The Sustainable Urban Development (SUD) Programme is pleased to announce the upcoming SUD–ARC Research Seminar Series under the theme “Rethinking Peri-urban Frontiers.”

The seminar series explores peri-urban areas as dynamic transitional landscapes where urban and rural systems intersect under the pressures of urbanisation, environmental change, and shifting social conditions. Rather than treating these areas simply as the outer edges of the city, the seminars consider them as critical territories where questions of settlement, ecology, infrastructure, mobility, housing, and everyday life increasingly overlap.

The series will take place on two Saturday mornings at VGU City Campus. Participants may attend either one session or both.

Seminar 1 — 12 September 2026 | 09:30–12:00

The first seminar focuses on metropolitan landscapes, urban ecology, and changing forms of living at the urban edge.

Presentations:

• A Metropolitan Park System for Ho Chi Minh City — Prof. Kelly Shannon
• Smart Swarms in the Swamp — Prof. Bruno De Meulder
• Urban Transformation of Living Services: A Case Study of Ho Chi Minh City’s Periphery — Tran Quang Dao, Le Thi Thu Huong, and Tran Tuan Nghi

The session will conclude with a Panel Discussion and Q&A.

Seminar 2 — 19 September 2026 | 09:30–12:00

The second seminar turns to peri-urban planning, housing, ecological infrastructure, and residential amenity in the context of Ho Chi Minh City’s ongoing transformation.

Presentations:

• Rethinking the Edge: A Context-Sensitive Framework for Peri-Urban Planning in Post-Merger Ho Chi Minh City — Nguyen Vo Van Lich and Nguyen Thi Huong Lan
• Peri-Urban Housing as Part of Ecological Infrastructure — Tran Tuan Anh
• A Post-Occupancy Evaluation-Based Framework for Assessing Residential Amenity Performance in Peri-Urban Apartment Developments: A Case Study in Ho Chi Minh City — Nguyen Linh Tam, Le Thi Thuy Hang, and Vo Thi Bich Ngoc

This session will also conclude with a Panel Discussion and Q&A.

Event Information

Venue: R504, VGU City Campus, 130 Hong Ha, Duc Nhuan Ward, Ho Chi Minh City
Time: 09:30–12:00
Dates: 12 and 19 September 2026

Participants may register for either one session or both.

Registration: https://forms.gle/J9NEz3rEJ3MAo3So7

The seminar series is open to lecturers, researchers, students, practitioners, and all those interested in peri-urban development, urban planning, housing, urban ecology, landscape transformation, and sustainable urban development.

We look forward to welcoming participants to VGU and to an engaging discussion on how peri-urban landscapes can be understood and shaped in more resilient, inclusive, and ecologically responsive ways.