A closing ceremony for the project "Institutional Strengthening and Capacity Building for Sustainable Urban Development in Vietnam" (ISCB) was held in Hanoi on August 1 by the Ministry of Construction, in collaboration with the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat) and the Embassy of Switzerland, Swiss Cooperation Office in Vietnam.

The project, financed by the UN-Habitat and Switzerland, lays the foundation for a renewed vision toward sustainable urban development in the country, the Government News remarks.

As part of the event, participants visited a curated showcase illustrating Vietnam's urban transition, comparing baseline conditions in 2020 with the progress achieved through ISCB initiative. While having rapid urbanization, Vietnam still faces significant challenges, including spatial inequality, fragmented policy implementation, and a shortage of skilled professionals in integrated urban planning.

The ISCB project was specifically designed to address these gaps by reinforcing institutional frameworks, delivering practical and context-responsive training, and promoting multi-stakeholder planning approaches that align with international best practices.

Representatives from UN-Habitat and Switzerland echoed these views, reaffirming Vietnam's growing role in the global urban development agenda and commending the ISCB project's forward-looking, inclusive approach, particularly at a time when the country is undergoing historic administrative consolidation and restructuring.

The Government News quoted Mr. Aldo de Luca, Deputy Ambassador of Switzerland to Vietnam as saying that "Sustainable urban development begins with strong institutions, empowered communities, and inclusive planning. Switzerland is proud to support Vietnam in shaping resilient, liveable, and economically vibrant cities through strengthened urban policies and institutional capacities." -

One of ISCB's key achievements is the development of a Sustainable Urban Development (SUD) Training Program, comprising six modules. These modules were co-designed based on the training capacity of the Academy of Construction Strategy and Cadres Training, international experience from UN-Habitat and development partners, as well as needs assessments from local agencies within the Academy's partner network.

The six training modules were piloted through nine capacity-building courses, directly implemented by the Academy with technical support from UN-Habitat. The program attracted hundreds urban managers and technical officers across various provinces.

In addition, 37 trainers successfully completed the Training of Trainers (ToT) course, 20% of whom went on to facilitate and coordinate SUD courses. This laid the foundation for a self-sustaining network of trainers and technical advisors, enabling localities to continue accessing knowledge and tools for sustainable urban development beyond the project's lifecycle.

At the same time, the global toolkit "Our City Plans" (OCP), which is developed by UN-Habitat to promote participatory planning, was localized, refined, and piloted in Vietnam. Serving as a flexible and adaptable framework, OCP empowers inclusive urban planning from the grassroots to the provincial level. It guides local governments and communities to co-create visions, design public spaces, and implement development plans through collaborative and participatory methods.

Sustainable urban development requires the stability and comprehensiveness of policy and regulatory frameworks related to urban development management.

Within the framework of the ISCB project, institutional strengthening activities have been implemented to support the Ministry of Construction and the former Ministry of Planning and Investment (now the Ministry of Finance) in enhancing their policy-making capacities.

Both national and international experts shared knowledge, experiences, and practical assessments to support the development and implementation of legal and regulatory documents related to urban management and development.

For the former Ministry of Planning and Investment, the project focused on working with the Department of Planning Management to assist in the formulation of provincial planning, and to promote cross-sectoral coordination in the revision and amendment of the Planning Law.

ISCB's policy recommendations, tools, and training materials were aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the New Urban Agenda, contributing to Vietnam's broader commitment to inclusive and sustainable urban growth.

A key highlight of the event was a demonstration of the participatory planning approach. Through pilot activities in the former province of Ben Tre (now Vinh Long) in the Mekong Delta and in the former town of Tam Ky in the central province of Quang Nam (now Tam Ky Ward in central Da Nang city), the project created conditions for communities to take an active role in shaping visions, designing public spaces, and providing policy feedback. More than 1,000 residents and local officials participated in consultation sessions, surveys, co-design workshops, and co-creation processes, clearly illustrating a shift from "being planned for" to "planning together."

Mr. Frank D'hondt, ISCB's Chief Technical Consultant, presented the project's overarching strategic vision, linking it with Vietnam's international commitments and the SDGs. A panel discussion featuring representatives from the Ministry of Construction, Swiss Cooperation Office in Vietnam, and national training academies reinforced the need for intersectoral coordination in planning, capacity-building, and financing local initiatives in the post-project phase.

In his closing remarks, Mr. Ngo Anh Tuan, Director General of the Academy of Construction Strategy and Cadres Training, as quoted by the Government News, affirmed that: "The ISCB project has helped clarify the reality that sustainable urban development cannot rely solely on infrastructure investment. It must start with strong institutions, capable people, and transparent processes. The results of the project will continue to be integrated by the Ministry of Construction into national action programs, technical guidance documents, and future policies supporting localities".

The tools, outcomes, and lessons from ISCB will continue to be disseminated through a growing network of experts, training institutions, and technical assistance mechanisms. As Vietnam enters a new phase of complex urban challenges, ISCB leaves behind a practical foundation to ensure that localities will not walk this path alone.