In just one week, Vietnam will host the opening of ISVS 14 – the International Conference on Indigenous Heritage.

Ho Chi Minh City – In just one week, the 14th International Seminar on Vernacular Settlements (ISVS 14) will officially take place in Vietnam, marking the first time this prestigious academic series on vernacular architecture is hosted in Ho Chi Minh City. The event will be held on 18–19 December 2025 at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HUTECH), co-organized by HUTECH, the Ho Chi Minh City Design Association (VDAS), and international partners within the ISVS network.🎉🎉🎉

With the theme “Understanding Vernacular Architectural Heritage and Engaging Design,” ISVS 14 promises to offer an international-scale professional forum where scholars, architects, researchers, designers, and students from many countries will come together to meet, exchange ideas, discuss, and share the latest research related to vernacular architectural and cultural heritage, sustainable design, and emerging trends in applying traditional knowledge within contemporary contexts.

A meeting place for leading researchers in vernacular architecture.

For more than 25 years, the ISVS seminar series has been held on a rotating basis in countries such as Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, and Thailand, and has become one of the most important academic forums in the world in the field of vernacular architecture. Hosting the 14th edition in Vietnam is especially significant, as the country possesses a rich and diverse heritage of vernacular settlements and architecture, ranging from the highlands and plains to riverine and coastal regions.

🙍‍♀️🙍‍♂️ISVS 14 is expected to attract more than 100 domestic and international delegates, including speakers from leading universities across Asia and around the world. The seminar will present a wide range of in-depth studies on topics such as:

• Climate adaptation strategies in vernacular architecture

• Balancing conservation and innovation in contemporary design

• Community-centered design approaches

• Applying indigenous knowledge in sustainable architecture

• Digitalization and technology in heritage conservation

These studies not only reflect the past but also help shape the future of design and urban planning in an era of climate change and globalization.

A special academic event for Vietnam’s architecture and design community.

Hosting ISVS 14 offers Vietnam a rare opportunity to bring its vernacular architectural heritage into international discussions, while also introducing to the world the distinctive cultural and architectural values of its diverse regions.✨

A representative of the Organizing Committee stated: “ISVS 14 is not only an academic seminar, but also an international bridge that helps disseminate Vietnam’s heritage stories. In the context of rapid urban development, revisiting vernacular values is essential to guiding a sustainable and identity-driven architectural future.”✨

This year’s seminar also features numerous open discussion sessions and networking activities for architecture and industrial design students, providing opportunities to access international knowledge, meet leading scholars, and present their own research. This is regarded as an important step in strengthening research capacity and international integration for the younger generation of Vietnam’s design and architecture fields.✨

Student Research Exhibition – A Creative Space within ISVS 14

🌍In addition to the academic discussion sessions, ISVS 14 this year introduces for the first time the “Student Research Exhibition,” a professional activity designed to provide students of architecture, urban planning, design, and industrial arts from universities across Vietnam with the opportunity to showcase research works related to vernacular architecture and traditional settlement models.

🌍The exhibition is designed as an open space where students can share academic projects, research outputs, drawings, models, as well as design experiments grounded in vernacular knowledge. According to the Organizing Committee, this activity aims to encourage younger generations to engage more deeply in academic research, while also creating opportunities for students to interact directly with international experts attending ISVS 14.

🌍Notably, many major universities have submitted student works to this year’s exhibition, reflecting the growing interest within Vietnam’s architecture and design education community in issues of identity, heritage, and sustainable development. Selected outstanding exhibits will be presented during the conference’s closing session and considered for inclusion in the expanded ISVS proceedings.

🌍The exhibition also provides an opportunity for students to engage with international research trends, expand collaborative networks, and recognize the potential application of vernacular knowledge in contemporary design. The Organizing Committee hopes this activity will become a key highlight, bridging the research community with the younger generation—those who will play a crucial role in the future of architecture and urban planning.

Ready for ISVS 14 Week – A Space of Knowledge and Inspiration

📆In just one week, HUTECH will officially welcome international scholars and guests. Preparations are being finalized at a rapid pace, including seminar rooms, the research exhibition area, international reception arrangements, opening and closing sessions, as well as side activities for delegates.

The Organizing Committee reported that the number of paper submissions this year exceeded expectations, demonstrating strong interest from the research community in vernacular architecture and sustainable design. Selected papers will be published in the ISVS 14 proceedings with an ISBN, ensuring long-term academic value.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Event Information

• Event name: International Seminar on Vernacular Settlements – ISVS 14

• Theme: “Understanding Vernacular Architectural Heritage and Engaging Design”

• Date: 18–19 December 2025

• Venue: Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HUTECH)

• Organizers: HUTECH, VDAS Design Association, ISVS Network