The 36th Academic Symposium on Vernacular Architecture of the Mekong Region at the EFEO
On the afternoon of May 18, 2026, Dr. Architect Huynh Van Khang – lecturer at the Institute of Smart City and Management (ISCM) – was invited to present at the 36th Academic Seminar held at the French School of Asian Studies (EFEO) Center in Ho Chi Minh City with the topic: “Settlement Morphology and Housing Typologies of the Cham Muslim Community in the Mekong Delta.”
Established in 1898, the École Française d’Extrême-Orient (EFEO) is one of the oldest and most prestigious academic institutions specializing in Asian history, culture, and civilizations. In Vietnam, EFEO has played a significant role in laying the foundation for many fields of modern Vietnamese social sciences and humanities, while contributing valuable scholarly achievements in the study and restoration of long-standing civilizations and cultures in Vietnam in particular and the Far East region in general.
The EFEO academic seminar series in Ho Chi Minh City serves as a specialized forum gathering scholars, researchers, and experts from various disciplines. The seminars are organized in an in-depth academic discussion format with a limited number of participants.
Opening the seminar, Dr. Olivier Tessier – Head Representative of the French School of Asian Studies (EFEO) in Vietnam – delivered the opening remarks and introduced the presentation by Dr. Architect Huynh Van Khang.
In his presentation, Dr. Architect Huynh Van Khang focused on analyzing the settlement system and traditional housing structures of the Cham Muslim community in the Mekong Delta in relation to climate conditions, cultural contexts, and multi-ethnic coexistence. The research was developed through extensive field surveys conducted across 13 provinces and 9 Cham villages, collecting data from more than 2,000 houses and approximately 150 architectural drawings. By examining the spatial transformations of traditional houses over time, the presentation highlighted the value of indigenous knowledge in environmental adaptation and cultural identity preservation amid the rapid urbanization process in the Mekong Delta. These studies have also been published in prestigious international scientific journals such as Springer and presented at various international conferences on architecture and sustainable development.
The seminar attracted the participation of numerous scholars, architects, and students from both Vietnam and abroad, fostering discussions on heritage topics approached through innovative research methodologies. The findings presented in the study opened new perspectives, contributing to heritage conservation and promoting ethnic diversity in Vietnamese vernacular architecture. Representatives from EFEO also recognized this seminar as one of the most engaging sessions within the seminar series.
Dr. Olivier Tessier – Director of EFEO, and Dr. Architect Huynh Van Khang
The presentation by Dr. Architect Huynh Van Khang at the 36th EFEO Seminar marked a meaningful milestone for ISCM’s research activities. Through an interdisciplinary approach and intensive fieldwork methodology, the study introduced new perspectives on the settlement heritage of the Cham Muslim community in the Mekong Delta, further clarifying the role of indigenous knowledge in environmental adaptation and the preservation of local cultural identity. The research findings also contribute to heritage conservation efforts while promoting awareness of ethnic diversity within Vietnamese vernacular architecture.
With its orientation toward interdisciplinary research and academic practice connected to local contexts, ISCM continuously promotes research, teaching, and academic collaboration activities both domestically and internationally, contributing new perspectives on architecture, urbanism, and sustainable living environments. The Institute’s studies focus on the relationship between climate, culture, people, and living spaces within the context of urban transformation in Vietnam and Southeast Asia.
News and photos: Institute of Smart City and Management (ISCM)