Smart city development is an important topic that has received a great amount attention from both the local government and the public in Vietnam. There have many debates about the advantages and drawbacks of smart cities, but there is a paucity of studies focusing on citizens' perceptions about smart cities. This study is carried out with the involvement of experts and 112 respondents who are currently living in smart urban areas. The findings revealed that people seem to be optimistic about smart city utilities and its potentials; and the top priorities that should be addressed according to respondents are reducing time for daily activities, mitigating the possibility of personal information leaks, providing opportunities for local entrepreneurs, the ability for health self - monitoring, and safety of travel. The research results provide initial insights on citizens' expectations about the potentials of the smart city; and highlight aspects of smart cities that should be captured during smart city development strategies in the future.