Through the facilitation of the Hai Phong Department of Foreign Affairs, on 14 September 2026, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism held a working session with Gractor, a Korean company, to explore the potential application of artificial intelligence (AI) in providing information, assisting visitors and promoting smart tourism development in Hai Phong. Participants included leaders and representatives of specialised divisions under the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism; representatives of the Department of Foreign Affairs; and a delegation from Gractor and the Korea Energy Management System Association.
Established in 2016, Gractor is a Korean company specialising in digital transformation and the application of AI and the Internet of Things (IoT). By integrating data platforms, cloud computing, AI and IoT, the company develops solutions for smart city management and operations across a range of areas, including urban infrastructure safety, transportation, digital living and security. Gractor has received recognition from the Korean Government through a number of awards in entrepreneurship, information technology, IoT, urban innovation and urban design.
Speaking at the meeting, Mr. Tran Van Ngoc, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, highlighted the increasingly important role of artificial intelligence in socio-economic development. AI is now widely applied in public administration, manufacturing, education, healthcare, culture, communications and many other areas of daily life. In the tourism sector, the technology can help improve access to information, personalise visitor experiences, provide multilingual assistance and enhance the quality of services for tourists.
Mr. Ngoc noted that the Republic of Korea is one of the countries with a high level of development in science, technology and artificial intelligence. Strengthening exchanges with Korean businesses and experts on AI applications in general, and the use of AI in tourism development in particular, is therefore of practical significance. Such cooperation can help Hai Phong gain access to new solutions and draw on relevant experience in line with the city’s orientation towards digital transformation and smart tourism development.
At the meeting, Mr. Kim Young Shin, Director of Gractor and an expert with extensive experience in smart city design and development in the Republic of Korea, introduced the company’s capabilities and technology platforms, as well as its AI-powered tourism solution, “Everyone’s Festival.”
“Everyone’s Festival” is being developed as a web-based AI assistant with multilingual capabilities, designed to provide visitors with information on destinations, festivals, events, amenities and other useful information throughout their journeys. The platform is also intended to answer frequently asked questions from tourists, thereby improving access to information and enhancing the efficiency of tourism service delivery.
The application is expected to be launched in 2027. At this stage, Gractor seeks to introduce the concept, gain a better understanding of the practical needs of localities and gather feedback from relevant specialised agencies. Such input will provide a basis for the company to further refine the system and expand its database, functionalities and scope of services before the application is officially launched.
Mr. Kim Young Shin, Director of Gractor, introduces the “Everyone’s Festival” application
Following the presentation, representatives of specialised divisions under the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism expressed interest in the solution proposed by Gractor. Participants noted that an AI assistant could provide an additional and convenient information channel for visitors, particularly international tourists, while also supporting the promotion of Hai Phong’s destinations, festivals, events and distinctive tourism products.
Representatives of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism also raised questions regarding requirements for technical infrastructure, databases, human resources and the scope of users. They also sought further clarification on investment costs, participation arrangements, as well as mechanisms for operating, managing and updating information on the platform. Gractor representatives indicated that the two sides could further explore opportunities for cooperation through Official Development Assistance (ODA) programmes and projects funded by the Korean Government.
Concluding the meeting, Mr. Tran Van Ngoc expressed his hope that the AI platform would, in the future, provide tourists with comprehensive, accurate and easily accessible information. Beyond tourism, the application could also be explored for expansion into the fields of culture and sports, helping introduce the city’s heritage sites, festivals, cultural events, sporting activities and local life to residents as well as domestic and international visitors.
The Deputy Director also proposed that the two sides explore the organisation of training and professional development programmes on AI applications in the Republic of Korea, or invite Gractor experts to Hai Phong to share their expertise and provide guidance to relevant professional staff. He also instructed the Department’s specialised divisions to coordinate with the Korean side in establishing sector-specific working groups to serve as focal points for communication, identify practical needs, and study and propose concrete areas of cooperation in line with the functions and responsibilities of each division and the city’s actual conditions.
Delegates attending the working session
The working session opened up opportunities for stronger connections between the city’s government agencies and Korean technology enterprises, contributing to the application of science and technology and the advancement of digital transformation in the promotion, management and development of Hai Phong’s tourism sector.
Minh Trang