In his opening remarks at GEOTEC HANOI 2023 conference, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha emphasized that Vietnam is placing a strong focus on geotechnical research to optimize the use of natural resources and construction materials, and to advance the development of underground space in urban areas.
Expectations for Practical Contributions
The GEOTEC HANOI 2023 Conference (GH 2023), themed “Geotechnics for Sustainable Infrastructure Development,” officially commenced on the morning of December 14 at the National Convention Center. The event is jointly organized by FECON Corporation, the Vietnamese Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (VSSMGE), Water Resource University, the Japanese Geotechnical Society (JGS), and the Vietnam Petroleum Institute (VPI). The conference and accompanying exhibition are scheduled to take place over two days, December 14 and 15.
Addressing more than 200 speakers and leading experts in the field from over 40 countries at GEOTEC HANOI 2023, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha noted that Vietnam is among the countries most severely affected by climate change. The country’s complex topography and diverse geological conditions have resulted in increasing challenges, including landslides in mountainous regions, flooding, and land subsidence in Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta. With the significant economic achievements in recent years, Vietnam is currently undergoing rapid urbanization, industrialization, and the development of a modern and synchronized infrastructure system.
Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha affirmed Vietnam’s strategic commitment to transitioning toward a green and circular economy, targeting net-zero emissions by 2050. In alignment with this goal, Vietnam is placing a strong emphasis on geotechnical research to optimize resource and material use, promote the development of underground urban spaces, and create geological hazard maps for mountainous areas; promote renewable energy sources; implement reliable and well-identified large-scale geological formations for carbon sequestration and mineralization; explore marine geology for offshore wind farms; and construct dikes, breakwaters, and hydraulic structures to manage water flow and mitigate erosion along rivers and coastlines.
The Deputy Prime Minister expressed hope that the GEOTEC HANOI 2023 Conference would offer concrete recommendations and contributions to help the government shape policies, strategies, and practical solutions, ultimately supporting one of Vietnam’s key strategic breakthroughs: the rapid, green, and sustainable development of infrastructure.
Seeking Solutions for Sustainable Infrastructure Development
In response to the Deputy Prime Minister’s expectations, Dr. Phung Duc Long, Co-Chair of GEOTEC HANOI 2023 and President of VSSMGE, affirmed that infrastructure is the backbone of economic growth and societal well-being. More than ever, infrastructure projects are receiving heightened attention, particularly those aimed at mitigating the impacts of sea level rise, preventing coastal and riverbank erosion, and protecting vulnerable regions such as Central Vietnam and the Mekong Delta.
According to Dr. Long, these challenges have been a key motivator for the GEOTEC HANOI organizers to create a high-quality professional platform where scientists and experts can share practical experiences and cutting-edge geotechnical research. Through collaborative dialogue and knowledge exchange, the conference aims to identify innovative solutions and applications that contribute to the sustainable development of infrastructure, while accelerating the closing of the capacity gap between Vietnam and more advanced countries.
Mr. Phạm Việt Khoa, Chairman of FECON Corporation and Head of the GH 2023 Organizing Committee, emphasized that Vietnam is currently undertaking a number of major infrastructure projects, including metro lines and underground drainage systems in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The country is also studying the development of a North-South high-speed railway and accelerating projects in wind and renewable energy. The national offshore wind power target is set at 6 GW by 2030 and 90 GW by 2050, an ambitious roadmap that demands significant contributions from geotechnical engineers.
The conference features keynote lectures from renowned international experts such as Prof. Rainer Massarsch (Sweden), Prof. Alessandro Mandolini (Italy), Prof. Giulia Viggiani (UK), Prof. Antonio Gens (Spain), Prof. Mitsu Okamura (Japan), and Prof. Richard Jardine (UK).
In addition to the plenary sessions, GEOTEC HANOI 2023 hosts six technical tracks covering: deep foundations, tunneling and underground space, ground improvement, geotechnical monitoring and modelling, landslides and erosion, offshore wind power, and coastal geotechnics.
In addition, 55 exhibition booths showcased cutting-edge construction technologies, advanced materials, and ready-to-deploy solutions available for application and technology transfer.
According to the Organizing Committee, nearly 300 papers were submitted by over 800 authors and research teams representing 41 countries worldwide. The Scientific Committee accepted 208 papers, an increase of 15% compared to the 2019 conference. The conference proceedings will be published by Springer, one of the world’s leading publishers in education and scientific research.
