been implemented in 100 per cent of tourism businesses within the province. The application will connect tourists, locals, businesses and administrative organisations. Tourists only need smartphones or internet-connected computers to conveniently search for information about tourism destinations, accommodations or recommended restaurants in Đà Lạt City.

The City Planning Information Port, launched by Viet Nam Posts and Telecommunications Group, provides public information about the city’s land use plans. The city has also completed the installation of a smart lighting system in Hòa Bình – Đà Lạt market and the area around Ông Đạo Bridge and Lâm Viên Square. The lights are integrated with a free wifi system and security cameras.

Following the exhibition, the city administration will hold a ceremony announcing the project “Building Đà Lạt into a Smart City.”

The anniversary will also be celebrated with a fashion show tomorrow by the city’s Xuân Hương Lake, featuring designs made from traditional local materials including Bảo Lộc silk and Lâm Đồng brocade.

Ten silk workshops and 11 Vietnamese designers will participate in the show. The latest designs on Bảo Lộc silk and brocade by K’Ho and Châu Mạ people, two ethnic groups residing mainly in Lâm Đồng Province, will be presented by 50 models from Hà Nội and Hồ Chí Minh City, along with local models and 40 students from Đà Lạt.

The designs are inspired by the main theme of the show – Đà Lạt flowers – as well as songs and poems about the "city of a thousand flowers."

The breeding and trade of silkworms and silk products is the key business of Bảo Lộc and other regions within the province, providing jobs for thousands of workers of 28 businesses and countless local households. Many enterprises such as Vietnam Silk House, Vietsilk and Hà Bảo Silk are creating high-quality products for export.

According to the Vice Chairman of the Bảo Lộc People’s Committee, Đoàn Kim Đình, the local authority is concentrating on protecting areas that produce materials for local silk businesses. The province has around 10,000 hectares of land growing mulberries for silkworm raising, with the cocoon output ranging from 12,000 to 15,000 tonnes.

In 2018, the region produced more than 1,000 tonnes of silk yarn and 3.2 million metres of silk. The city’s silk products have been exported to many countries to weave kimonos, high-grade scarves and the interiors of luxurious cars. Many major groups in Việt Nam have also used Bảo Lộc silk for staff uniforms, he added.

Other highlighted activities include a ceremony honouring 125 individuals from the city, an exhibition showcasing Đà Lạt’s socio-economic achievements, photography and painting exhibitions, arts performances, film screenings, conferences and a champagne festival. — VNS