Arup Group is exploring how digital twin technology and public‑private partnerships could reshape Ho Chi Minh City’s planning and infrastructure. The discussion is timely as the city prepares for new challenges after its 2025 merger.

Arup Group CEO Jerome Frost said he is talking with Nguyen Loc Ha, the standing deputy chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City administration, about cooperation on urban planning, transport infrastructure and sustainable development. Both leaders see digital tools and joint investment as ways to improve the city’s future growth.

Frost highlighted that digital twin models can help cities simulate scenarios, assess investment impacts and adjust plans to real needs. He pointed to Arup’s digital twin project in Madrid, Spain, and a recent water‑system mapping project in Shanghai, China, as examples of how virtual city models support planning and management.

Arup has been operating in Vietnam for more than 20 years. During that time the firm has reviewed the urban railway network plan, performed a technical review of the basic design for metro line 2, and taken part in transit‑oriented development studies such as the Hang Xanh area.

Frost stressed that, because government budgets are limited, attracting private capital through public‑private partnerships is essential for new infrastructure. He noted that after Ho Chi Minh City’s 2025 merger with Binh Duong and Ba Ria‑Vung Tau, stronger connectivity across the enlarged metropolitan area will be a priority.

If digital twin technology and PPP financing are combined, Ho Chi Minh City could create more integrated transport systems and better urban governance. Both sides plan to keep discussions open to turn these ideas into concrete projects.