UEH Student Wins Second Prize at the 2025 Loa Thanh Awards
Affirming the creativity and capability of UEH’s young generation on the journey toward smart and sustainable cities.
Recently, the Loa Thành Awards Council officially announced the results of the 2025 Loa Thành Awards, honoring the most outstanding graduation projects nationwide in the fields of architecture, urban planning, landscape design, urban design, and construction. Among the remarkable awardees this year, UEH alumnus Đinh Thành Thông, from Batch K47 – the Bachelor of Architectural and Urban Design inclusive Smart City Program, School of Technology and Design, University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH), was honored with the Second Prize for his project titled “Tam Phu, Thu Duc – Adaptation To Flooding And Solving The Problem Of Green - Gray Infrastructure Towards Climate Resilient Cities Model”
A Prestigious Award Honoring Vietnam’s Young Talents
The Loa Thanh Awards are recognized as the most prestigious and long-standing national awards for students in architecture, urban planning, construction, and landscape design. Held annually for over 36 years, the awards are organized by the Vietnam Federation of Civil Engineering Associations, in collaboration with the Vietnam Association of Architects, the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, and the Ministry of Construction. The awards aim to identify, encourage, and honor outstanding young talents, contributing to the improvement of professional training and practice in Vietnam’s architecture and construction fields. In 2025, the Architecture Committee of the Awards received 131 graduation projects from 18 universities nationwide, reflecting the vibrant creativity of the young generation amid the rapid urban development and environmental challenges faced by Vietnamese cities. The judging panel emphasized the following evaluation criteria:
Architectural creativity and innovation;
Social value of the project, addressing urgent and sustainable urban issues;
Feasibility in materials, technology, and structural solutions;
Clarity and persuasiveness in conceptual presentation.
Proudly Marking ISCM – UEH’s First Achievement at the Loa Thành Awards
The year 2025 marks a significant milestone for the Institute of Smart City and Management (ISCM – UEH), as it was the first time a graduation project from the Bachelor of Architectural and Urban Design inclusive Smart City program, was submitted to the Loa Thành Awards. This achievement reflects ISCM’s internationally oriented educational approach, grounded in core values of sustainability, innovation, and human-centered design. Surpassing hundreds of submissions from across the nation, Đinh Thành Thông’s project proudly earned the Second Prize, affirming not only the academic excellence and training quality of UEH but also paving the way for future generations of Smart Urban Design and Architecture students. The award stands as a testament to UEH students’ academic capability, creative thinking, and real-world problem-solving mindset — shaping global citizens with sustainable thinking and a strong sense of social responsibility.
Tam Phu, Thu Duc” Project – Designing Climate-Adaptive and Human-Centered Cities
Under the supervision of M.Arch. Trần Thị Quỳnh Mai, the project “Tam Phu, Thu Duc – Adaptation To Flooding And Solving The Problem Of Green - Gray Infrastructure Towards Climate Resilient Cities Model” explores the relationship between cities and water systems amid the growing impacts of climate change in Ho Chi Minh City. Tam Phu, Thu Duc, was selected as the study area — an area frequently affected by flooding, water pollution, and lack of green space. The project proposes an integrated urban model combining green infrastructure, gray infrastructure, and urban water networks, where:
Green infrastructure (parks, ecological corridors, and green spaces) acts as a natural regulating system;
Gray infrastructure (technical structures, drainage, and roads) is flexibly integrated to reduce system overload.
Urban water networks are reorganized as an ecological circulation system, serving both drainage functions and providing cultural and landscape value.
The project ultimately aims to develop climate-adaptive urban environments, enhance resilience to flooding, and create livable, harmonious spaces between humans and nature. Adopting a human-centered design approach, the project goes beyond technical solutions to emphasize social and community impacts, contributing to raising public awareness of environmental protection and sustainable development.
From Passion to Global Aspiration
Dinh Thanh Thong is recognized as a dynamic, creative, and proactive learner, always eager to explore new knowledge and perspectives. Throughout his time at UEH, Thong actively participated in research projects, applied studio workshops, and international conferences on smart and sustainable urban development. Winning the Second Prize at the 2025 Loa Thanh Awards is a well-deserved result of his continuous dedication — combining creativity, expertise, and social commitment. In September 2025, Thông further advanced his academic journey by receiving a scholarship to pursue a Master’s degree in Urban Design at the University of Illinois Chicago (USA) — one of the world’s leading programs in the field. This milestone not only represents his personal achievement, but also stands as proof of UEH’s international-standard and globally oriented education quality.
UEH alumnus Dinh Thanh Thong, second from left, with his supervisor at the 2021–2024 graduation defense
UEH alumnus Dinh Thanh Thong is studying for a Master's degree in Urban Design in the US
With an educational philosophy rooted in interdisciplinary, creative, and sustainable development, the Institute of Smart City and Management (ISCM) continuously innovates its teaching methods by integrating research, practice, and real-world experience. This approach empowers students to develop critical design thinking that connects urban systems with technology, community, and the environment. Thong’s achievement is a proud testament to the growth of UEH – ISCM’s student community: confident, innovative, and globally capable, contributing to the creation of future cities that are intelligent, resilient, and human-centered.
“This award is not only a personal honor but also the result of a collective journey — where educators, students, and the learning environment come together to transform design ideas into solutions for society.”— M.Arch. Tran Thi Quynh Mai, Director of the Bachelor Program, Graduation project supervisor