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Department of Spatial Planning

Moderation of a panel on smart and resilient cities at the Vietnam Conference 2026

Ludwig Graf Westarp participating in a panel at the Vietnam Conference 2026 in Berlin © Deutsch-Vietnamesische Gesellschaft
Ludwig Graf Westarp chaired a panel discussion on smart and resilient cities.

The Vietnam Conference 2026 took place on 14 October at FOM University of Applied Sciences in Berlin, marking 15 years of the German-Vietnamese Strategic Partnership. Organised by the German-Vietnamese Association (DVG) and its partners, the conference brought together high-ranking representatives from German and Vietnamese politics and public institutions.

Our team member Ludwig Graf Westarp, Vice-President of the German-Vietnamese Association (DVG), moderated a panel discussion on Smart and Resilient Cities, featuring Dr Michael Waibel, an expert on urban development in Vietnam, and landscape architect Andreas Brümmel. The discussion explored how cities can respond to climate change and urbanisation while improving quality of life. Andreas Brümmel highlighted the importance of green infrastructure and introduced the concept of the sponge region, extending water-sensitive planning beyond city boundaries to include surrounding landscapes and catchment areas. Dr Waibel emphasised that smart cities require more than technology: effective governance, cooperation between stakeholders and people-centred planning are essential. Digitalisation, data sharing and digital twins were discussed as tools to support urban planning, while the panellists stressed that reliable data and practical implementation remain crucial. Examples from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City illustrated how public spaces and traffic management can contribute to more liveable cities. The exchange also highlighted the potential for mutual learning between Germany and Vietnam. The panel concluded that resilient urban development depends on integrating technological innovation, green infrastructure, public participation and effective governance to create sustainable and liveable cities.