Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) is one of the basic components of a smart city (SC); however, very few studies have examined the impact of surrounding factors on the effectiveness and development of ITS. This study aims to identify the core factors affecting the development of ITS in Vietnam and as a result, form a branching database to approach the standards of SC. To achieve the stated purpose, materials are collected for research in developing and developed countries which comes from official sources including scientific articles, conference papers, books, and opinions from experts (from 2010 to 2020). This study identified 28 factors affecting the development of ITS projects. These factors are divided into 5 main groups namely the lack of undivided attention from the government, financial constraints, inadequate/incomplete transport infrastructure, the over-development of urbanization, the readiness and integration for ITS, which are analyzed depending on their influence. This study adds to the body of knowledge by offering new insights and contributes toward a greater understanding of mobility in a smart city. Furthermore, to guarantee sustainable ITS development, the digital infrastructure ecosystem should be extensively discussed. As a result, it created a useful measurement tool for government agencies, planners, and traffic system designers to help them self-assess and make action plans now or in the near future.
