The International Design Competition Awards Ceremony: (Re)Engaging Cities’ Landscape for Cultural and Economic Vibrancy was held in North Nha Trang Ward on October 1 by Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics (UEH) in collaboration with Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee. This year’s competition theme is the Cai River area, aiming to propose innovative smart urban solutions that boost the local economy while preserving and enhancing the cityscape and coastal ecosystem of Khanh Hoa.

Nguyen Khac Toan, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee and Assoc.Prof.PhD. Bui Quang Hung present gifts to representatives of sponsors and the Competition jury.

First prize awarded to the team from Chulalongkorn University.

Present at the event were Nguyen Khac Toan, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; members of the UEH leadership board; leaders, lecturers, and experts from universities and research institutes at home and abroad.

Launched in March 2025, the competition attracted 160 teams with more than 500 students from universities in 25 countries. The teams presented more than 60 initiatives for developing the Cai River axis into a "heritage route", harmoniously blending innovation and tradition for sustainable economic and cultural development.

PhD. Dinh Cong Khai, Deputy Director of UEH and Director of the Department of Finance Chau Ngo Anh Nhan award the second prize to Van Lang University.

15 outstanding projects were awarded and honored at the ceremony. The first prize, worth USD3,000, was presented to the project of Chulalongkorn University (Thailand); the second prize to Van Lang University; the third prize to Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, Vietnam National University; the sponsor's choice prize to UEH, and the audience's choice prize to Chiang Mai University (Thailand).

Based on a multi-disciplinary approach, the projects focused on exploiting the potential of landscape and heritage, and developing climate-resilient urban spaces along the river. These standout initiatives offer valuable guidance and references for Nha Trang's General Plan to 2040, shaping its future in landscape, heritage, and smart city development.