Decision 1246/QD-TTg 2021 approving Vietnam’s architecture development orientations through 2030

DECISION

Approving Vietnam’s architecture development orientations through 2030, with a vision toward 2050^[1]

THE PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the June 19, 2015 Law on Organization of the Government; and the November 22, 2019 Law Amending and Supplementing a Number of Articles of the Law on Organization of the Government and the Law on Organization of Local Administration;

Pursuant to the June 3, 2019 Law on Architecture;

At the proposal of the Minister of Construction,

DECIDES:

Article 1. To approve Vietnam’s architecture development orientations through 2030, with a vision toward 2050 (below referred to as the Orientations), with the following principal contents:

I. VIEWPOINTS

1. To develop a modern Vietnamese architecture imbued with national cultural identity; to preserve, inherit and promote the traditional architectural values, selectively absorb the quintessence of global architecture, creating a unique style of Vietnamese architecture; at the same time to promote Vietnamese architecture to the world.

2. Architecture contributes to creation of a sustainable living environment; rational use of natural resources and conservation of energy; prevention and control of natural disasters and adaptation to climate change.

3. To promote the socialization of architectural activities in order to mobilize investment resources for architectural development; to encourage organizations and individuals at home and abroad to invest in physical and technical foundations with a view to developing Vietnamese architecture to be actively integrated with architecture in the region and the world.

II. OBJECTIVES

1. Overall objective

To continue to build and develop Vietnamese architecture that is modern, sustainable and rich in identity, promptly responds to the requirement of developing culture into a spiritual foundation in the process of national renewal, industrialization and modernization associated with the firm protection of the Fatherland.

2. Specific objectives

- To complete institutions and legal regulations on architecture; by 2025, to complete the formulation and promulgation of a system of national regulations and standards on architecture;

- By 2025, all urban centers will complete the formulation of the regulations on architecture management; to strive for the target that by 2030, to basically complete the regulations on management of architecture of rural residential quarters;

- To preserve, inherit and promote the traditional architectural values; to strive for the target that by 2025, all localities will complete the formulation of the lists of valuable architectural works;

- To promote digital transformation in the field of architecture, and complete the national database on architecture by 2030; to digitize valuable architectural works;

- To ensure that architectural works will meet the criteria of environmental protection and ecological balance; to rationally use natural resources and land, and conserve energy; to apply solutions for natural disaster prevention and control and climate change adaptation;

- To innovate models and methods of training architects to meet practical needs and learn from appropriate international models. To formulate a strategy to develop specialized and dedicated human resources together with fostering, praising, attracting and employing talents; to associate training with research, especially applied research; to focus on continuous training and improvement of practice skills; to step by step improve the quality of architectural theory, criticism and supervision;

- To carry out public information and communication on architecture in order to raise the community’s architectural aesthetic awareness; to promote community participation in architectural activities;

- To actively promote international cooperation; to create close linkages and secure mutual recognition of architecture between Vietnam and countries in the region and the world.

3. Vision toward 2050

- To synchronously complete the legal system on architecture: architecture management policies; architectural practice management; assurance of the efficiency and effectiveness of state management of architecture;

- To continue to formulate policies on training and building a contingent of architects with sufficient virtues, talents and professional skills; to praise and train talented architects;

- To continue to expand and promote international cooperation and integration in the field of architecture.

III. VIETNAM’S ARCHITECTURE DEVELOPMENT ORIENTATIONS

1. Architecture of urban centers and rural areas

a/ For urban centers:

Architectural development for urban centers must ensure preservation of their identity and harmony with natural, economic, cultural, social and environmental conditions and scientific and technological level.

To ensure consistency in management of overall spaces as well as specific spaces of architectural works; to ensure a harmonious combination between the past and the present; to make reasonable forecasts about the future, prevent and control natural disasters, epidemics and climate change.

b/ For rural areas:

Architectural development in rural areas should uphold community participation; focus on protecting architectural and natural heritages; supplement the missing functions in combination with infrastructure modernization; preserve and promote the traditional cultural values, customs and practices of each locality; suit natural and human characteristics, and inherit experiences in construction, natural disaster prevention and control, and climate change adaptation.

To encourage the development of architectural works that inherit traditional architecture and suit the natural settings and climatic conditions of each locality.

2. Preserving and promoting the value of national cultural identity

On the basis of preserving architectural heritages and core values, ​​to create the national cultural identity in traditional Vietnamese architecture. Organic connection between heritage sites and the overall architecture of an urban center or a rural area should be ensured throughout the architectural development process.

Cultural identity in architecture shall be preserved and promoted in accordance with each development stage of the country and regional characteristics; reflect the relationship with modern architecture, application of technological advances; and be linked with the technological, material and economic capabilities of each locality.

3. Organizing public information and education about architecture

To effectively promote the role of the community in participating in the development of modern Vietnamese architecture that is rich in national cultural identity; to contribute to the creation and improvement of a comfortable and sustainable living environment.

To enhance and renew the work of public communication and education in order to raise public awareness about the practical significance and importance of the Orientations and goals of developing a modern and sustainable Vietnamese architecture that is rich in national cultural identity.

4. International integration and cooperation

To proactively promote international integration and cooperation in the field of architecture; to organize exchange activities, expand and promote cooperation and association ties in order to step up the promotion, advertising and introduction of Vietnamese architecture; to attract investment in, build and enhance the position of, Vietnam’s cultural industry in the field of architecture in the international arena.

IV. MAJOR TASKS AND SOLUTIONS

1. Formulating laws, mechanisms and policies

To review, assess, research, amend, supplement and complete legal institutions on architecture, ensuring uniformity and consistency with relevant legal documents; to create an equal, transparent and fair environment in order to encourage the practice of architects in the country; to step by step socialize the management of architectural practice, and standardize the conditions for architectural practice in conformity with international practices.

To continue to develop, complete and implement the system of national standards and regulations on architecture; to step by step improve the regulations on and rates of architectural service charges, ensuring the competitiveness of architectural services in the region and the world.

To improve mechanisms and policies in training, theory, criticism and supervision of architectural activities; to develop incentive mechanisms and policies to promote the preservation and promotion of the national cultural identity in architecture and the protection of valuable architectural works.

2. Preserving and promoting the value of national cultural identity

To research and formulate programs, plans and schemes to preserve, promote and advertise the traditional architectural values ​​and national cultural identity; to build a system of architectural data on the historical and cultural values ​​of Vietnamese ethnic groups. Localities shall complete the assessment and listing of valuable architectural works; to adopt suitable solutions to store and display the Vietnamese architectural values ​​and identity.

3. Architectural theory and criticism

To develop a system of architectural theory and criticism linking theory with practice and values ​​of the national identity and indigenousness in architecture; to promote social criticism through architectural criticism; to build a new architectural identity of Vietnam in the trend of globalization and scientific and technological revolution.

4. Training and developing human resources

To improve the quality of training, develop a system of theory and criticism, science and technology in the field of architecture in order to build a contingent of architects with sufficient virtues, talents and professional skills; to renovate the work of planning, selection, training, further training and employment of architectural personnel to meet professional requirements toward modernity and international integration; to complete the master plan on and invest in the system of public architecture training institutions to meet the requirements of training human resources in the field of architecture in the new period.

To attach importance to and adopt timely policies to approach international integration, apply modern science and technology, and encourage entry into the multinational architectural market; to form the professional competitiveness for Vietnamese architects from the policy of training architectural personnel.

To promote the training of human resources for architecture, especially high-quality human resources, to meet the requirements of the Fourth Industrial Revolution in architectural activities; to attach importance to training and incentives for architectural officers and architects working in areas with extremely difficult socio-economic conditions, ethnic minority areas, remote and border areas, and on islands.

5. Science and technology

To prioritize research into digital transformation applications in architecture; construction engineering technologies following the trend of sustainability, green, smart, energy-efficient, advanced and modern buildings; to prioritize the implementation of key scientific and technological research projects in order to develop architecture in Vietnam’s cultural industry.

To promote the research, development and application of architectural designs for public and housing works in rural areas, meeting the requirements of climate change adaptation and natural disaster prevention and control; to build a system of social housing models to enable people to access and choose safe, effective and reasonable architectural works.

To build a national database on architecture and architectural practice management, combined with technologies supporting the management and development of architectural activities nationwide.

6. International cooperation and integration

To actively participate in international architectural trends advocated by the International Union of Architects (UIA), such as green architecture, sustainable architecture, energy-efficient architecture, disaster-resilient architecture, and architecture for the community.

To take the initiative in international integration, actively and effectively participating in activities within the framework of mutual recognition agreements in the field of architecture and the policies initiated and launched by the ASEAN Architect Council, the Architects Regional Council Asia (ARCASIA), UIA, etc.; to actively participate in bilateral and multilateral mutual recognition agreements on architectural practice (APEC, ASEM, CPTPP) to enable Vietnamese architects to practice their profession in foreign countries.

7. Resources and finance

To promote and mobilize domestic and foreign organizations and individuals to invest in developing Vietnamese architecture.

The State shall invest in and support the development of a system of housing designs for areas with extremely difficult socio-economic conditions, ethnic minority areas, remote, deep-lying and border areas, islands, and areas prone to natural disasters; to continue to invest in upgrading architecture research and training institutions, and strengthen the capacity of the architectural management system.

To focus on investing in programs and projects; to provide investment incentives in the field of architecture as listed in the Appendix to this Decision.

Article 2. Organization of implementation

1. The Ministry of Construction shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with other ministries, sectors and localities in:

- Organizing the implementation of the Orientations and formulating key programs, schemes and projects to implement the Orientations; carrying out annual evaluation and 5-year and 10-year reviews of the implementation of the Orientations, and reporting thereon to the Prime Minister;

- Studying and proposing the Government to develop unified, centralized, comprehensive and effective management models for architectural activities in accordance with the 2019 Law on Architecture.

2. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall coordinate with the Ministry of Construction and related agencies and organizations in formulating programs to implement the Orientations and guiding the conservation and promotion of the values of typical architectural works or architectural complexes.

3. The Ministry of Science and Technology shall:

- Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Construction, localities, agencies and socio-professional organizations engaged in architectural activities in, supporting the performance of national-level scientific and technological research tasks related to the field of architecture; prioritize the tasks of research and application of science and technology, and digital transformation in the management and development of architectural activities to ensure sustainable architectural development in adaptation to climate change;

- Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Construction in, appraising national standards and technical regulations in the field of architecture; and declare national standards and technical regulations in the field of architecture;

- Coordinate with the Ministry of Construction and related ministries and sectors in building a national database on architecture and architectural practice management, and data on traditional architecture and national cultural identities of localities.

4. The Ministry of Information and Communications shall:

- Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Construction and socio-professional organizations engaged in architectural activities in, formulating a program of public information and education about architectural arts and aesthetics for the community;

- Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Construction, related ministries and socio-professional organizations engaged in architectural activities in, formulating plans and programs to introduce and promote Vietnamese architecture to the world.

5. Other related ministries and sectors shall coordinate with the Ministry of Construction in organizing the implementation of the Orientations, participate in the inspection and supervision and urge the implementation of the Orientations within the ambit of their respective functions and tasks.

6. Provincial-level People’s Committees shall:

- Organize the formulation of plans and implementation of the Orientations in conformity with their local conditions;

- Make annual reports and reports on each stage of implementation of the Orientations and send them to the Ministry of Construction for management, summarization and reporting to the Prime Minister.

7. Socio-professional social organizations engaged in architectural activities shall:

- Organize the implementation of, and coordinate with the Ministry of Construction in implementing, the Orientations according to the viewpoints, objectives, tasks and solutions set out in the Orientations;

- Send periodical reports on results of implementation of the Orientations to the Ministry of Construction for management, summarization and reporting to the Prime Minister.

Article 3. Effect

This Decision takes effect on the date of signing.

Article 4. Implementation responsibility

Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government-attached agencies, chairpersons of provincial-level People’s Committees, heads of agencies and socio-professional organizations engaged in architectural activities, and related individuals shall implement this Decision.-

For the Prime Minister
Deputy Prime Minister
LE VAN THANH

* The Appendix to this Decision is not translated.