Achievements

At the 15th National Architecture Student Festival, a DTU student of Architecture won an All-Around award and a first prize in quick design A.

Gia Dinh (center) from DTU with his All-Around award. Photo: DTU

Father’s woodworking shop nurtures creative dreams

Nguyen Gia Dinh’s childhood did not involve formal drawing classes, but began in his father’s woodworking shop in Trieu Phong, Quang Tri province - a space filled with the scent of wood and the sounds of plane and chisel.

“The woodworking shop was a part of my childhood,” Gia Dinh explains. “After school, I’d go there to watch my father work and I enjoyed watching the rough wooden planks being gradually smoothed into beautiful shapes.

“My father mainly builds traditional wooden houses, which requires a high level of precision, so he’s very patient. When details are damaged or flawed, he has to redo them multiple times, but he always calmly searches for a solution. From him I learned not only skill but also how to face difficulties and persevere to the end.”

His father’s persistence and skillful hands quietly instilled in Gia Dinh a serious professional mindset, strong concentration, and a willingness to take on challenges. These qualities have been key in his perseverance in his studies of Architecture at DTU and they are what allow him to excel in competitions.

A passion for design inspires Gia Dinh in both study and competitions. Photo: DTU

From his immature drawings in primary school, Gia Dinh began paying closer attention to form, space, and light. What once seemed like natural observations in the woodworking shop turned into foundational lessons for his later architectural thinking and design. When the time came to choose a career, he actively did research and decided to pursue Architecture at DTU.

“When I learned about the Architecture program at DTU, I was impressed by its well-structured curriculum, dynamic learning environment, and many chances for real-world experience,” Gia Dinh affirms. “The university not only focuses on academic knowledge but also gives students the conditions to participate in competitions, exhibitions, and practical projects early on.”

The top prize

A prestigious national event, the 2026 National Architecture Student Festival attracted more than 800 students and lecturers, and nearly 150 guests from across the country. Students could compete in a variety of categories, from quick design A, quick design B, and graphic design to sketching, installation art, and logo design.

The 2026 Festival marked a memorable milestone in Gia Dinh’s academic journey in Architecture. His team’s project “Station” made a strong impression and won first prize in quick design A.

Gia Dinh won first prize in rapid design A with the project “Station”. Photo: DTU

“Station”, a shared-space model for the university of the future by Gia Dinh and his friends, reflects flexible thinking in an era of rapid technological development, where architecture is not only about physical space but also a connection between people and between humans and machines.

The project was highly praised for its flexible concept and its circular modular system that integrates green spaces to create a friendly and sustainable environment. The interior is designed as a multifunctional space that supports learning and relaxation, and which encourages interaction and knowledge exchange between students and exchange about the use of new technologies.

“The most important factors to convince the jury were the clarity of the design concept, the coherence in presentation of the ideas, and the ability to effectively solve real-world issues,” Gia Dinh explains.

“Beyond form, ‘Station’ also aims for operational feasibility, connectivity with surrounding areas, and flexible future development - aligning with the goal of creating learning and community spaces in the technological era.”

DTU students won multiple awards at the 2026 National Architecture Student Festival. Photo: DTU

At the festival, Gia Dinh was also awarded an All-Around award, the highest honor given to the students with the highest overall score across all categories, including quick design A and B, sketching, and graphic design. Nguyen Gia Dinh, a third-year student of Architecture at DTU, was outstandingly one of the twenty students to receive this prestigious prize.

At the 2026 National Architecture Student Festival, DTU students achieved outstanding results across a variety of contest categories:

•    Nguyen Gia Dinh: All-Around award and first prize in quick design A,
•    Nguyen Hoang Dieu Hien: first prize in quick design B,
•    Nguyen Thi Diem Quyen: third prize in quick design B.

Architecture & Built Environment at DTU in 101-150 range globally by QS 2026

According to the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 released in March 2026, DTU is in the 101–150 range globally for Architecture, maintaining its position from 2025. It is the only university in Vietnam ranked in this field.

(Media Center)