Exclusive Interview: Vu Linh Quang on Infrastructure Delivery Outpacing Certification Standards

Drawing from his work across certification, advisory, and industry leadership, Mr Vu Linh Quang, Managing Director of ARDOR Green and Board Member of the Vietnam Green Building Council (VGBC), shares on-the-ground perspectives on infrastructure delivery, certification gaps, and the practical considerations shaping project-level decisions in Vietnam’s built environment.

In Vietnam today, do existing frameworks meaningfully apply to infrastructure?

In Vietnam today, certification systems such as LEED, LOTUS, and EDGE are still primarily applied to building projects, including offices, residential developments, hotels, and industrial facilities.

Meanwhile, the infrastructure sector—covering bridges, roads, transport systems, urban utilities, and large-scale public works—has largely been developing outside formal green building certification frameworks. Existing tools have not yet established criteria specifically tailored for infrastructure projects.

This does not mean infrastructure projects are not addressing sustainability. In practice, many already integrate principles such as energy efficiency, water management, climate resilience, and carbon reduction. However, dedicated certification standards for infrastructure have not yet been widely developed or formally discussed in the Vietnamese context.

If coverage is limited, what’s the most realistic path forward?

Over the next 12–24 months, the most practical path forward is likely a combination of approaches.

LEED will continue to be applied to large-scale projects with international investment, such as airports, railways, and seaports. EDGE is well suited for housing and large-scale developments requiring cost-effective solutions, with a focus on energy, water, and materials efficiency.

LOTUS, developed by the Vietnam Green Building Council (VGBC), has strong potential to become a locally adapted tool if expanded to include infrastructure guidance. It can integrate Vietnamese standards, regulations, and best practices into a framework tailored to local conditions.

Overall, Vietnam is more likely to adapt and enhance existing systems—particularly LOTUS—while incorporating international benchmarks, rather than developing a new framework from scratch. This approach would better reflect local climate, economic conditions, and operational practices, while supporting the country’s Net Zero 2050 commitment.

This is an excerpt of Mr Vu Linh Quang’s interview published in Vietnam Infrastructure & Construction Q1 2026 Outlook. Read the full story there.

MArch. Arch. Vu Linh Quang is Managing Director of ARDOR Green; Board Member of the Vietnam Green Building Council (VGBC); and Vietnam-based LEED Proven Provider and EDGE Premier Service Provider. He is an architect and sustainability leader with over 20 years of experience in design, research, and professional training in green building consultancy in Vietnam. Educated in New Zealand, Australia, and Denmark, he integrates international sustainable design practices with local development contexts. Since 2008, Mr Quang has actively promoted green building adoption through industry engagement, training, and public awareness initiatives. Guided by the belief that green buildings are essential to sustainable development, he advocates for transforming Vietnam’s built environment toward higher environmental performance, resilient cities, and improved quality of life.