BINH DUONG, VIETNAM HONORED AS TOP 1 ICF 2023
The Intelligent Community Forum Names its First Vietnamese City for Development Excellence
(October 26, 2023 – New York City, NY) – For the first time in its 24-year history, the Intelligent Community Forum honored a Vietnamese city with its top award today when it named Binh Duong as the 2023 Intelligent Community of the Year. Binh Duong, located in the southern part of the country, had been previously named a Smart21 Community five times and to the prestigious list of Top7 three times since 2019. Mai Hung Dung, Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee and Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee accepted the award for Binh Duong. The announcement was made during the annual Intelligent Community Awards Dinner in New York City, the culminating event of this year’s ICF Global Summit conference. (www.icfsummit.com)
“This year we witnessed a historic moment in the life of cities with Vietnam’s first Intelligent Community being named Intelligent Community of the Year,” said ICF Co-Founder Louis Zacharilla. “Binh Duong has methodically executed ICF’s Community Accelerator Strategy while participating in our annual awards. The city is a great example of the power of teamwork, focus on a clear and persistent strategy and a passionate dedication to creating a place that honors its people and is part of a nation preparing its citizens for the 21st Century. ICF’s Founders were also pleased to see Eindhoven, a former Intelligent Community of the Year, work with Binh Duong on adapting the Dutch city’s experience and best practices to Vietnam’s culture and transitioning economy. Binh Duong represents many things to other cities throughout the world, but mainly, it is physical, vibrant proof that ‘the middle of nowhere is no more!’”
Binh Duong succeeds New Taipei City, Taiwan as ICF’s Intelligent Community of the Year. Representatives from New Taipei City were on the stage as Binh Duong accepted. Binh Duong was selected after more than a year of evaluation that included a quantitative analysis of extensive data, a site audit by an Intelligent Community Forum co-founder and votes from an international jury made up of experts from around the world. Communities in the Awards program are evaluated based on six Factors making up the Community Accelerator Strategy, which combine to produce inclusive economic growth, strengthen social connection and support rich and meaningful cultures.
The 2023 ICF Global Summit explored how cities of almost any size and anywhere can adapt the Community Accelerator Strategy to their unique challenges and assets and build dynamic and innovative economies and prosperous, inclusive communities that attract talent and investment. Its theme was “The Middle of Nowhere Is No More!”
Starting on Wednesday, October 25th, the Summit featured two days of programming, workshops and panel discussions around the City of New York, including the SUNY Global Center, with leaders from around the world, including representatives from each of the Top7 Intelligent Communities of 2023 – the seven finalists for the Intelligent Community of the Year Award. The other six finalists competing with Binh Duong for Intelligent Community of 2023 were Coral Gables, Florida, USA; Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil; Durham Region, Ontario, Canada; Greater Geelong, Victoria, Australia; Hilliard, Ohio, USA; and Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia.
