After decades of development driven by new construction and expansion, Vietnamese architecture is entering a period of profound transformation. Design thinking is no longer centered solely on form or scale, but is becoming more closely tied to functional value, professional identity, and the designer’s ability to carry a project through to completion. For Architect Hà Thanh, the changes ahead will not be driven solely by technology or the market, but will also stem from how architects define their own roles, responsibilities, and professional identities throughout the entire project lifecycle.

As Vietnam’s urban landscape transitions from a phase of expansive development toward a deeper pursuit of value, architecture is no longer simply about creating new buildings. It has become a tool for shaping experiences, behaviors, and social relationships. From the perspective of architect Takashi Niwa, contemporary architectural practice calls for a fundamental shift in thinking: from form to experience, from physical objects to a medium for conveying value, and from individual buildings to sustainable community ecosystems.

As architecture and design in Vietnam undergo profound shifts in thinking, client expectations, social demands, and environmental pressures, the voices of architects committed to sustainable practice are becoming increasingly important. Drawing on his professional experience in Europe and more than two decades of practicing bioclimatic architecture in Southeast Asia, Charles Gallavardin offers a candid perspective on changing client expectations, the boundary between “meeting requirements” and “creating value,” and the architectural trends that are likely to endure in Vietnam over the next five to ten years.

In architectural practice, the boundary between a project that “meets requirements” and one that “truly creates value” can sometimes be remarkably subtle. Many buildings fulfill technical, functional, and budgetary requirements, yet lack a deeper impact on users and society. From the perspective of Nguyen Nhat Linh, architecture only becomes truly meaningful when it goes beyond simply completing a task and instead becomes a foundation for greater values that people can continue to create.

In 2026, according to Julien, the year is not simply about adopting new tools in architecture and design-it marks a “change in the rules of the game.” AI has made it possible to generate fast, beautiful, and complex design options within seconds. As a result, competitive advantage is no longer determined by speed or access to tools, but by qualities that are far more difficult to replicate: vision, intuition, and the ability to ask the right questions. In an increasingly discerning and calculated market, architecture is being brought back to its essence: the human experience over time.

In contemporary design practice, decisions are no longer driven purely by creative inspiration or aesthetic trends. Instead, designers must constantly balance economic constraints, user expectations, sustainability requirements, and practical feasibility. Based on her recent experience, Marielle Genet believes that budget remains the most powerful and immediate factor influencing the design process. However, the true value of a project only emerges when design thinking moves beyond the framework of “meeting requirements” to pursue long-term impact for clients and society.

In recent years, Vietnam’s architecture and design market has undergone noticeable changes in the way clients perceive the value of a project. While many investors once approached design cautiously and prioritized safety, an increasing number are now seeking projects with identity, depth, and the ability to create long-term value. According to Architect Ho Khue, this shift not only reflects the growing maturity of the market, but also opens up new opportunities for the way architecture is practiced and developed in the future.

Of all the things that designing spaces has brought me, perhaps the most valuable is the opportunity to listen to different stories, meet fascinating people, travel to distant places, and see unfamiliar ways of life through my own eyes.

In the context of Vietnam’s increasingly integrated real estate and urban development market, the expectations placed on design are no longer limited to being “locally appropriate.” From the perspective of Freek Jansen, Southeast Asia Regional Director at Dewan Architects, 2026 marks a period in which clients, budgets, and project timelines are pushing architects to find a delicate balance between international ambition and local realities, as well as between design quality and effective implementation.

Against the backdrop of increasingly severe climate change, rapidly depleting natural resources, and ESG standards becoming an important benchmark for global investment, the design and architecture industry is facing a major turning point. According to Phương Đặng, Senior Design Manager at Kingsmen, the next 5–10 years will no longer be about “sustainable trends” as supplementary considerations, but about a fundamental shift in professional thinking: from designing to “minimize harm” toward Regenerative Design - an approach in which spaces actively generate positive impacts for people, the environment, and society.

Against the backdrop of Vietnam’s real estate market undergoing significant cycles of adjustment, design decisions are increasingly being challenged to answer longer-term questions: How will this space operate? What kind of community will emerge? And what quality of life will be created after years of use? According to architect Thien Duong, 2026 will mark an important shift, as design is no longer evaluated primarily through images or the number of products delivered, but through quality of life, climate adaptability, and the level of trust a project creates within the community.

While Vietnamese cities continue to expand rapidly, with new land being developed and new construction projects constantly emerging, another development opportunity remains largely overlooked: the renovation and adaptive reuse of existing buildings. According to Dr. Arch. Hoanh Tran, this is not merely an economic or technical solution, but also an important strategy for preserving urban identity and moving toward a more sustainable development model for Vietnamese cities.

Against the backdrop of modern society facing urbanization, fast-paced lifestyles, and declining mental well-being, architecture is being called upon to rethink its approach. For architect Pham Thanh Truyen, design is no longer simply about form-making or solving functional requirements, but has become a means of caring for people in a profound and sustainable way. From the perspective of “design for well-being,” he believes the architecture of the future should focus on its ability to heal, nurture emotions, and enhance quality of life, rather than chasing short-lived aesthetic trends.

In a context where artificial intelligence, social media, and the speed of visual content are strongly influencing the creative industries, architect Olivier Souquet believes that 2026 is not a time for a “new style,” but rather a period of redefining the core values of design thinking. As images become increasingly accessible, what ultimately distinguishes a truly valuable project is the coherence of its thinking, its ability to adapt, and the way a building is anchored to its place.

In the context of Vietnamese architecture being directly influenced by the pace of economic growth and the real estate market, design decisions increasingly reflect the differences between actual housing needs and business objectives. From the practical perspective of architect Nguyễn Trung Kiên, architecture does not operate according to a universal formula, but rather within specific conditions where budget, technology, and sustainability have varying degrees of influence depending on the type of project.