In December 2017, the Embassy of Denmark in Vietnam launched a series of events under the theme ‘Danish week – Sustainable City Solutions’ in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The campaign included exhibitions, seminars, film screening, master classes and a competition looking for practical ideas on how to ensure greener and cleaner cities.
The campaign is an initiative of the embassy, co-organised by National Univeristy of Civil Engineering in Hanoi (NUCE) and Universtiy of Architecture Ho Chi Minh City (UAH), with supports from local authorities, organisations and companies from Vietnam and Denmark.
“Denmark is among the world leaders in green technology, and Green Growth is an important area of Vietnam -Denmark’s Comprehensive Partnership agreement. With this campaign we hope to create opportunities to exchange inspiration and knowledge with Vietnam on how to build green and sustainable cities”, said ambassador of Denmark to Vietnam, Ms. Charlotte Laursen.
The seminar under the theme was hosted by NUCE (in Hanoi on 12 Dec) and by UAH (in HCMC on 14 Dec). During the seminar, experts from Denmark and Vietnam will share experiences, lessons learnt, good practices in urban planning policy and solutions.
Also, students from NUCE and UAH had opportunity to attend master classes with the famous architect from Denmark Hans Peter Hagens and Head of Technical and Environment Department of Aarhus city Mr. Mogens Bjørn Nielsen.
An exhibition for the public showcased some of the best sustainable architecture designs and city development projects from Denmark.
Another event to linked with ‘Danish week – Sustainable City Solutions’ was the final round of the competition ‘Raising Awareness on Green City Solutions in Vietnam’, where best ideas on how to ensure greener and cleaner city in the locality were rewarded. The competition was co-organised by the embassy and the Denmark – Vietnam Alumni Network.
Denmark – Vietnam Comprehensive partnership
Within the framework of the Comprehensive Partnership Agreement signed by the two countries in 2013, the Vietnamese-Danish relationship is a partnership focusing on political dialogue, cultural exchange, commercial activities, and targeted ODA-projects matching Denmark’s strengths within green growth, food and agriculture, health and education.
Bilateral trade between Vietnam and Denmark has increased significantly since 2011 and interest from Danish companies in cooperation with Vietnam within trade and investment continues to increase. Currently more than 130 Danish companies are represented in Vietnam and many more are interested in doing business in Vietnam.