To commemorate Vietnam Architecture Day on 27 April, which also marks the 78th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam Association of Architects (VAA) and President Hồ Chí Minh’s historic Letter to Vietnamese Architects (27 April 1948 – 27 April 2026), the Vietnam Association of Architects has announced a series of celebratory activities nationwide. Among the highlights is an architect-author networking event held in conjunction with the launch of the publication 40 Years of Architectural Review Magazine (1983-2023), scheduled for 10 April 2026.
This year’s celebration takes place amid a particularly significant political and social moment for the country, following the successful 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the election of the 16th National Assembly. It also marks the first year in which local architectural associations have completed organisational restructuring after provincial and municipal mergers and the implementation of the two-tier local government system, paving the way toward the 11th National Congress of the Vietnam Association of Architects for the 2026-2031 term, expected in the third quarter of 2026.
Alongside Party organisations, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, socio-political organisations and other professional associations across the country, the VAA is currently implementing the resolutions of the 14th Party Congress and subsequent resolutions issued by the Party Central Committee, Politburo and Secretariat, particularly Resolution No. 80 on the development of Vietnamese culture. These directives are serving as a foundation for shaping the Association’s programmes and activities in the coming term.
Against this backdrop, the VAA emphasises that this year’s Vietnam Architecture Day should be celebrated widely through diverse and practical activities that encourage active participation from architects, members, enterprises and professional partners nationwide. The celebrations aim to foster pride in the Association’s 78-year legacy while reaffirming the enduring significance of President Hồ Chí Minh’s 1948 letter to architects, encouraging meaningful contributions to the development of modern, distinctive, green and sustainable architecture in the new era.
Activities Organised by the Central Office of the VAA
- Hosting official receptions for representatives of government agencies, consulting firms and partner enterprises;
- Organising the architect-author networking event during the launch ceremony of 40 Years of Architectural Review Magazine (1983-2023) at the Association headquarters, 40 Tăng Bạt Hổ Street, Hanoi, on 10 April 2026;
- Directing and supporting the successful organisation of the 2026 National Architecture Student Festival in Ho Chi Minh City from 15-18 April 2026;
- Visiting senior and veteran architects and their families in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City;
- Conducting additional commemorative and professional activities throughout the month.
Activities by Local Chapters and Affiliated Architectural Groups
Local architectural associations and affiliated professional chapters are encouraged to develop programmes suited to their own contexts and conditions. Activities may include architectural seminars and exhibitions, cultural and sports exchanges, gatherings of different generations of architects and other community-oriented initiatives.
The Vietnam Association of Architects expressed confidence that, with the profession’s long-standing spirit of solidarity, creativity, independence and adaptability, local chapters across the country would successfully organise celebrations for Vietnam Architecture Day, transforming the occasion into a nationwide festival for the architectural community and contributing to the broader atmosphere of optimism surrounding the country’s continued development.
Launch of 40 Years of Architectural Review Magazine (1983-2023)
One of the key events within this year’s commemorative programme is the official launch of the publication Selected Articles from Architectural Review Magazine: 40 Years (1983-2023), combined with the Architectural Review Magazine Gathering 2026.
Held as part of the annual activities of Architectural Review Magazine in celebration of Vietnam Architecture Day, the event will feature a diverse programme combining academic exchange, recognition and artistic interaction. In addition to introducing the publication, the event will include discussions with the editorial and compilation team, offering reflections on four decades of architectural discourse and professional practice in Vietnam.
A major highlight will be the presentation of the “Golden Pen 2025” awards, honouring authors with outstanding contributions to architectural research, theory and criticism.
The programme will conclude with an intimate musical gathering, creating opportunities for architects, researchers, authors and long-time collaborators to connect and exchange ideas in a warm and celebratory atmosphere.
The organisers warmly invite architects, authors, readers and those interested in architecture and urban development to attend the event.
© Vietnam Architecture Magazine
