Digital transformation should be considered the foundation of modern urban governance; therefore, in the coming period, Can Tho city will gradually build a unified urban data ecosystem, promote data sharing from the central to local levels and among management agencies, and form an open data platform to serve citizens, businesses, and research. This was one of the main topics discussed at the Smart City Symposium themed "Shaping the Smart City Development Strategy - Innovation Hub of the Mekong Delta," organized by Can Tho City on July 18th. Speaking at the conference, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Can Tho City, Nguyen Van Hoa, stated that the ultimate goal of a smart city is to change the way urban governance is conducted, putting citizens at the center, shifting from administrative management and the application of isolated technologies to urban governance that enables the government to make faster and more accurate decisions. Technology is only truly meaningful when it helps governments manage more effectively, enables businesses to innovate more, and allows citizens to access public services more conveniently, safely, and sustainably. The key factor is not technology itself, but rather a team of leaders, managers, and officials with vision, innovative thinking, and governance capabilities in the digital environment. Can Tho's national smart city development plan for the period 2026-2030, with a vision to 2040, clearly identifies data as the core foundation. Urban databases must be standardized, interconnected, and updated in real time to serve analysis and forecasting. AI will be used as a tool, and innovation as the driving force for sustainable development. International experience from Singapore, South Korea, Japan, China, the Netherlands , and other countries in the region shows that the success of smart cities is closely linked to the coordinating role of the State, a people-centered approach, the