On December 14, 2023, GEOTEC HANOI 2023 (GH 2023)—an international geotechnical conference themed “Geotechnics for Sustainable Infrastructure Development”—was officially inaugurated at the National Convention Center in Hanoi (Pham Hung – Me Tri – Tu Liem). The event is co-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).
This marks the fifth consecutive edition of the GEOTEC HANOI conference, organized by leading enterprises and institutions in the field of geotechnical engineering from both Vietnam and around the world.
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).
In attendance of the conference, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha highly commended the efforts of FECON Corporation, in coordination with the VSSMGE, Thuyloi University, the Vietnam Petroleum Institute, and the Japanese Geotechnical Society, in successfully the 5th international conference following four previous editions that had significant impact on practical implementation across infrastructure projects.
According to the Deputy Prime Minister, Vietnam is among the countries most severely affected by climate change, with diverse and complex terrain and geological conditions. In recent years, the country has faced increasing challenges such as landslides in mountainous regions, flooding, and land subsidence in Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta provinces.
In his keynote address, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that this scientific event has attracted the participation of more than 200 distinguished speakers and leading experts from more than 40 countries, presenting scholarly work across six thematic sessions. Several of these topics are especially relevant to Vietnam’s current infrastructure context, including Tunnelling and Underground Space, Landslides and Erosion, Offshore Wind Power, and Coastal Foundation Engineering.
The conference presents a vital opportunity for scientists, technology enterprises, research institutes, academic institutions, and design consultancy organizations in Vietnam to engage in technical exchange and explore global trends in geotechnical innovation.
“With the significant economic achievements in recent year, Vietnam is actively advancing urbanization, industrialization, and the development of integrated infrastructure systems. The country has also committed to transitioning toward a green and circular economy, aiming for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
We are placing strong emphasis on geotechnical research to optimize natural resources and costruction material; to develop underground spaces in urban areas; to map geological hazards in mountainous regions; to expand renewable energy sources focus on carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) in large-scale and geologically stable formations; marine geotechnics for offshore wind energy development; and the construction of coastal defenses such as dykes, seawalls, and riverbank protection systems to combat erosion and manage hydrological flows.
I hope this conference will provide practical contributions and policy recommendations to the Government in formulating effective strategies and solutions to realize one of Vietnam’s strategic development breakthroughs, accelerating the green and sustainable development of national infrastructure,” the Deputy Prime Minister stated.
Mr. Pham Viet Khoa, Chairman of the Board of FECON Corporation and Head of the GH 2023 Organizing Committee, emphasized:
“One of the key objectives of this year’s conference is to narrow the technological gap in geotechnical engineering between Vietnam and developed countries. We also aim to establish a professional forum where t domestic and international scientists can connect, exchange knowledge, and collaborate on the practical application of global scientific advancements, driving further innovation in the field.”
| The presentations at this year’s conference will focus on six major topics in geotechnical engineering: 1. Deep foundations; 2. Tunneling and underground space; 3. Ground improvement; 4. Geotechnical modelling and monitoring; 5. Landslides and erosion; 6. Offshore wind power and coastal geotechnics. |
