Discussion and proposal of solutions for green infrastructure development towards sustainable urban construction

At the event, experts and scientists emphasized the importance and urgency of promoting green infrastructure in the face of rapid urbanization and growing climate challenges. A range of policy and technological solutions were proposed to support the development of environmentally friendly and sustainable cities.

Overview of the Workshop

In his opening remarks, Associate Professor Dr. Pham Quang Thao, Vice President of the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations, emphasized that the orientation toward green urban development is a key task to ensure harmonious growth. It also reflects a top priority in the policies and directives of the Party and the State during the nation’s economic development. He noted that sustainable urban development is an urgent global demand, and Vietnam is no exception. This process requires active participation from all levels of government and the entire society. The current situation of overcrowding and pollution in major Vietnamese cities underscores the urgent need to build and promote green, sustainable urban areas.

Associate Professor Dr. Pham Quang Thao, Vice President of VUSTA,deliveredopeningremarks

In his opening remarks, Associate Professor Dr. Pham Quang Thao, Vice President of the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations (VUSTA), emphasized the importance of paying due attention to the study and application of green infrastructure systems in the journey toward sustainable urban development. He emphasized that green infrastructure is essential for driving sustainable urban development, especially in Vietnam, as it contributes to better living conditions and strengthens both local and national development metrics. Dr. Thao expressed his hope that delegates would help clarify and enrich the concept of green infrastructure, paving the way for meaningful discussions and policy proposals to support the development of sustainable urban areas across the country.

According to Associate Professor Dr. Luu Duc Hai, Director of the Institute for Urban Studies and Infrastructure Development under the Vietnam Federation of Civil Engineering Associations, Vietnam is currently undergoing rapid urbanization. As of December 2024, the country had reached an urbanization rate of 44.3%, with a total of 900 urban areas: 2 special-class cities, 23 first-class, 37 second-class, 46 third-class, 96 fourth-class, and 696 fifth-class cities. However, he pointed out that this urbanization process has lacked consistency in quality and has not been sufficiently guided by principles of green and sustainable development.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lu Duc Hai, Director of the Institute for Urban Studies and Infrastructure Development under the Vietnam Federation of Civil Engineering Associations

According to statistics, Vietnam currently generates around 60,000 tons of household waste each day, with urban areas accounting for approximately 60% of that volume. Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are the two largest contributors, with Hanoi producing around 7,000 tons of household waste per day and Ho Chi Minh City averaging 13,000 tons of solid waste daily. Alarmingly, nearly 80% of this waste is disposed of via landfilling, mostly through unsanitary methods. Green space per capita also remains critically low. In Hanoi, it averages about 2 square meters per person, while Ho Chi Minh City fares even worse, at just 0.55 square meters per person, far below the World Health Organization’s recommended minimum of 9 square meters per person.

In the context of rapid urbanization, environmental pollution, climate change, and the decline of public spaces, Dr. Hai stressed that transforming infrastructure development toward a greener model is not just necessary but inevitable. Drawing on theoretical foundations, international experiences, and Vietnam’s domestic realities, he called for green infrastructure solutions to be approached in a systematic, interdisciplinary, and strategically coordinated manner.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lu Duc Hai emphasized the urgent need for Vietnam to formulate a dedicated and coherent national strategy for the development of green urban infrastructure. He proposed the establishment of a standardized evaluation framework, including criteria for assessing green infrastructure and its components, as well as the classification of green cities. He also recommended developing maps to identify priority investment zones for green infrastructure and promoting the application of nature-based solutions. In addition, he advocated for preferential policies such as tax incentives and land rent exemptions for businesses investing in green infrastructure and eco-friendly buildings. Pilot programs and the scaling-up of successful green urban models should be implemented, drawing from international experiences such as Singapore’s "Garden City," Germany’s "Green Belt Planning," and China’s "Sponge City" initiatives…

Speaking on the topic of restoring the ecological flow of Hanoi’s inner-city drainage rivers, Prof. Dr. Trsn Duc Ha, former senior lecturer at the University of Civil Engineering, emphasized the historical and cultural significance of rivers such as To Lich, Kim Nguu, Lu, and Set. These rivers, which have shaped the capital’s urban identity over more than a millennium, form the ecological spine of the city and serve as important spaces for recreation, culture, and spirituality for both residents and visitors. However, rapid urban development has severely polluted these water bodies. Prof. Ha stressed the importance of integrating restoration plans into broader frameworks, including socio-economic development plans, the city’s master plan, and drainage system planning, to ensure a rational and sustainable revival of these urban rivers.

Once restored, Hanoi’s inner-city rivers are expected to regain their role as key ecological corridors within the urban landscape. They will not only provide recreational spaces for residents and visitors but also help irrigate agricultural areas in the southern part of the city. To effectively manage pollution and maintain environmental flows, Prof. Dr. Trần Đức Hạ emphasized the importance of implementing water resource monitoring programs. These should track both the quality and quantity of river water throughout the execution, operation, and management of related projects and programs. Regular monitoring will ensure that the ecological and functional values of these rivers are preserved sustainably.  

Assoc. Prof. Dr. TranDuc Hapresented remarksat theworkshop

Discussing green transport criteria and traffic system evaluation in urban planning, Dr. Than Dinh Vinh, Head of the Department of Transportation under the Faculty of Urban Studies at Hanoi Architectural University, stated that green transport evaluation criteria in Vietnam have initially been studied, compiled, and incorporated into legal documents specifically Circular No. 01/2018/TT-BXD, which stipulates indicators for green growth urban development. However, he emphasized that these indicators pertain to green growth cities, not yet green cities in the full sense. Therefore, it is necessary to issue dedicated legal documents that define green transport criteria. Moreover, transforming some of these criteria into concrete, measurable indicators require substantial resources and further in-depth research.

Dr. ThanDinh Vinh, Head of the Department of Transportation, Faculty of Urban Studies, Hanoi Architectural University

According to MSc. Vương Thu Hoai from the Institute for Environmental Planning and Urban-Rural Infrastructure, along with the pace of urbanization, agricultural land is increasingly shrinking. The development of urban agriculture is emerging to meet the growing demand for food and nutrition in certain localities. Urban agriculture is becoming a strong development trend in major cities in Vietnam and around the world. Agricultural spaces in urban areas can serve as one of the solutions to address environmental issues in cities acting as an integral component of green infrastructure by providing green spaces, regulating microclimates, supporting stormwater drainage, and more especially in the context of climate change.

Moreover, in today’s urban areas, there is a growing trend among residents to self-supply food due to concerns over the unclear origin and quality of market products. This has led to the emergence of homegrown vegetable and fruit movements such as rooftop gardens and backyard farming carried out in various scales and forms. Supporting this trend not only enhances environmental resilience but also indirectly fosters social connections, particularly among women and the elderly.

MSc. Vuong Thu Hoai, Institute for Environmental Planning and Urban-Rural Infrastructure

The topic of digital transformation in green infrastructure development also drew significant attention at the workshop. According to Dr. Han Minh Cuong, representative of SGroup Vietnam Joint Stock Corporation, alongside the green urbanization trend, the fourth industrial revolution has brought about rapid advancements in digital technologies, particularly the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI). These two core technologies are shaping the development of smart cities around the world. In practice, many advanced cities have applied IoT and AI in urban infrastructure management and achieved positive environmental outcomes.

The application of IoT and AI in green infrastructure development is an inevitable and promising trend. For Vietnam, where urbanization is accelerating in major cities like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang, effectively adopting and implementing these technologies will play a vital role in steering urban development toward sustainability.

Dr. Han Minh Cuong, representative of SGroup Vietnam Joint Stock Corporation

Dr. Han Minh Cuong expressed the following views: In terms of vision and policy, it is essential to recognize that building smart and green cities is a shared responsibility of all levels of government, sectors, and the wider community. Regarding digital infrastructure, major cities in Vietnam need to make strong investments in information and telecommunications technology as a foundation for implementing IoT and AI. As for the specific application of IoT/AI in green infrastructure, cities should begin with highly feasible pilot projects and scale them up once effective outcomes are achieved. On the implementation mechanism, it is crucial to promote public-private partnerships and international cooperation in developing smart green infrastructure. Major cities should also organize training programs for urban management officials on fundamental knowledge of IoT, AI, and data analytics, enabling them to operate and make decisions based on intelligent systems.

The workshop also recorded many in-depth contributions from delegates on green infrastructure development toward sustainable urban construction, such as managing public lighting systems in a green, efficient, and sustainable manner; planning cemetery parks in the suburban areas of Hanoi with a focus on sustainable urban development; and enhancing the integration between "green" and "smart”…

Green infrastructure is no longer just a trendy concept. It is becoming an essential requirement in Vietnam's urbanization process. The insights shared at the workshop not only clarified the strategic role of green infrastructure in urban planning and development but also offered practical solutions regarding policy, technology, and mobilization of social resources.