Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh called for reforms to architectural management, wider use of BIM and fewer administrative procedures under proposed amendments to the Law on Architecture.
On August 10, the National Assembly discussed proposed amendments and supplements to several articles of the Law on Architecture.
Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh addresses the National Assembly.
Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh said the draft law would continue to be finalized based on comments from National Assembly deputies and conclusions of the National Assembly Standing Committee.
Regarding Building Information Modeling (BIM), the minister said the draft should include requirements for its application to promote digital transformation, scientific research and innovation while improving design quality and the efficiency of construction management.
Regarding architectural practice, the draft does not classify the profession as a conditional business sector. It also significantly narrows the range of positions requiring practice certificates, retaining the requirement only for roles involving a high level of professional competence and responsibility, such as project chief architects and chief architects.
On administrative reform, the Minister emphasized that digital transformation must bring genuine changes to management by reducing documentation requirements, shortening processing times and limiting unnecessary administrative intervention.
Architects who are not required to hold practice certificates would only need to update information on their qualifications, experience and scope of work in the relevant database, rather than obtain permission to practice.
For positions that still require practice certificates, the draft aims to simplify procedures for issuance and reissuance while abolishing competency examinations and certificate review councils.
The draft also addresses cultural identity in architecture, identifying elements such as spatial organization, architectural forms, techniques, knowledge, culture and regional characteristics.
It requires architectural management regulations to reflect the specific characteristics of individual localities and regions.
Regarding the relationship between legislation on architecture, construction, and urban and rural planning, Minister Tran Hong Minh said the scope of each area should be clearly defined to prevent regulatory overlap.
Planning legislation focuses on spatial organization, land use and infrastructure, while architecture legislation governs spatial form, landscapes, building façades, materials, colors, focal points and view corridors.
Construction legislation, meanwhile, regulates activities ranging from surveying and design to permitting, construction and building management.