On the evening of 15 April, the 15th National Architecture Student Festival officially opened at the Binh Duong Convention and Exhibition Centre (BCEC), launching four days of academic, professional and exchange activities from 15 to 18 April 2026. The event is jointly organised by the Vietnam Association of Architects, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, the Ho Chi Minh City Association of Architects and the Vietnamese-German University (VGU), bringing together more than 1,000 delegates, lecturers and students from 27 architecture schools nationwide.
Under the theme “ARCHINNOVATION – Architecture in the Technology Era”, this year’s festival addresses key questions facing architectural education and professional practice at a time when technology is reshaping the way buildings are conceived and delivered. Tools such as artificial intelligence (AI), Building Information Modelling (BIM), virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR), and smart materials are no longer seen merely as technical instruments, but as foundations for rethinking creative processes. At the same time, they raise renewed questions about preserving human-centred values, cultural identity and sustainable development in architecture.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dr. Architect Phan Dang Son, President of the Vietnam Association of Architects, described the festival as a platform that inspires and empowers the next generation. He noted that architecture students represent the starting point of the country’s future professional community, and that festivals of this kind serve as important catalysts for developing technical competence, professional confidence and creative ambition.
Placing the event within Vietnam’s broader agenda of digital transformation, scientific advancement and green development, Dr. Son stressed that young architects today must not only master emerging technologies but also remain deeply aware of architecture’s social responsibilities, with the ultimate goal of creating adaptive, humane and resilient living environments.
As host institution of the 15th festival, Professor Dr. René Thiele, President of the Vietnamese-German University, said that co-organising the event carries special significance for a young research-oriented university committed to international integration. He explained that the VGU campus has been conceived as a “green university ecosystem”, integrating academic, research and student-life spaces to international standards, while reflecting a close linkage between research, professional practice and industry.
According to Professor Thiele, architecture and the built environment are among VGU’s strategic academic priorities, developed through interdisciplinary approaches, sustainability principles and social responsibility. In this context, the festival is not only an academic gathering but also an opportunity for students to engage directly with an international learning and research environment within Vietnam.
The opening ceremony combined formal proceedings with a youthful and energetic atmosphere, featuring musical performances by students and creating a vibrant space for exchange among the country’s emerging architectural community. A highlight of the evening was an interactive technology-based opening ritual, in which delegates symbolically “charged” the stage with energy, representing the beginning of a new creative journey in the digital age.
The presence of 27 universities, together with moments of interaction and welcome among student delegations, set a spirit of openness and connection from the outset – reflecting the festival’s ambition to weave together scholarship, experience and creative inspiration.
Beyond the opening ceremony, the 15th National Architecture Student Festival has been structured as a continuous four-day programme spanning academic discourse, practical exercises and experiential activities.
On 16 April, the Archinnovation Conference will take place with 42 research papers submitted, of which 16 have been selected for presentation across three thematic sessions exploring the relationship between architecture, technology and urbanism.
The Organizing Committee would like to thank the enterprises that accompanied the 15th National Architecture Student Festival – 2026.
- From 16 to 18 April, student talent competitions will be held in a range of disciplines, including rapid design challenges at different levels, sketching and fine arts, and graphic design. These activities require participants to respond to real-world design problems within limited timeframes, testing creativity, teamwork and presentation skills.
- Throughout the festival, a creative exhibition featuring all 27 participating universities will offer a broad snapshot of architectural education in Vietnam today, revealing the distinct academic identities and design approaches of each institution.
- The programme also includes field visits to industrial and urban development sites, student sports activities and cultural exchanges, extending learning beyond the classroom while strengthening connections among schools and between students and contemporary urban realities.
- The festival will conclude on 18 April with a closing ceremony and awards presentation honouring winners across competition categories, as well as outstanding collective contributions and exhibition displays.
From a periodic academic exchange, the National Architecture Student Festival has gradually evolved into a nationwide platform for Vietnam’s architecture students. At its 15th edition, that platform continues to deepen in relevance by placing the next generation of architects at the centre of major contemporary transformations – where technology, environment and society are simultaneously redefining the demands of design thinking and professional responsibility.
An Du – TCKT.VN
© Vietnam Architecture Magazine
