On June 6, 2025, Hanoi's Lotte Hotel became the vibrant stage for a landmark event in Vietnam’s interior design scene: the specialized seminar "Vietnamese Interior Architecture Trends 2026–2030." This gathering attracted a diverse crowd of professionals, including architects, designers, industry leaders, and international experts, all converging to explore the evolving landscape of Vietnamese interior architecture and to officially launch the pioneering publication Trend 26+.
Trend 26+ stands as the first comprehensive trend publication dedicated to Vietnam’s interior design industry. Initiated by three trailblazing brands—Go Minh Long, Viglacera, and Khoa Huy Hoang—and professionally sponsored by the Vietnam Interior Association and the Vietnam Architects Association, the publication marks a significant shift in the industry’s mindset. No longer content with passively absorbing global trends, Vietnam’s interior design community is now actively researching, forecasting, and shaping its own future.
The publication draws on a rich blend of data from the World Global Style Network (WGSN), international exhibitions, and the insights of 45 authors from Vietnam and the Asia-Pacific region. It aims to foster a sustainable creative ecosystem where designers, architects, professional bodies, and pioneering brands collaborate to craft a distinct Vietnamese interior architectural identity that resonates globally.
At the heart of the seminar was the compelling question: "How can Vietnamese interior design shape its own identity in the era of integration?" The dialogue was rich and multi-layered, revolving around key trends such as personalized living spaces, green architecture, sustainable products, and the honoring of heritage and traditional arts within modern interiors.
KTS Le Truong, Chairman of the Vietnam Interior Association, described the current moment as a "golden time" for Vietnamese interior design. He pointed to the dynamic energy of young talented designers, the rise of robust domestic brands, and a growing market appetite for unique aesthetic and cultural experiences. Yet, he was candid about the challenges ahead. "We still lack a highly connected creative ecosystem, clear long-term design language directions, and support mechanisms for Vietnamese interior design to build international brands," he said. Le Truong emphasized that realizing true competitive strength requires a synchronized strategy encompassing training, production, communication, research, and trend publication.
Le Truong also articulated a visionary approach to Vietnamese interior identity, one that transcends mere replication of tradition. "This identity should be a blend of indigenous values with contemporary thinking, culture with technology, past with future," he explained. "We hope Vietnamese interior designers can tell the stories of the Vietnamese people through forms, materials, light, and details." This aspiration reflects a deep desire to root design in cultural narrative while embracing innovation.
From a global perspective, Gemma Riberti, Interior Director at WGSN London, offered crucial insights into the macro trends shaping interior design worldwide through 2030. She stressed that design must not only adapt but also listen and reflect humanity and culture. "An ideal space needs to be beautiful, sustainable, and culturally rich," Riberti noted. She highlighted the increasing demand for personalized solutions, urging designers to view technology and artificial intelligence as partners in addressing individual customer preferences and needs.
Riberti also underscored the importance of preserving and celebrating local cultural identities amid globalization. "In the future, customers will seek products with identity and a story—products that make them feel understood and cared for," she said. This emphasis on storytelling through design aligns closely with Vietnam’s ambitions to carve out a unique niche on the global design map.
Echoing the call for cultural authenticity, Wesley Liu, founder of PplusP Creations and a PhD candidate at RMIT University, shared lessons from Hong Kong, Australia, and China on creating design identities. He cautioned against producing generic products devoid of cultural value, warning, "When you find a designer focusing solely on aesthetics without research, the work becomes fragmented and unsuitable for its context." Liu’s perspective highlights the critical role of research and context-sensitive design in building meaningful identity.
TS-KTS Phan Dang Son, Chairman of the Vietnam Architects Association, emphasized the vital role of theory, criticism, and education in safeguarding design identity. He warned of the risks of losing Vietnam’s unique character if global trends are adopted indiscriminately. Praising Trend 26+, Phan Dang Son called it a "valuable foundation" for the architecture and interior sectors to flourish with local essence while integrating globally. He described the seminar as a "timely dialogue" that amplifies the profession’s core contributions in design, culture, and creativity.
Phan Dang Son also advocated for the application of digital transformation and multi-industry collaboration to develop green and sustainable architecture. He stressed the need to harmonize interactions with nature and culture, balancing stakeholders’ interests while preserving and promoting Vietnamese identity.
Another voice, KTS Hoang Thuc Hao, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Architects Association and founder of 1+1>2 Architecture Office, highlighted architecture’s role in "redefining Vietnamese aesthetics from heritage to modernity." He described the current architectural trend as embracing humility, harmony, and strength, aligning with global movements yet rooted in Vietnam’s cultural context.
The seminar's discussions culminated in a consensus about the evolving role of interior design as a "third skin"—a connective tissue linking people, environment, and cultural identity. Experts agreed that interiors should transcend decoration to create spaces where users feel authentically themselves, immersed in environments that reflect both personal and cultural narratives.
With over 800 guests attending, including prominent figures such as Mr. Tran Ngoc Chinh, Chairman of the Vietnam Urban Planning Association, Mr. Luong Xuan Doan, Chairman of the Vietnam Fine Arts Association, and Professor Keat Ong, Chairman of the Asia-Pacific Space Design Association, the event was a vibrant forum for exchanging ideas and inspiration.
The launch of Trend 26+ and the seminar marked more than just a publication debut; they signaled a pivotal moment in Vietnam’s design journey. As Le Truong put it, the hope is not just for a short-term spark but the formation of a continuous chain of data, thought, and action aimed at developing Vietnamese interior trends with creativity and sustainability at their core. The Vietnam Interior Association pledges ongoing collaboration through professional activities, competitions, seminars, publications, and creative support programs linked closely to real-world practice.
Ultimately, Trend 26+ transforms the vision of a distinct Vietnamese interior design style from a distant dream into an achievable goal. It embodies the collective efforts of Vietnam’s design community to preserve cultural identity, fuel creative passion, and assert Vietnamese design’s place on the global stage. As the industry embraces this new era of active trend creation, the coming years promise exciting developments that honor tradition while boldly innovating for the future.
