Vietnam – Japan strengthen cooperation in planning and developing underground space

Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Tuong Van had a working session with Senior Advisor of Plantec Architects Asami Hideki (former President of Nikken Sekkei Civil Engineering Ltd) on planning and developing underground space, on January 14^th, 2025.

Overview of working session

At the meeting, Mr. Asami Hideki shared Japan's experience in planning and managing underground space projects, especially urban transport systems such as railways and subways.

However, Japan is also facing a number of issues that need to be resolved such as the phenomenon of land subsidence due to low groundwater levels, affecting underground works; unsynchronization in connecting railway lines in the Japanese subway system.

Mr. Asami Hideki emphasized the necessity and importance of standards and regulations in the design and construction of subway railway systems.

At the working session, a member of the delegation of Plantec Architects Co., Ltd., Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Cong Giang - former Head of the Department of Underground Construction, Hanoi University of Architecture shared the experiences of developed countries in classifying underground space usage, applying GIS technology combined with BIM system to create detailed 3D maps of the ground and underground space, to support more effective urban planning.

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Minister Nguyen Tuong Van highly appreciated Mr. Asami Hideki's contributions in promoting cooperation between Japan and Vietnam, especially in the fields of master planning, zoning planning and transport infrastructure.

Underground traffic works, especially subways, have been becoming an important part of urban planning of large cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city. As a result, management and development of underground space has received special attention. Currently, the draft Law on Urban Development Management (which the Government assigned the Ministry of Construction to preside over) has also devoted a Chapter to regulate the management and development of underground space.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Tuong Van and Mr. Asami Hideki took a s photo at the working session.

According to the Deputy Minister, with the current pace of development, large cities in Vietnam need to develop systematic, synchronous and sustainable underground space. Underground space planning not only helps solve infrastructure problems but also contributes significantly to improving the quality of urban life and responding to the challenges of climate change.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Tuong Van thanked Mr. Asami Hideki and experts of the working group of Plantec Architects Co., Ltd for their valuable sharing, and directed the Department of Technical Infrastructure to invite Japanese experts, including experts from Plantec Architects Co., Ltd, to contribute their opinions in the process of building and perfecting legal policies in the field of underground space management and development in the coming time.