Vietnam joins the worldwide celebration of Italian Design Day (IDD) 2022, with the theme “Regeneration, Design and New Technologies for a Sustainable Future.” To mark this year’s edition, the Embassy of Italy, Italian Trade Agency and the Consulate General of Italy-HCMC are hosting several events in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City from March 25, 2022.
In Hanoi, the Hanoi University of Civil Engineering (HUCE) will host from 14:00 until 16:00 PM a hybrid conference on the theme of IDD 2022 and its relevance for Vietnam.
Architect Marco Lambri, Design Director of Piaggio Group and Italian Design Ambassador in Vietnam for 2022, will deliver a keynote speech on industrial design and mobility. The conference will be attended by distinguished speakers, such as Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Duy Hoa, Rector of HUCE, Mr. Antonio Alessandro, Ambassador of Italy to Vietnam, and Mr. Christian Manhart, UNESCO Representative to Vietnam.
Overview of the event in Hanoi
Mr. Antonio Alessandro, Ambassador of Italy to Vietnam
Livestreaming of the event will be available on the Italian Embassy’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ItalyinVietnam) and on Zoom platform (https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88464649151).
In Ho Chi Minh City, the celebration will kick off at the Caravelle Hotel at 13:30 -17:00, with key speeches via VCT from Hanoi by Mr. Antonio Alessandro and Architect Marco Lambri. Mr. Enrico Padula, Italian Consul General in HCMC and Mr. Fabio De Cillis, Director of Italian Trade Agency in Vietnam will be physically present at the event and will lead discussions on the importance of the Italian Design Day for the trade of the relevant sectors. Mr. Gianluca Fiume, the Chairman and General Director of Piaggio Vietnam, and Prof. Ngo Thi Thu Trang, Dean of Art Design Faculty of University of Architecture HCMC, Vice President of VDAS in HCMC, will also deliver speeches at the event.
Mr. Enrico Padula, Italian Consul General in HCMC
Discussion session between experts in Ho Chi Minh
Architect Marco Lambri - Design Director of Piaggio Group, the Italian Design Day Ambassador in Vietnam 2022: “In all phases of great change, like the one we’re living, design plays a fundamental role. The generation of ideas, projects, relationships, is an opportunity to improve our lives and that of future generations”.
Overview of the event in Ho Chi Minh
Other events related to Italian Design Day are:
- Workshop for HUCE students conducted by Mr. Matteo Ballini, Head of Piaggio Vietnam Product Marketing - March 25, 8:30-11:30 at HUCE University;
- Movie Screening of “Enrico Piaggio. Un sogno italiano” - March 25, 18:30 at Casa Italia, 18 Le Phung Hieu, Hanoi;
- Exhibition of Vespa and Piaggio Design - March 25-26 at HUCE Campus;
- Exhibition of Piaggio, Eurasia Concept and Ly Gia Vien - March 25-27 at Caravelle Hotel, HCMC.
Sustainability is the way forward
IDD has become a key event in over 100 cities around the world since it was launched in 2017. The event has established itself as an effective instrument to support the promotion of the internationalization of a strategic industrial sector for Italian exports. Considered a leader in architecture and design, Italy has pioneered movements that compellingly combined art, design, mathematics, and technology to foster sustainability.
This year’s theme embodies the main objective of the annual celebration. IDD aims to stimulate a sustainable approach for development and innovation that can help improve lives and the planet.
Vietnam and Italy’s strong and friendly relationship has allowed Vietnam to take a close peek at how Italy has successfully promoted an ecological transition in its lifestyle — favoring functionality and wellbeing that have reduced environmental impact. Over the years, Vietnam has actively been getting support from Italy and the European Union as it moves towards modernization after a tragic war five decades ago. Vietnam aims to follow Italy’s footsteps in working towards progress that is centered on sustainability.
Strengthening ties
Beyond showcasing the best of Italy’s architectural wonders and trailblazing design concepts to Vietnam, the Italian Design Day is also a grand platform that opens opportunities for two-way trade and sustainable collaborations on design and production.
The intertrade between Italy and Vietnam continues to increase, reaching Euros 5.6 billion in 2021, despite the Covid19 pandemics, with a growth rate of 21% compared to the previous year. Italy’s top 10 exports in recent years include technologies, materials for textiles, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. But while it’s not so evident in business reports and export data, design and architecture are Italy’s greatest exports to Vietnam, and the world in general.
IDD effectively brings all relevant industry players together, where they can connect and start profound conversations about what makes Italy and Vietnam different from each other, and how these differences can actually give these two nations a common ground for cooperation.
