Ho Chi Minh City, 25 January 2026 – AI-powered salinity forecasting for farmers, smart disease detection for shrimp aquaculture, and a low-emission fertilizer optimization tool were awarded top prizes at the Youth Digital Citizen Challenge (YDCC) 2025 Hackathon – AI for Climate Action.

Developed by youth innovators from across Viet Nam, the three winning solutions emerged from 40 finalist teams selected from 433 nationwide applications, following an intensive 36-hour innovation sprint, supported by mentors and experts from the technology, sustainability, business and policy sectors.

The First Prize–winning solution, AgriTech iCoop Mekong of Trinova, uses AI to deliver hyperlocal salinity forecasts, risk maps, personalized farming recommendations and Zalo alerts, helping farmers better anticipate and respond to saltwater intrusion. Second Prize went to Green Warriors for their TOMI, an AI-based system that detects white spot disease in shrimp aquaculture, enabling earlier intervention and reducing losses for coastal farming communities. Third Prize was awarded to 5Bit GreenX for their Net2Zero, a digital tool that promotes more efficient fertilizer use, helping farmers reduce input costs, lower emissions and improve crop yield and soil health.

During the hackathon, participating teams worked under time pressure to translate validated problem statements into solution concepts and early-stage prototypes. With guidance from 57 mentors, participants received continuous feedback to strengthen the feasibility, relevance, and potential impact of their ideas. The hackathon emphasized practical problem-solving, responsible and ethical use of artificial intelligence, and the alignment of technological solutions with local climate realities in the Mekong Delta.

Savinda Ranathunga, Regional Youth Portfolio Manager, UNDP in Asia and the Pacific shared in his remarks, “The Mekong Delta is one of the regions most exposed to climate risks, from rising sea levels to salinity intrusion that place increasing pressure on livelihoods and communities. What is powerful about what we have seen at YDCC is that young people are not just aware of these challenges, they are already responding to them by using technology as a tool to solve real problems, grounded in local context and designed with people and communities in mind. This is exactly the kind of youth leadership UNDP aims to support and scale.”

The national hackathon marked the culmination of a structured pre-hackathon programme, during which participating teams completed four capacity-building workshops on problem exploration, design thinking, AI ethics, and solution development. The webinar series engaged over 600 online participations, enabling teams to enter the hackathon with clearer problem definitions and more mature solution approaches, allowing them to make effective use of the intensive development period.

Assoc. Prof. Trịnh Thùy Anh, Rector of UEH College of Technology and Design confirmed, “(…) the (youth-led) ideas presented were not only innovative, but also inclusive, feasible, and closely grounded in local contexts. These are exactly the kinds of solutions we need to ensure that technology truly serves people, communities, and sustainable development goals.”

The final pitching session was assessed by a multi-sector judging panel representing the innovation and startup ecosystem, development sector, public institutions, venture capital, and industry. Teams were evaluated on the relevance of their solutions to climate challenges in the Mekong Delta, the soundness of their problem framing, the feasibility of their proposed approaches, and their potential for real-world application and scaling.

Mr. Shingo Kinoshita - Managing Director, Head of MUFG Bank, Ltd., HCMC Branch, emphasized, “You (youth) bring together technology and purpose. You collaborate with speed, creativity, and empathy. And you show us what true innovation looks like when it is anchored in community needs.” 

Beyond the competition, selected teams will advance to a post-hackathon incubation programme, receiving structured support to further refine and strengthen their solutions. The winning team will also participate in an immersive international study exchange programme later this year, gaining exposure to global perspectives on innovation, sustainability, and applied technology.

About the Youth Digital Citizen Challenge (YDCC) 2025

The Youth Digital Citizen Challenge (YDCC) 2025 is a digital innovation hackathon co-hosted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Viet Nam and MUFG Bank, Ltd., Ho Chi Minh City Branch, with implementation support from the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH). Under the theme “AI for Climate Action”, YDCC 2025 encourages young innovators aged 18–30 to develop AI-powered ideas, products, and solutions that enhance climate resilience, support livelihoods, and drive sustainable development, particularly in the Mekong Delta region.

About UNDP in Viet Nam

UNDP - the Government of Viet Nam partnership officially started in 1978, when there was a very limited foreign presence in the country. Since then, UNDP has stood side-by-side with Viet Nam as it began its development trajectory from poor nation devastated by wat to a lower middle income country championing poverty reduction and leading in growth. 

UNDP has been working closely with the Government of Viet Nam and other partners to expand the choices for people and ensure that everyone has equal access to opportunities to realize their full potential. 

Through initiatives on youth empowerment, digital transformation, and climate action, UNDP supports young people to become active contributors to national development and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

About MUFG Bank, Ltd., Ho Chi Minh City Branch (Viet Nam)

MUFG Bank, Ltd. is Japan’s premier bank, with a global network spanning around 40 markets. Outside of Japan, the bank offers an extensive scope of commercial and investment banking products and services to businesses, governments and individuals worldwide.

MUFG Bank’s parent, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. (MUFG) is one of the world’s leading financial groups. Headquartered in Tokyo and with over 360 years of history, MUFG has a global network with approximately 2,000 locations in more than 40 markets. The Group has about 150,000 employees and offers services including commercial banking, trust banking, securities, credit cards, consumer finance, asset management, and leasing. The Group aims to “be the world’s most trusted financial group” through close collaboration among our operating companies and flexibly respond to all of the financial needs of our customers, serving society, and fostering shared and sustainable growth for a better world. MUFG’s shares trade on the Tokyo, Nagoya, and New York stock exchanges.

Over the course of more than 100 years operating in Viet Nam, MUFG Bank in Viet Nam (Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City Branch) has been contributing to the prosperity of our clients and the development of Viet Nam’s economy. 

For additional information, please contact:Nguyen Viet Lan, UNDP Communications Analyst, nguyen.viet.lan@undp.org, phone: 0914436769