This discussion will feature an expert on Indochinese architecture, exploring the journey of French architectural works in Vietnam, from well-preserved heritage sites and dilapidated structures to those that have vanished entirely. The speaker will analyse the diversity of architectural trends, ranging from purely French styles to unique hybrid variations such as Franco-Vietnamese, Franco-Chinese, and Franco-Khmer. Additionally, the session will feature candid discussions on the current state of conservation and restoration, as well as the challenges and risks these heritage sites are facing. Finally, the discussion will pose the question: What can young architects around the world do to support, preserve, and promote these heritage sites in Vietnam within the contemporary context?

For the first time at the TRAO roundtable series, Curator Ace Lê revealed previously untold behind-the-scenes stories, offering a comprehensive insight into the art of crafting a narrative thread, the very soul of every exhibition.

On 7 February 2026, the TRAO #2 event, held online via Zoom, took place in an enthusiastic and highly professional atmosphere, attracting the attention, registrations and participation of many architects and artists, as well as Vietnamese experts in the field of art conservation living and working in various parts of the world.

Under the theme ‘Constructing Narratives in Art’, Curator Ace Lê guided the audience through a journey from basic processes to complex thinking to create refined visual experiences. The roundtable discussion began with a presentation by Ace Lê, sharing insights from the perspectives of curation, editing and commerce, with detailed analyses of projects he has undertaken recently, such as the exhibition ‘Hồn Xưa Bến Lạ’ (2022), the exhibition ‘Mộng Viễn Đông’ (2023) and the exhibition ‘Trời, Non, Water (2025)

In Vietnamese architecture and urbanism, “blind spots” are the values, principles, and heritage that exist in plain sight but are often overlooked or insufficiently recognised.

At TRAO #3, members of the Gian Giữa Collective—architects, researchers, and advocates for socially engaged design—will explore this theme through two perspectives:

‘Visible Context, Hidden Heritage’ (Arch. Lê Đức)
Context is the often-unseen foundation of architecture, shaping design decisions and creative thinking. But what happens when cultural, historical, and physical contexts are lost or ignored? Drawing on adaptive reuse projects, research, and archival work, Lê Đức invites participants to reflect on heritage, conservation, and continuity within Vietnam’s rapidly changing built environment.

‘Key Themes – Unwritten Rules’ (Arch. Nguyễn Mạnh Tuấn)
Nguyễn Mạnh Tuấn examines cities through the relationship between visible urban forms and invisible forces such as laws, politics, and everyday survival. Rather than viewing informal, self-organising architecture as disorder, he sees it as part of a living urban system that helps communities adapt and thrive. His research questions sustainability models that overlook local culture and livelihoods, advocating for flexible, ecological design approaches where architecture supports both human and environmental resilience.