EuroCham 2026: Reshaping Vietnam's urban landscape with vertical and integrated development models

Experts and regulatory representatives exchange views at the EuroCham High-Rise Forum 2026, discussing the direction of vertical urban development and integrated planning models. (Source: Organizing Committee)

In the context of rapidly increasing urbanization in Asia, many countries are under pressure to restructure urban development models to simultaneously meet economic growth, living environment, and long-term adaptability goals.

For major cities like Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, Vietnam is also undergoing a significant transformation towards sustainable development and enhanced urban space efficiency.

In this spirit, the EuroCham Construction Subcommittee (CSC), in collaboration with the Council on Vertical Urbanism (CVU), recently organized the EuroCham High-Rise Forum 2026 at Landmark 81.

The event gathered over 200 delegates, including representatives from state management agencies, international experts, architects, planners, investors, and businesses in the real estate, construction, and infrastructure sectors.

The forum was designed as a multidimensional dialogue platform, providing space for stakeholders to exchange views on vertical urban development models and discuss integrated planning solutions aimed at creating efficient, sustainable, and community-connected urban areas.

Vision for vertical urban development

EuroCham Vice President Jean-Jacques Bouflet speaks at the EuroCham High-Rise Forum 2026, emphasizing the direction of sustainable urban development in Vietnam. (Source: Organizing Committee)

In his opening remarks, EuroCham Vice President Jean-Jacques Bouflet stated that Vietnam is at a critical stage of urbanization, with the urban population growth rate and demand for housing, infrastructure, and public services increasing significantly.

He emphasized: “Developing high-rise buildings is an inevitable solution in the context of increasingly limited urban land. However, it is more important to build complete urban ecosystems where infrastructure, living spaces, and amenities are connected in a synchronized and sustainable manner."

According to Bouflet, recent policy reforms in Vietnam, including the completion of the legal framework in the construction and planning sectors, are laying a crucial foundation for promoting a more modern urban model, where sustainable development becomes an increasingly clear criterion in the design and management of high-rise buildings.

Le Minh Long, Deputy Director of the Department of Science, Technology and Environment (Ministry of Construction), speaks at the EuroCham High-Rise Forum 2026 on the direction of sustainable urban development. (Source: Organizing Committee)

From Vietnam's perspective, Le Minh Long, Deputy Director of the Department of Science, Technology and Environment, Ministry of Construction, noted that Vietnam's urbanization process is entering a new, more complex phase, as issues related to technical infrastructure, energy management, urban environment, and climate change resilience become increasingly urgent.

The Deputy Director added: “Vietnam is witnessing rapid high-rise development, but there are still many challenges regarding infrastructure synchronization, technical standards, and overall urban governance capacity. These are factors that need improvement to ensure long-term sustainable development."

Planning Solutions, TOD, and International Experience

Discussion session at the EuroCham High-Rise Forum 2026 with participation from experts in the construction and urban planning fields. (Source: Organizing Committee)

One of the core topics of the forum was the trend of developing vertical urban models, where residential, commercial, service, work, and transportation infrastructure functions are integrated into a unified urban ecosystem.

Shonn Mills, Chairman of the Council on Vertical Urbanism (CVU), stated that the global trend in urban development is shifting significantly from standalone buildings to multifunctional complexes. This helps increase land use efficiency, reduce infrastructure pressure, and create more flexible living spaces for urban residents.

He emphasized: “Modern high-rise buildings are no longer isolated structures but are becoming part of a dense urban ecosystem, where high density is leveraged as a development advantage if planned properly."

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Within the discussion framework, the Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) urban model was evaluated as one of the important directions for the coming period.

Experts believe that connecting construction planning with public transportation systems will help reduce congestion, increase land use efficiency, and promote the formation of multifunctional urban areas around metro lines and main traffic arteries.

Additionally, many opinions also emphasized the role of public spaces, green areas, and walkability in future urban areas.

According to experts, these are the factors that determine the quality of life, rather than just focusing on building density or building height.

The forum also dedicated significant time to discussing climate adaptation challenges. International experts shared experiences from various urban models in Singapore, Hong Kong (China), and Europe, emphasizing the integration of environmental factors from the design stage, rather than addressing them during the operational phase of buildings.

Concluding the forum, EuroCham representatives affirmed their continued role as a bridge between the public and private sectors, while promoting the sharing of international experiences to support Vietnam in its journey towards more modern, integrated, and sustainable urban development in the long term.

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