On the morning of June 7, 2025, in Hanoi, the Vietnam Association of Interior Designers (VAID) successfully organized a seminar themed “Vietnamese Interior Design – Creative Integration and Professional Identity.” The event attracted a large number of experts, architects, and designers from both Vietnam and abroad. It marked a significant milestone in promoting professional dialogue, international integration, and laying the groundwork for legal frameworks to support the interior design industry in Vietnam.
The program had the honor of welcoming a high-level delegation from APSDA (Asia-Pacific Space Designers Association), as well as representatives from interior design associations in Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, and more. These are countries with well-developed interior design industries, many of which are in the process of professionalizing the field according to international standards. The presence of international delegates not only reflected deep interest in the Vietnamese market but also created opportunities for open, practical exchange and dialogue.
The seminar attracted the participation of a large number of experts, architects, and designers from both Vietnam and abroad
Opening the seminar, Architect Le Truong – President of the Vietnam Association of Interior Designers – shared practical insights on the current state of interior design practice in Vietnam. He highlighted pressing issues for discussion, such as the positioning of interior design within the national system of professions, licensing mechanisms, workflow, and design fee structures. These challenges are not unique to Vietnam but are common across many countries in the region, which have addressed them through clear professionalization processes.
Architect Le Truong – President of the Vietnam Association of Interior Designers – shared his insights at the seminar
Representatives from Thailand and Singapore shared their experiences in applying “man-month” fee calculation systems and developing professional licensing frameworks – solutions that help establish a legally recognized and protected status for interior designers.
From a domestic perspective, Mr. Tran Duc Toan – General Director of Vietnam National Construction Consultants Corporation (VNCC) – emphasized: “Vietnam’s legal system currently lacks clear distinctions between architecture, interior design, and landscape architecture, leading to difficulties in defining and standardizing costs specific to the interior design profession.”
Additionally, representatives from the Philippines, Indonesia, and New Zealand discussed how their countries have built professional standards, competency assessment systems, and partnerships with government agencies to foster transparent and professional work environments.
International representatives shared practical experiences at the seminar
This seminar served as an important step toward connecting with regional peers and learning from international experiences, while also laying a foundation for the Vietnam Association of Interior Designers to continue developing a clear roadmap for positioning and professionalizing the interior design industry in Vietnam.