Symposium on advances in offshore engineering opens in Hanoi
Scientists, businesspeople and policy makers from more than 20 countries are gathering in Hanoi for the Vietnam Symposium on Advances in Offshore Engineering (VSOE 2018).
The White Lion oilfield off the coast of Ba Ria-Vung Tau province (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Scientists,businesspeople and policymakers from more than 20 countries are gathering inHanoi for the Vietnam Symposium on Advances in Offshore Engineering (VSOE 2018).
The VSOE 2018, themed Energy andGeotechnics, is designed as a platform for researchers, policy makers andentrepreneurs to discuss and promote technology and policy changes towardrenewable energy as well as generate business opportunities in oil and gas andoffshore renewable energy.
Addressing the event, Ministerof Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha said Vietnam has just adopteda strategy on sustainable development of maritime economy to 2030 and a visionto 2045, which envisions the restructuring of the maritime economic sector withthe top target being developing towards tourism in connection with conservationand development of the natural ecology.
As part of the target, renewableenergy is a factor of decisive significance to Vietnam’s sustainabledevelopment, Ha said, noting that many countries in the world have been successfulin using advances in science and technologies to develop renewable energy.
The minister went on to say thathowever, fossil energy is still widely used, generating large volume ofemissions. Therefore, seeking ways to ensure a balanced and sustainabledevelopment for the world is the shared responsibility of all, he said.
The VSOE is an initiative of theAssociation of Vietnamese Scientists and Experts (AVSE Global), which will beheld every two years in collaboration with universities and research bodies inVietnam.
This year’s event, hosted by theNational University of Civil Engineering, seeks to gather knowledge andexperienced gained recently in offshore engineering and technology innovations,cost-effective and safer foundation and structural solutions, environmentalprotection, and risk management in the related fields.
The oil and gas sector needs to adjust its production and business strategy so that it could compete with foreign rivals locally and internationally, said participants at a seminar in Hanoi on September 26.
The Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) plans to reduce its ownership of PetroVietnam Gas Joint Stock Company (PV Gas) from the current 97 percent to 65 percent.
The PetroVietnam Exploration Production Corporation (PVEP) has surpassed its oil and gas exploration and financial targets for the first half of this year.
Since the Vietnamese Government and Italian contractor AGIP signed the first production sharing contract in 1978, foreign direct investment (FDI) in the oil and gas sector has not only brought large revenue to the country but also laid important foundations for the sector to develop strongly.
The Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PVN) returned to the first place in the Profit500 Ranking, a survey on the 500 most profitable companies in Vietnam in 2018.
Three Vietnamese engineers have won Gold Award at The Global AI Challenge for Building E&M Facilities 2025, held in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (China).
With the government's strong direction and active participation from businesses and citizens, national digital transformation is deepening, with a focus on building a digital government, economy, and society.
VietNEST (Vietnamese Nurturing Education for Science & Traditions) is a mobile app and digital platform for Vietnamese language learning among overseas children.
The networks bring together universities, research institutes and domestic and foreign businesses. Members will work closely in training, research, and technology transfer by sharing curricula, improving faculty capacity, providing access to laboratories and research facilities, and jointly implementing science and technology projects.
The Better Choice Awards (BCA) 2025 is a key highlight in the lead-up to Vietnam Innovation Day that falls on October 1, an annual event expected to attract hundreds of innovative enterprises, research institutions, investment funds, and startups from both Vietnam and abroad.
The new line serves as a critical backup route, strategically complementing existing submarine cables and enhancing the resilience, proactivity, and security of Vietnam’s telecommunications infrastructure.
Vietnam is actively yet cautiously preparing for the construction of its first nuclear power plant in Ninh Thuan (now the south-central coastal province of Khanh Hoa). The resumption of the programme after years of suspension carries considerable significance for the nation’s development in a new era as it strives to gradually reduce and ultimately phase out coal-fired power to realise the Government’s commitment to Net Zero by 2050.
The government leader reaffirmed Vietnam’s goal of achieving self-reliance in the design, manufacturing, and test of necessary semiconductor chips by no later than 2027.
With the launching of its two-tier local administration model, the city is incorporating technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain to enhance service delivery for citizens and businesses, aligning with the Politburo’s Resolution 57-NQ/TW on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation.
Vietnam has issued many key policies to support semiconductor development, notably the Politburo’s Resolution 57 on science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation. Other initiatives include the Semiconductor Industry Development Strategy to 2030, with a vision to 2050, and the Human Resources Development Programme for the Semiconductor Industry.
Vietnam is no longer just an emerging blockchain market, it is stepping into a leadership role, with global investors, developers, and experts recognising its growing potential to become a leading hub for digital assets in the region.
Taking place on August 1–2, the event features more than 20,000 attendees and over 200 speakers from Vietnam, the h Korea, Singapore, the UAE, Hong Kong (China) and the US.
Dung directed the Ministry of Science and Technology to revise the national startup scheme, ensuring it clearly defines the scope and content, grounded on strong political and legal foundations, international best practices, and well-reasoned arguments for submission to the Government.
The two-day academic forum, themed “Resilience, Sustainability & Digital Transformation in a Changing World: Perspectives from Southeast Asia”, aims to share interdisciplinary research insights, focusing on adaptive capacity, sustainable development, and digital transformation amid evolving global and regional landscapes.
With such a rapid economic growth, Vietnam must diversify energy sources and nuclear power is a rational choice to ensure the national energy security, said Associate Professor Kei Koga from the Nanyang Technological University (Singapore).
Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung emphasised that Vietnam has a clear strategy and ambition in this field, and is rapidly emerging as a central hub and key link in the regional and global semiconductor value chains.
According to Cushman & Wakefield’s latest Asia-Pacific Data Centre Investment Landscape report, Vietnam now ranks second in the region for data centre investment returns, with a yield on cost (YoC) of 17.5–18.8%, just behind Singapore’s 21–23%.
Vietnam is taking drastic yet cautious steps in building a culture of nuclear safety and security, with the aim of having its first nuclear power plant operational by the end of 2030 and using this specific energy source effectively and sustainably.
Vietnam’s 5G strategy has been clearly outlined in national digital technology and infrastructure policies. A wide range of solutions is being vigorously implemented to achieve the target of an average internet speed of 100 Mbps by 2025 and full nationwide 5G coverage by 2030.
The White Lion oilfield off the coast of Ba Ria-Vung Tau province
