Mr Hai appreciated the effective support from Singapore to the city, which focused on education and training, economy, urban management and transport planning. Singapore gave English language scholarships to the city's State employees and set up a "Vietnamese House" in Singapore to help attract investors and tourists to HCM City.

Lee told the city's leaders that the city should accelerate its administrative reform, invest more in infrastructure, and improve the quality of education and training.

The same day, Lee met with some foreign enterprises' associations in the city, visited the Phu My Hung and Thu Thiem urban areas.