In August 18, 2025, the Hanoi University of Civil Engineering (HUCE) has organized an opening ceremony for the International Student Workshop IHAW 2025 with the theme: "High-Density Urban Housing in Hanoi". This is a highly urgent topic for Asian cities, attracting the participation of 87 students and lecturers from major universities across Asia, including: Japan Women's University (Japan), Kindai University (Japan), Tamkang University (Taiwan), Feng Chia University (Taiwan), Tianjin University (China), and the host, Hanoi University of Civil Engineering (Vietnam). This workshop has received tremendous support from the Nomura Real Estate Group and from local government representatives of Cua Nam and Hong Ha wards, Hanoi city.
Participants from the IHAW 2025 International Workshop
Attending the opening ceremony were Prof. Dr. Nguyen Hoang Giang, Vice-Rector of HUCE; Mr. Pham Tuan Long, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People's Council of Cua Nam Ward and a member of the HUCE University Council (representing the local government where a case study is located); Architect Hoang Thuc Hao, Vice President of the Vietnam Association of Architects and also a HUCE University Council; Mr. Jim Oyamada, representative of the Nomura Real Estate Group (the workshop's sponsor); along with leaders from the Faculties and Departments as well as students of HUCE and other partner universities.
In his opening speech, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Hoang Giang emphasized that housing in Asia, particularly in large cities, has always been an extremely pressing issue and a challenge for urban authorities. He noted that in Vietnamese cities today, especially in Hanoi, housing is always a top priority. Therefore, this international workshop will provide students with opportunities to research the practical issues at hand, with a special focus on housing for the poor and low-income individuals.
Prof. Dr. Nguyen Hoang Giang - Vice-Rector of the university, delivers the opening speech at the IHAW 2025 international workshop.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ta Quynh Hoa - Dean of the Faculty of International Education, introduces the purpose and significance of the IHAW 2025 workshop
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ta Quynh Hoa, Dean of the Faculty of International Education and head of the IHAW 2025 organizing committee, introduced the importance and purpose of this year's workshop. She explained that in Hanoi's central area, there are over 100 old apartment complexes and collective housing areas that are severely degraded. These buildings face risks of fire, instability under extreme climate conditions, and provide a very low-quality living environment. While renovating, upgrading, or rebuilding these old collective areas is a very difficult problem, it is not an unsolvable one for the city government and related parties. The workshop aims to help students tackle the issue of high-density housing by analyzing two specific case studies in Cua Nam and Hong Ha wards. They will evaluate the current situation and propose initial design concepts for renovation or new construction, aiming to raise awareness among all stakeholders—both government and citizens—to jointly find solutions appropriate to the local economic, cultural, and local context.
Dr. Pham Tuan Long, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People's Council of Cua Nam Ward, spoke about the urgent need to renovate and rebuild old collective housing areas in the inner city. Dr. Long provided a detailed history of the Cua Nam ward's formation and development and of the building at 28 Hai Ba Trung Street, which was selected as a case study, detailing the historical, cultural, and social aspects tied to the building and its vicinity. The information he shared and the support from the local government demonstrated a commitment and a strong connection between the authorities and research institutions in solving practical local issues.
Mr. Pham Tuan Long - Secretary of the Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Council of Cua Nam ward
Mr. Jim Oyamada - Representative of Nomura Vietnam, the workshop's sponsor
Representing the sponsor, Mr. Jim Oyamada of Nomura Real Estate Group introduced the leading Japanese real estate group. He outlined their goals and desire to collaborate with universities and research institutes to deliver real estate products that are user-friendly, environmentally sustainable, and meet the criteria of "usability and affordability." Mr. Jim also pledged to support the workshop's activities to strengthen the connection between the enterprise and the university, promoting research that serves practical housing needs.
Two other presentations during the opening session provided rich information on the historical context and development of Hanoi, including the evolution of housing types since the early 20th century. They also detailed the background of the two collective housing areas chosen for the case studies (at 28 Hai Ba Trung Street and 43 Vong Ha Street) and outlined the key research questions.
The workshop will run for 10 days, from August 18 to August 27, 2025. The schedule includes numerous academic activities, field surveys, and presentations from experienced experts and architects. It offers a multi-dimensional perspective that helps students develop initial ideas for renovating and rebuilding old apartment complexes in the inner city, thereby contributing to improving the quality of life and the urban landscape of Hanoi.
