Author: Dariu-Admin

Vinh Long Province — newly merged from Vinh Long, Tra Vinh and Ben Tre — draws hundreds of thousands of visitors to the Mekong Delta each year with its historical sites, cultural heritage and local cuisine. Yet up-to-date information about the region’s destinations remains hard to access, and paper maps are bulky and quickly outdated. Ho Phuong Tram, a 16-year-old student at Tieu Can High School, set out to close this gap: an interactive, voice-controlled tourism map that combines artificial intelligence, Bluetooth/Wi-Fi connectivity and a mobile app.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

A layered foam-and-acrylic board represents the province’s geography, with LED lights marking each commune and district. Users pair their smartphone via Bluetooth and speak commands through the Smart Answer app to explore four themes — tourist attractions, heritage sites, local specialties and notable figures, and a district-by-district guide. An Arduino Mega processes the voice commands, lights up the relevant areas and responds with voice narration. A solar panel charges the onboard batteries, enabling outdoor use without mains power. AI tools supported code generation and data analysis during development. In surveys of over 500 teachers and students, more than 90% rated the map “satisfied” or “very satisfied” — and beyond tourism, it now serves as a STEM teaching tool that brings hardware, software and AI together in the classroom.

In Vietnam’s hot and humid Mekong Delta, classrooms depend heavily on fans, lights and other electrical devices — yet most schools have no way to track energy use or room conditions in real time. Electricity is wasted, and teachers lack the tools to keep temperature and humidity at levels comfortable for learning. A student team at Nguyen Binh Khiem High School for the Gifted in Vinh Long Province set out to change that: EcoTwin Class creates a real-time “digital twin” of the classroom — a connected system of sensors, dashboard and AI that monitors energy use and environmental conditions, flags problems, and helps teachers run a greener, safer, smarter learning space.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Sensors continuously measure electricity consumption, temperature, humidity and light. A microcontroller sends the data to a computer, where it is processed in Python and displayed on a live dashboard — giving teachers and administrators classroom conditions at a glance. AI analyses the data to detect unusual patterns, forecast energy trends and send alerts when values exceed safe limits. Sustainability runs through the build itself: roughly 70% of the model is made from reused or eco-friendly materials, including recycled sensors and wiring from earlier STEM projects and biodegradable 3D-printed parts. At around 748,000 VND per classroom, the system is designed to scale — from a single room in Vinh Long to schools across Vietnam.

In the fertile farmlands of Vinh Long, in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, vegetable cultivation is part of daily life — yet most farmers still rely on manual care, dependent on weather and experience. The result: uneven yields, high labor costs and unpredictable quality. A student team at Tra On High School designed the Automatic Crop Care System, a model that applies IoT and renewable energy to help farmers grow clean, safe and sustainable crops. The system monitors and adjusts temperature, humidity, soil moisture, light and water salinity automatically, creating an optimized microclimate for plants to thrive.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Powered by solar energy and controlled by an ESP32 microcontroller, the system collects real-time data through a network of sensors: air temperature and humidity, soil moisture, water quality and sunlight levels. Based on this data, it automatically activates fans, sprinklers and misting systems for cooling and irrigation, and controls sunshades and artificial lighting. A solar panel and battery serve as the main power source, cutting energy costs and ensuring continuous operation. Sensor data is shown on an LCD display and in the E-Ra mobile app, so users can monitor and control the system remotely via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth — with audio alerts when values drop below optimal levels. An affordable, eco-friendly solution that reduces manual labor, conserves water and electricity, and improves the quality of produce.

In many schools, technology is still used mainly for basic learning support. Inspired by the Industry 4.0 revolution, a team of students set out to change that — by building a physical robot integrated with an AI-based chatbot. The robot can assist teachers and students in quickly accessing lesson-related information, make learning more interactive and enjoyable, and act as a friendly classroom companion capable of recognising emotions and responding to users’ moods.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

The robot combines AI, IoT and voice recognition to enable natural, two-way communication. Built on the Yolo:Bit programmable board with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, it uses a chatbot engine with natural language processing to generate conversational responses across multiple subjects — from Math and Science to English. The hardware includes a mini-computer, touchscreen interface, 4G SIM module, power board and sensors. The system can also monitor classroom conditions such as temperature and lighting, and can be controlled via smartphone. Students program multi-topic responses themselves, making the robot a versatile educational assistant that can help with homework, answer questions and interact in a friendly, engaging way.

Flooding and saltwater intrusion are growing challenges in the Mekong Delta, particularly in Hau Giang Province. Seasonal flooding combined with irregular high tides and rising sea levels causes water levels to fluctuate unpredictably, leading to residential flooding and damage to daily living environments. During the dry season, saltwater intrusion threatens freshwater storage in tanks, ponds and household systems. Manual monitoring is time-consuming, inaccurate and ineffective under rapidly changing conditions. A team of students developed this automated system to help communities protect freshwater sources, reduce flood risks and respond promptly to environmental changes.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Water level sensors continuously measure the height of water in tanks, ponds or drainage areas and send data to a central microcontroller. The controller compares incoming data with pre-set safe thresholds and, when water rises above or drops below these limits, automatically activates pumps or drainage valves to regulate the water level. By maintaining water within a safe range, the system helps prevent flooding during high tides and reduces the risk of saltwater entering freshwater storage. An integrated IoT module (ESP32) uploads data to a web or mobile application, allowing users to monitor water levels remotely and receive timely alerts. This automated approach ensures continuous protection, faster response times and improved water management for households and flood-prone communities.

The AI Smart Chair for the Elderly and Disabled was developed by Huynh Minh Trong and Nguyen Hoang Huy, students from Tra On High School, Vinh Long Province, under the guidance of Mr. Tran Trong Huu, Physics Teacher. The project won First Prize in the Vinh Long Provincial Science and Technology Competition 2025–2026 for its innovative use of artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to enhance mobility, health monitoring, and safety for vulnerable individuals.
Vietnam’s aging population faces daily challenges related to limited mobility and a high risk of falls, while most smart chair solutions remain expensive and ill-suited to the Vietnamese physique. This project set out to design an affordable, intelligent chair tailored to local needs—helping users live more independently, comfortably, and safely.

HOW DOES IT WORK

The AI Smart Chair combines smart sensors, motorized functions, and AI-assisted control systems to support users in multiple ways:
• Adaptive posture adjustment: The automated backrest allows users to lift or recline the seat for comfort, reducing fatigue and the risk of bedsores.
• Real-time health monitoring: Sensors measure heart rate, blood oxygen (SpO₂), and temperature, transmitting the data via an ESP32 microcontroller to the Firebase Realtime Database. If readings exceed safe limits, the mobile app built with React Native sends instant alerts to caregivers.
• Multiple control options:
• Button control: Quick commands for core actions such as name announcements and power switches.
• Voice control: Integrated with Google Gemini AI and Google Home through IFTTT, allowing hands-free operation.
• Eye and head control: Using CameraX and Google ML Kit, the chair recognizes blinks and head rotations as commands—for example, two blinks to trigger an emergency alert or three blinks to request hygiene support.

IMPACT

The AI Smart Chair demonstrates how young innovators can use technology to promote inclusion and care. By merging AI, IoT, and practical design, the project provides elderly and disabled individuals with greater autonomy while easing the workload of caregivers—a powerful example of how innovation can directly improve lives in Vietnam’s communities.