The 5th edition of GEOTEC HANOI 2023, a premier international conference on geotechnical engineering, officially convened at the National Convention Center under the central theme: “Geotechnics for Sustainable Infrastructure Development.”
Following four successful editions, GEOTEC HANOI has steadily evolved into a prestigious international conference drawing the attention of geotechnical professionals and researchers from both Vietnam and abroad. Building on the momentum of previous conferences, GH2023 is expected to continue its mission of delivering technologically sound solutions to long-standing challenges, while simultaneously opening discourse on emerging issues and cutting-edge geotechnical technologies—all aligned with the overarching objective of “Infrastructure for Sustainable Development.”
Addressing the reasons behind the increasing global appeal of GEOTEC HANOI, Dr. Phung Duc Long, President of the Vietnamese Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (VSSMGE) and Co-Chair of GH2023, noted:
“FECON is an enterprise committed to development based on advanced construction technologies. Meanwhile, VSSMGE brings together leading national geotechnical scientists and enterprises, is also an active member of the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE) with strong international connections. These two pillars including industrial practice and academic excellence, have been instrumental in establishing GEOTEC HANOI’s success since its inaugural event in 2011.”
Continue to be a destination for the world’s leading experts
According to official information from the organizing committee, GH2023 will feature in-depth keynote lectures delivered by six internationally recognized experts in the field: Prof. Alessandro Mandolini (University of Campania, Italy), Prof. Giulia M.B. Viggiani (University of Cambridge, UK), Prof. Rainer Massarsch (Geo Risk & Vibration Scandinavia AB, Sweden), Prof. Antonio Gens (Technical University of Catalonia, Spain), Prof. Mitsu Okamura (Ehime University, Vice President of the Japanese Geotechnical Society), and Prof. Richard Jardine (Imperial College London, UK).
In addition to the keynote speakers, the conference will also welcome two distinguished guests: Dr. Marc Ballouz, President of ISSMGE (USA), and Prof. Keh-Jian Shou, Vice President of ISSMGE for Asia.
Nearly 800 scientists from more than 40 countries, including leading geotechnical nations such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Sweden, and Japan, are expected to participate in GEOTEC HANOI 2023.
The technical program of GEOTEC HANOI 2023 centers on six major thematic areas within the field of geotechnics: Deep Foundations, Tunneling and Underground Space, Ground Improvement, Geotechnical modeling and Monitoring, Landslides and Erosion, Offshore Wind Power and Coastal Geotechnics
Dr. Long emphasized: “Keynote speakers are selected through a rigorous process and must be top-tier scientists in their respective fields. This is a critical factor in attracting both international and domestic researchers to GEOTEC HANOI.”
With nearly 1,000 registered delegates, GH2023 firmly positions itself as a major event in Asia and globally within the geotechnical engineering discipline.
In addition, Dr. Long noted that the conference proceedings of GEOTEC HANOI 2023, titled “Geotechnics for Sustainable Infrastructure Development”, will be published by Springer, a leading global academic publisher specializing in science, technology, and engineering.
Addressing Critical and Emerging Topics
Alongside the traditional themes of previous GEOTEC HANOI editions, GEOTEC HANOI 2023 introduces timely and urgent topics that reflect current national priorities and global trends in sustainable infrastructure development.
One such topic is “Landslides and Erosion” which has become increasingly critical in Vietnam due to a string of recent landslide disasters in mountainous areas, such as the Tra Leng landslide, the Rao Trang 3 hydropower plant incident, and the Bao Loc slope failure, which resulted in severe casualties and property damage.
GH2023 is expected to deliver valuable lessons and effective solutions from global experts to ensure safety during construction and long-term asset sustainability in landslide-prone areas.
Another key focus area is “Offshore Wind Power and Coastal Geotechnics,” reflects the growing global interest in renewable energy as a driver of sustainable development. Vietnam holds significant potential in this sector, thanks to its vast East Sea and strong monsoonal wind patterns. However, this potential remains underutilized due to high investment costs, complex continental shelf geology, and the limited technical capacity and experience of domestic contractors.
Thus, this new topic at GH2023 demonstrates the organizers’ commitment to open-minded learning and knowledge exchange by highlighting the latest experiences and technologies in offshore wind development and coastal geotechnical engineering.
Highlight Side Activities
In addition to academic presentations, the conference draws strong engagement from industry. GEOTEC HANOI 2023 is supported by 18 reputable sponsors and features an exhibition space of 55 booths, offering a platform for scientific institutions, contractors, and solution providers to showcase innovations in construction technologies, instrumentation, and digital geotechnics.
GEOTEC HANOI 2023 also includes technical site visits for authors, including a tour of the Metro Line 3 construction site on December 13 offering a field view of tunneling works executed with Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) technology, and a sightseeing tour of Ha Long Bay—one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World—on December 16.
| GEOTEC HANOI is organized by FECON Corporation in collaboration with the Vietnamese Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (VSSMGE), Thuyloi University (TLU), the Japanese Geotechnical Society (JGS), and the Vietnam Petroleum Institute (VPI). The conference is held under the auspices of the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). This is the first international geotechnical conference to be initiated by a private construction enterprise. With the continued technical support of the Vietnamese Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (VSSMGE) and the Japanese Geotechnical Society (JGS) across all five editions, the conference has successfully attracted a large number of international researchers to contribute papers and present their findings. This success is reflected in the steadily increasing number of registered participants and submitted papers over the years. Following four previous editions in 2011, 2013, 2016, and 2019, GEOTEC HANOI has firmly established itself as a reputable international conference, garnering significant attention from leading scientists worldwide in the fields of geotechnical engineering in particular and infrastructure construction more broadly. |
