In the joyful atmosphere leading up to the 10th National Young Architects Festival – Huế 2025, Architecture Magazine had the opportunity to talk with M.Arch. Architect Vũ Tùng – Member of the Executive Committee of the Club of Young Architects in the Northern Midland and Mountainous Region, Head of Communications of the Vietnam Young Architects Club, and a participant in the 2023 Festival in Yên Bái.
In Yên Bái, he, along with nearly 1,000 young architects from across the country, experienced an inspiring gathering where the profession extended beyond building design to embrace nature, heritage, and social responsibility. Two years later, those experiences remain a driving force, inspiring the young generation of architects to continue dedicating themselves to creativity and contribution.
Architect Vũ Tùng: “The National Young Architects Festival has become an important event, marking the growth of many generations of young Vietnamese architects. If the 2023 Festival in Yên Bái was a source of inspiration, then the upcoming 2025 Festival in Huế, to be held from September 26 – 28, 2025, promises to be a new milestone – affirming the pioneering role and social responsibility of the young architect community as the nation moves toward a bright future and sustainable development.”
Yên Bái 2023 – Where Connections Are Made and Responsibility Awakened
Held amidst the majestic natural scenery of the Northwest mountains, the 2023 Young Architects Festival in Yên Bái gathered nearly 1,000 young architects nationwide under the theme “Converging the Colors of the Northwest”. The event was not only a platform for professional exchange but also a spiritual boost affirming the unity among generations of Vietnamese architects, especially the young ones – the generation steadily proving its capability and confidence in the profession. In Yên Bái, many pressing architectural issues were brought to the table: the rapid growth of urban areas, the need for innovation in rural architecture, challenges from climate change, and the question of preserving identity amid globalization. It was an occasion when many young architects became more clearly aware of the idea of “Architecture in Harmony with Nature” and the relationship between heritage conservation and sustainable development. The festival went beyond exhibitions of works – it created opportunities for experience and dialogue, helping participants realize that architecture does not only exist on drawings but must also be embedded in life.
Discussions and debates at the Festival helped young architects recognize that architecture is not limited to building design – it is closely tied to social, environmental, and cultural responsibilities. From Yên Bái, the young generation of architects gained new motivation to practice their profession with a renewed mindset – more open, united, responsible, and creative.
Images of Some Activities at the 2023 Young Architects Festival in Yên Bái
2025 – Young Architecture with New Missions
From 2023 to the present, Vietnam’s architectural landscape has undergone many changes. Urban areas are expanding rapidly, housing and public facility demands are rising, while climate change and environmental degradation increasingly affect human life. In this context, many generations of young architects have demonstrated their dynamism: boldly adopting and applying new technologies, embracing green architectural trends, and striving to find balanced solutions between development and preservation. The trend of “architecture for humanity – humanistic architecture” has become a major concern. Small-scale competitions and workshops within regional clubs have enriched the collective experience in preparation for the Huế 2025 Young Architects Festival. Many projects led by young architects have made an impression, showing maturity in both professional thinking and community responsibility. Notably, the consistent operation of the Vietnam Young Architects Club over the past two years has helped maintain the flame of connection, creating a network that binds the Young Architects Community – a place where ideas are shared, concerns are heard, and professional aspirations are nurtured.
Images of Some Professional Roundtable Discussions – Where Ideas Are Shared and Concerns Are Heard
Huế 2025 – The Convergence of Tradition and Creativity
Huế – a heritage city that embodies the essence of royal culture, Buddhism, music, and art – provides a unique setting for this Festival. The event will open a multi-dimensional dialogue space: between tradition and modernity, preservation and development, artistic beauty and practical needs. This is not only a choice of location but also a symbolic one: in the heart of a heritage city, young architects will have the opportunity to engage directly with the fundamental question of the industry – how to preserve and promote cultural identity while creating modern and sustainable living spaces?
Huế – A Heritage City. Source: Internet.
The Huế 2025 Festival is expected to become a meeting point of tradition and innovation, of identity and global trends. Its seminars, exhibitions, and networking activities will not only facilitate the exchange of experience but also open new directions for Vietnam’s young architects in their journey to shape the future.
Faith in the Young Generation of Architects
Looking back from Yên Bái to Huế, one can clearly see the maturity of Vietnam’s young architect community. Today’s generation does not merely seek career opportunities – they are taking active roles in addressing major social issues: from urban planning and green architecture to cultural preservation and sustainable development. What unites this generation is their continuous desire to learn, their willingness to take action, and their aspiration to contribute. Each young architect, whether in major cities or rural areas, carries within themselves the responsibility to create better living spaces for the community. Now, as Huế 2025 approaches, the greatest aspiration of the young generation is to affirm the role of the architect not only on paper but also in social life. After all, architecture is not meant for display – it is for people to live, breathe, enjoy, and preserve. If the previous generations laid the foundation, then today’s young architects must courageously take new steps – preserving their roots while opening the doors to the world. On that journey, the Huế 2025 Festival serves as a catalyst and a support point for the young generation to grow together.
Conclusion
Reflecting on Huế 2025, one can still hear the inspiring words shared at the 2023 Young Architects Festival in Yên Bái: “A young architect is one who carries within themselves the memories of the nation and the dreams of the future”. From the marks of Yên Bái 2023 to the expectations of Huế 2025, it can be affirmed that the National Young Architects Festival is not merely a professional event – it has become a symbol of unity, responsibility, and creativity for Vietnam’s young architects. Huế 2025 promises to be a destination where the young architect community continues to affirm its talent, contribute its voice and intellect to the development of national architecture. But beyond a single event, it represents a long journey that the young generation will continue – creating, preserving, and most importantly, ensuring that architecture always remains connected to people, to the community, and to the future of the country. That journey will not end in Huế – it will continue to resonate and expand through many future Festivals, as a living testament to the growth of Vietnam’s young architects.
M.Arch. Architect Vũ Tùng
Member of the Executive Committee – Young Architects Club of the Midland and Northern Mountainous Region
Head of Communications – Vietnam Young Architects Club
© Vietnam Architecture Magazine
