Hanoi – Singapore is leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance elderly care, with applications ranging from fall detection devices and hospital monitoring systems to exercise robots in nursing homes.

As the country’s aging population grows rapidly, projected to reach 25 per cent of the total population by 2030, technology is seen as a key solution to address healthcare workforce shortages. AI is expected to assist doctors in managing non-critical conditions, streamline administrative tasks, and support caregivers while promoting elderly independence.

Singapore’s Housing and Development Board (HDB) has introduced home-based AI technology to detect falls and send alerts. However, experts emphasise the need for careful implementation to protect user privacy and autonomy.

Beyond Singapore, US-based Sensi.AI has developed an AI companion system that analyses audio signals to detect potential health issues. With the system already in use by tens of thousands of seniors in the US, the company is now eyeing expansion into Asia.

Demonstrating a long-standing commitment to industry growth, WeHub is continuing its Meet The Experts (MTE) conference, renowned as one of the largest conference series for real estate and hospitality professionals in the region.

MTE Ho Chi Minh City 2025 will take place on March 18 at Landmark 81, Autograph Collection Hotel, in Ho Chi Minh City.

The event will bring together more than 50 international speakers and over 800 senior industry leaders, including representatives from real estate developers, hotel owners, architects, design consultants, project consultants, hotel operators, hotel general managers, and industry experts.

Organisers said the conference is ideal for foreign investors seeking to connect with local developers and hotel owners, as well as to be part of market updates and informative sessions.

Mauro Gasparotti, founder of WeHub and creator of the MTE series, said, “The conference aims to strengthen connections among hospitality and real estate players, create collaboration opportunities, and provide valuable insights to developers, hotel owners, and industry partners, empowering them to seize opportunities and prepare for a new cycle in the real estate and hospitality markets.”

Gasparotti added that the industry has fully recovered, and investments are expected to flow again into both city and coastal destinations, with growing interest from foreign investors.

“In addition, 2024 marked a transitional period for Vietnam’s real estate industry. Key legislative changes have emerged as crucial factors shaping the industry’s future trajectory and building a foundation for improved market confidence. Increased interest in real estate, heightened investor sentiment, and a more stable economic environment are driving this positive momentum,” Gasparotti said.

The country’s tourism industry continues to gain momentum, supported by favourable visa policies, enhanced tourism infrastructure, and strategic marketing efforts by local authorities and businesses, he added.

The conference line-up will include presentations and panel discussions on various topics such as Vietnam and regional market updates, real estate investment and development, risks and opportunities, and the nation’s hospitality landscape.

Speakers will discuss and share their perspectives on wellness, sustainability and its practical applications, and the ultra-luxury segment, as well as the latest technologies shaping the future of hospitality and real estate, and many other prominent topics.

In 2024, Vietnam welcomed nearly 17.6 million international arrivals, a 39.5 per cent on-year increase, finally reaching pre-pandemic levels.

Vietnam is improving local products and origin of goods information, photo Le Toan

Later this week, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien will fly to the US to work with its Department of Commerce on further materialising the comprehensive strategic partnership forged in 2023.

“The main reason for the trade imbalance between the two countries comes from the complementary nature of the two economies, which is due to the export and foreign trade structure of the two countries,” said Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan at last week’s governmental press conference in Hanoi.

“Vietnamese exports to the US compete with those from third nations, not directly with US enterprises in the US market. Meanwhile, they even also create conditions for American consumers to use Vietnamese goods at cheap prices,” Tan added.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), Vietnam is an open economy which pursues a free trade policy. The tariff difference on US goods is not high and may decrease in the future because Vietnam will reduce most favoured nation tariffs on many types of goods.

“Therefore, a number of US products with high competitive advantages such as automobiles, agricultural products, liquefied natural gas, and ethanol will benefit from this policy,” Tan said. “At the same time, it will create positive import flows from the US, contributing to improving the trade balance between the two.”

In addition, there is an ongoing policy dialogue on trade and investment between the two countries under the Vietnam-US Trade and Investment Framework Agreement founded in 2007. Therefore, existing problems in bilateral trade and economy, if any, will be proactively discussed through the US-Vietnam Council on Trade and Investment.

This is a mechanism that has created a common vision, contributed to the long-term direction, and stabilised the development of bilateral economic and trade relations, the MoIT said.

In addition, the Vietnamese government has taken the initiative in assigning ministries and sectors to review obstacles to the US “on the basis of fair trade, reciprocity, in accordance with the law, harmoniously and satisfactorily meeting the interests of all parties”, the ministry added.

“Vietnam will also create better conditions for US investors to participate in the process of forming and developing key industries in Vietnam, especially key energy projects involving new energy, hydrogen, and nuclear power,” Tan explained. “This will create a premise to increase imports of liquefied natural gas, fuel, machinery and equipment, and technology from the US, thereby contributing to improving the trade balance between the two countries.”

Via the US Embassy to Vietnam and the country’s counterpart in the US, the MoIT has sent a message that Vietnam wishes to maintain and develop a harmonious and sustainable economic and trade relationship of mutual benefits with the US. At the same time, Vietnam reaffirmed that it has and will never create any policy that hurts labourers or the national security of the US.

Since returning to office in January, US President Donald Trump has launched a sweeping series of tariffs, marking a return to the aggressive trade policies of his first term. The measures reflect the administration’s broader effort to protect domestic industries and address what the president views as unfair trade practices.

According to Asia Briefing, a subsidiary of Dezan Shira & Associates, as a major supplier of goods to the US, the tariffs could significantly impact Vietnamese exporters.

“It is also possible that Vietnam will become the target of country-specific tariffs, as the country has a large trade surplus with the US and has previously been accused by the US administration of engaging in unfair trade practices,” Asia Briefing said. “However, Vietnam may be able to mitigate the impact by striking a deal with the US, especially if it agrees to increase imports of American goods or ease market access for businesses from the US.”

However, Adam Sitkoff, executive director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Hanoi, told VIR that it was too early to gauge the impact of tariffs. In the past month, Vietnamese officials have repeatedly said they would seek compromises with the US on trade.

“This is likely to include promises of additional aeroplane purchases, boosting Vietnam’s imports from the US of liquefied natural gas, better market access for American agricultural products, and an adjustment of some regulations to make it easier for US companies to access the Vietnamese market,” Sitkoff said.

He suggested that Vietnam should take some necessary actions, including creation of more transparency in the origin of goods and increasing local content, and doing more to solve burdens and barriers faced by American companies and investors here.

Vietnam’s exports to the US reached $119.6 billion last year and $19 billion in the first two months of 2025.