General Director Nguyen Dang Quang Joins the Ministry of Construction Working Delegation to Study Architectural Institutions in China and the Russian Federation

From May 21 to 29, 2026, an inter-ministerial working delegation led by Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Tuong Van conducted a visit and working trip to China and the Russian Federation. The mission aimed to research and exchange international experiences in urban planning and architectural management to serve the amendment of the Law on Architecture and the improvement of Vietnam’s construction sector institutions. Representing CONINCO, General Director Nguyen Dang Quang participated in the delegation, opening many opportunities to apply international planning standards into Vietnam’s consulting practices.

The strategic working trip of the Ministry of Construction included high-level representatives from many key agencies. Accompanying Deputy Minister Nguyen Tuong Van were Vice Chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee for Science, Technology and Environment Tran Van Khai, representatives from the Government Office, the Ministry of Justice, and leaders of specialized departments under the Ministry of Construction. This inter-ministerial coordination demonstrated a strong determination to build a synchronized, modern, and practical legal framework aligned with global infrastructure development trends.

The working delegation in Shanghai – China.

Practical lessons from two leading architectural systems
Throughout the trip, the delegation held working sessions with high-level policy-making agencies in Shanghai (China), Moscow, and St. Petersburg (Russian Federation).
In China, the delegation worked with the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Planning and Natural Resources, visited the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center, and exchanged with research institutes under Tongji University.

The delegation works with the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Planning and Natural Resources.

The delegation works with the Institute of Urban Planning and Design, Institute of Architectural Design, and Institute of Architectural Research under Tongji University, China.

A key highlight was studying the management system that strictly complies with national laws combined with local regulations, along with the policy-making process based on the principle: “Pilot – Guidance Document – Standardization – Legalization”. The “Practicing Architect” model for design optimization was also highly appreciated. In particular, Shanghai is leading in digital transformation in urban planning (applying 3D data in design competitions) and green building development with mandatory 3-star certification from 2025 linked to online carbon emission auditing.

In the Russian Federation, the delegation recorded breakthrough models through working sessions in Moscow and St. Petersburg, notably with the Ministry of Construction, Housing and Public Utilities of the Russian Federation and the St. Petersburg Urban Planning and Architecture Committee. Here, urban planning pays special attention to underground space utilization, achieving up to 88% underground parking ratio in central areas. Regarding professional practice management, Russia applies a licensing authorization mechanism through professional associations via the establishment of a “Professional Fund” to handle risks. For heritage conservation, the country applies a flexible policy: allowing changes in internal functions of buildings while maintaining extremely strict control over external architectural appearance.

Overview of the working session at the Ministry of Construction, Housing and Public Utilities of the Russian Federation.

The delegation visits and works with the St. Petersburg Urban Planning and Architecture Committee.

CONINCO’s Commitment and Role
As one of Vietnam’s leading construction consulting enterprises, the participation of General Director Nguyen Dang Quang in the inter-ministerial delegation continues to affirm CONINCO’s role and responsibility in accompanying state management agencies. CONINCO not only contributes practical voices from the consulting sector to the policy-making process but also proactively grasps the latest trends in planning management and technology.

Some photos of the Delegation during the working trip.

The direct exposure to architectural management models in Shanghai, Moscow, and St. Petersburg brings practical significance to CONINCO’s development roadmap, especially as the company is making “Digital transformation” a key focus throughout 2026. Lessons on digital urban planning, Digital Twin integration, green buildings, and underground space management from international experiences will be studied and applied by CONINCO. Through this, the company continues to enhance its core consulting capabilities, ensuring that its design proposals always comply with new legal standards and meet the stringent requirements of future smart urban ecosystems.