Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI — Major economic hubs of big cities and provinces nationwide have announced ambitious multi-billion dollar projects to become smart cities, well-equipped to take advantage of opportunities presented by the digital age. But so far, the country still lacks a specific standard framework for building a "smart city", experts said. Many countries in the world are building intelligent cities based on information technology, telecommunications and many other factors. In Việt Nam, at least 30 cities and provinces such as Hà Nội, HCM City, Đà Nẵng, Bình Dương, Thái Nguyên and Kiên Giang are looking forward to turning themselves into smart cities, Việt Nam News Agency reported. Ministries such as information and communications and science and technology have held many workshops on building smart cities to attract opinions from domestic and foreign experts, especially models and … [Read more...] about VN smart city plans lack specifics
Light bulb project
Hue city lights up public places to attract more tourists
The ancient imperial city of Hue in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue has mobilised social sources to light up its streets and tourist destinations at night during weekends and holidays to lure more visitors. Hue city lights up public places to attract more tourists The Hue ancient imperial city plans to have areas surrounding Dai Noi (Imperial Citadel) illuminated, as well as enhance lighting systems on walking streets along the Huong river Since 2017, the city has established Chu Van An – Pham Ngu Lao – Vo Thi Sau walking streets. Relevant agencies also plan to have areas surrounding Dai Noi (Imperial Citadel) illuminated, as well as enhance lighting systems on walking streets along the Huong (Perfume) river. Accordingly, Hue has installed about 4,000 LED light bulbs to increase luminous efficiency and save electricity. Up to 12,000 remaining bulbs need to be changed and 5,000 new ones will be added to the city’s parks, along the Huong river and new … [Read more...] about Hue city lights up public places to attract more tourists
Thua Thien-Hue’s Flag Tower lighted during Tet
The Thua Thien-Hue Flag Tower (Photo: Le Hieu) A ceremony to activate the lighting system, sponsored by the Viettravel Company and the Thue Thien-Hue provincial People’s Committee, was held on Monday. Phan Thanh Hai, Director of the Hue Relics Preservation Centre, said: “The lighting system will be on from Thể Nhơn gate to Quảng Đức gate. We have also restored the operation of the 4 cannons using oil combustion and are piloting electronic shooting technology. We hope that the lighted Flower Tower and cannons will attract more tourists to Hue”. The Flag Tower is at the south end of the Hue citadel. It was built in 1807 in the Nguyen dynasty. It’s a 3-storey tower 17.5 meters tall with a flag pole that stands 37 meters. 1,000 LED bulbs were attached to the building as part of the project “Hue – Light and Live”, which was launched last September to improve the city’s architectural and cultural space. … [Read more...] about Thua Thien-Hue’s Flag Tower lighted during Tet
Most LEDs on local market have substandard quality
Most LEDs on local market have substandard qualityVan Nam By Van Nam - The Saigon Times Daily HCMC – Around 90% of the LEDs available on Vietnam’s market are of poor quality, with large volumes of them assembled by small establishments and having a very short life and low efficiency, according to the HCMC Energy Conservation Center (ECC). Director of ECC Huynh Kim Tuoc said at a meeting on energy efficiency last week that HCMC currently had around 100 LED producers and suppliers. However, around 60 of them buy components to assemble LEDs at home and their quality is poor, he noted. Tuoc said high-quality LEDs can consume 50% less electricity than normal lights like incandescent bulbs. Buyers of LEDs should query about the origins of LED chips, reflector and other parts. If the origins are unclear, their quality cannot be ensured. Tien Giang Energy Conservation Center has recently installed LEDs for some road and bridge projects. Though the supplier guarantees the life of … [Read more...] about Most LEDs on local market have substandard quality
Will Cape Town be the first city to run out of water?
Cape Town, home to Table Mountain, African penguins, sunshine and sea, is a world-renowned tourist destination. But it could also become famous for being the first major city in the world to run out of water.Most recent projections suggest its water could run out as early as March. The crisis has been caused by three years of very low rainfall, coupled with increasing consumption by a growing population.The local government is racing to address the situation, with desalination plants to make sea water drinkable, groundwater collection projects, and water recycling programmes.Meanwhile Cape Town's four million residents are being urged to conserve water and use no more than 87 litres (19 gallons) a day. Car washing and filling up swimming pools has been banned. And the visiting Indian cricket team were told to limit their post-match showers to two minutes.Such water-related problems are not confined to Cape Town, of course.Nearly 850 million people globally lack access to safe drinking … [Read more...] about Will Cape Town be the first city to run out of water?
LED lamps not yet popular in Vietnam
LED lamps not yet popular in VietnamLe Anh By Le Anh - The Saigon Times Daily HCMC – Light-emitting diode (LED) lamps have an edge over conventional sources of lighting, but this technology has not become popular in Vietnam because of its prohibitively high cost, heard a workshop in HCMC. The workshop was held last Friday by the HCMC Sub-Directorate for Standards, Metrology and Quality in collaboration with Rang Dong Light Source and Vacuum Flask Company. According to the HCMC Energy Conservation Center, LED lamps have high luminescence efficiency, currently two times higher than fluorescent lamps. Each LED bulb can be used for 100,000 hours, 8-10 times longer than the lifespan of fluorescent lamps. In addition, LED lamps are environmentally friendly. Professor Phan Hong Khoi, director of the high-efficiency public lighting project, said the current cost of a LED lamp is far higher than other sources of lighting. What is more, Vietnam does not have any policy to encourage … [Read more...] about LED lamps not yet popular in Vietnam