On the morning of September 10, 2026, the 11th National Congress of the Vietnam Association of Architects (VAA), for the 2026-2031 term, was held in a formal session with the attendance and guidance of Party and State leaders. Recognizing the sustained contributions of Vietnam’s architectural community over the past 78 years, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra delivered a major address highlighting the need for far-reaching innovation in the country’s architecture amid rapid urbanization and climate change. She outlined five key priorities for the new term, placing people at the center while calling on architects to take the lead in creating green, smart spaces that reflect Vietnam’s rich cultural identity.
The Editorial Board respectfully presents the full text of the Deputy Prime Minister’s address at the Congress:
Today, I am very pleased to attend the 11th National Congress of the Vietnam Association of Architects for the 2026-2031 term.
On behalf of the Party and State leaders, I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to generations of Vietnamese architects and all delegates attending the Congress. I wish the Vietnam Association of Architects continued growth, unity, creativity and professionalism, making increasingly practical contributions to the cause of national construction and development in the new era.
Architecture is a highly distinctive field that brings together artistic creativity, science and technology. Every building not only meets functional needs but also contributes to shaping the appearance, identity and quality of life of a particular place. Some buildings endure for hundreds of years, becoming landmarks of an era, a city or a rural community and being passed down to future generations. Therefore, every creation by an architect is not merely a professional undertaking, but also carries a responsibility to the community, culture and the future of the country.
Over more than 78 years of formation and development, since the conference establishing the Association of Architects in the Viet Bac resistance base on April 27, 1948, when the organization was honored to receive a letter of guidance from President Ho Chi Minh, the Vietnam Association of Architects has consistently accompanied the nation and made important contributions to the construction and development of the country. The contributions of generations of architects can be seen in the development of urban and rural areas, cultural and social projects, heritage conservation, and increasingly in green, sustainable and climate-resilient architecture.
These contributions have been recognized by the Party and State through numerous prestigious distinctions, including the Gold Star Order, the Ho Chi Minh Order and the First-Class Independence Order.
In particular, during the previous term, the Vietnam Association of Architects made significant efforts to innovate and largely fulfilled the goals and tasks it had set. Its role, reputation and professional voice have continued to grow. Notably, the Association actively participated in the implementation of the Architecture Law; provided consultation and social criticism on numerous planning schemes and major issues concerning architecture and urban development; and promoted green architecture, indigenous architecture and the application of new technologies. The social responsibility of the architectural community has also been clearly demonstrated through numerous community-oriented architecture programs, rural housing initiatives, and support for disaster-affected and disadvantaged areas. International relations and integration have continued to expand, with many Vietnamese architects receiving recognition at international awards.
These achievements are highly commendable. They not only demonstrate the Association’s growing maturity but, more importantly, reflect the practical contributions of Vietnam’s architectural community to the construction, development and enhancement of the country’s built environment. On behalf of the Party and State leaders, I recognize, commend and highly appreciate the efforts and contributions of the Association and the entire Vietnamese architectural community during the previous term.
As the Association enters a new term, greater demands are being placed on it and the architectural community. They must continue to pursue far-reaching innovation and make greater contributions to the country during a new stage of development characterized by rapid urbanization, the reorganization of development spaces, and increasingly high expectations for quality of life, cultural identity, green growth and sustainability.
In this context, architecture cannot focus solely on individual buildings. It must also contribute to creating high-quality, harmonious development spaces with lasting value. I call on the Association to thoroughly understand, concretize and effectively implement the Resolution of the 14th National Party Congress, strategic resolutions of the Party Central Committee and Politburo, and the directives of General Secretary and President To Lam. Accordingly, the Association should focus on the following five key priorities:
First, build the Vietnam Association of Architects into a strong and reputable professional intellectual organization
The Association must have the capacity to bring together, lead and harness the collective intelligence of Vietnam’s architectural community. As a mass organization assigned responsibilities by the Party and State and operating under the Vietnam Fatherland Front, the Association should pursue substantive reform, streamline its organization, strengthen professional capacity and improve its ability to unite and mobilize its members. It should truly serve as a common home for Vietnamese architects, with particular attention to developing young professionals, strengthening professional ethics and enhancing international integration. In particular, the Association should elevate its role in consultation and social criticism, ensuring that these activities are scientific, timely and grounded in clear professional positions and courage. National interests, community interests and long-term development values should serve as key benchmarks.
Second, contribute to creating a modern Vietnamese architecture rich in cultural identity and responsive to the country’s development needs
Architecture must be viewed as part of the broader development of the economy, culture, society, environment and people, helping shift the mindset from “construction management” toward “creating development spaces”. Every city, village and region should be modern and civilized while retaining its own identity, with planning, architecture, landscape and heritage connected harmoniously. Development should not dilute cultural identity, but instead carry forward and enrich Vietnam’s cultural values.
Third, put people at the center, with quality of life and community interests as the measure of architecture
The ultimate goal of planning and architecture is to create a high-quality, safe, humane and sustainable living environment for people. Architects must deeply translate into practice the principle of putting people at the center and using quality of life as the measure of success. Greater attention should be given to social housing, schools, hospitals, public spaces and essential community facilities, particularly the needs of vulnerable groups.Architecture should not merely create buildings of value; it must also contribute to building livable communities and ensuring that all people can share in the benefits of development.
Fourth, take the lead in promoting green and smart architecture, climate resilience and digital transformation
As Vietnam faces increasingly significant impacts from climate change and natural disasters, architecture must not only be beautiful, but also greener, safer, more resource-efficient and more resilient. There must be a decisive shift from a mindset of “responding” to one of “proactive adaptation”, incorporating climate, ecological, energy, materials and resilience requirements from the earliest stages of planning and design.
At the same time, the Association should proactively apply science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, artificial intelligence and new design technologies, ensuring that technology genuinely enhances the creativity, quality and efficiency of Vietnamese architecture.
Fifth, build a generation of Vietnamese architects with talent, professional integrity, strong character and a commitment to serving society
Architects are intellectuals, artists, creators and connectors who help shape every city and rural community. Every architect should become a “soldier on the cultural front.” This means that architects must not only be professionally skilled and highly creative, but also uphold professional ethics, social responsibility and a deep awareness of national and community interests, ensuring that every project contributes meaningfully to the country’s physical landscape and cultural values. The Association should give particular attention to identifying and nurturing young architects; creating an environment that encourages creativity, research, theory, criticism and international integration; and building a generation of Vietnamese architects capable of competing creatively on the international stage while maintaining a deep understanding of and responsibility toward the country, its culture and its people.
Comrades,
The Congress has elected the 11th-term Executive Committee of the Vietnam Association of Architects. This is both an honor and a major responsibility to the architectural community and to the country’s development needs.
I hope the new Executive Committee will uphold the spirit of unity, intelligence, innovation and action, and promptly translate the Congress Resolution into concrete programs, tasks and tangible outcomes from the very beginning of the new term.
I hope the Association and the entire architectural community will strongly promote the spirit of: “Architecture for a green, sustainable, prosperous and happy Vietnam in the new era”.
With a 78-year tradition, together with the intelligence, talent and dedication of generations of architects, I am confident that the Vietnam Association of Architects will continue to innovate and grow stronger, reaffirming its role as a reputable professional intellectual organization and making worthy contributions to shaping the country’s built environment, living spaces and lasting values.
I wish all delegates and generations of Vietnamese architects good health, happiness and success.
I wish the 11th National Congress of the Vietnam Association of Architects for the 2026-2031 term every success.
Thank you very much.
Ms. Pham Thi Thanh Tra
Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Prime Minister
© Vietnam Architecture Magazine
