Vietnamese interior design: Creative integration and professional positioning

This was the central topic of a Talk Show organized by the Vietnam Interior Design Association (VNIA) on the morning of June 7, featuring the participation of leading domestic and international experts and designers. Among the attendees were high-level representatives from APSDA (Asia Pacific Space Designers Association) and design associations from Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, and others.

Opening the event, Mr. Lê Trường, Chairman of the Vietnam Interior Design Association, expressed his appreciation for the presence of the international delegations and shared an overview of the industry’s realities in Vietnam. From this foundation, he raised a number of key issues for discussion, including professional positioning, practice mechanisms, and design fee structures.

Le Truong, Chairman of the Vietnam Interior Design Association, gave the opening speech at the talk show (Credit: Organizers)

Echoing these concerns, representatives from Thailand and Singapore shared practical experiences in implementing the “man-month” cost calculation system and the roadmap for establishing a professional certification framework – an approach that provides the interior design profession with clear legal standing and institutional protection

By comparison, according to Mr. Trần Đức Toàn, General Director of VNCC, Vietnam’s legal system still lacks clear distinctions between architecture, interior design, landscape design, and related fields. This absence of differentiation creates challenges in professional positioning and in defining appropriate fee structures for interior design services.

The international representatives presented practical experiences from their respective countries (Credit: Organizers)

Representatives from the Philippines, Indonesia, New Zealand, and other countries also contributed insights into developing professional standards, assessment systems, and effective partnerships with government agencies to create a transparent and credible practice environment.

These shared experiences offer valuable guidance for the Vietnam Interior Design Association and the broader Vietnamese interior design sector, highlighting areas requiring attention in the journey toward establishing a professional and sustainable practice environment.

The talk show offered in-depth content, helping Vietnam gain more specific insights to establish professional practice mechanisms for the interior design industry (Credit: Organizers)

With rich, in-depth discussions and comparisons between Vietnam and international practices, the Talk Show served as an important foundational step for VNIA as it began to chart a roadmap for positioning and professionalizing the interior design industry in Vietnam.