What: South Korean retail giant Lotte Group has revealed plans to build an eco-friendly ‘smart city’ complex, along with a separate ‘smart logistics’ hub in Vietnam.

Why it is important: Along with plans for retail centres and residential spaces, the group intends to provide digital healthcare services using big data analysis and artificial intelligence.

The project will have a total floor area of 680,000sqm, five basements and multiple towers. The complex includes a shopping centre, cinema, office space, hotel, residences and apartments. Local sources stated that Lotte also plans to build an “Integrated Smart Logistics Center” in Dong Nai Province to improve logistics capacity and support Lotte’s business development in Vietnam. As for the promise of digital healthcare services, some examples of capabilities will be home care and IoT telemedicine, including remote diagnoses.

The group announced its plans to invest around 900 million USD into the project during its ground breaking ceremony in Thu Thiem on September 2nd.

Lotte Group plans futuristic smart city in Vietnam