Study tour – Studying and sketching the history and culture of Saigon

STUDY TOUR – STUDYING AND SKETCHING THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF SAIGON

On May 4, 2025, Ho Chi Minh City is honored to welcome a group of Urban Studies students from the University of Quebec at Montreal (UQAM), Canada, as part of a one-day field research “study tour” led by Master Planner Alexandre Labelle – Lecturer at the School of Urban and Tourism Studies.

Time: May 4, 2025 | 7:30 AM – 6:30 PM

With the participation of:

Content Manager:
Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nguyen Hanh Nguyen_ Head of the founding advisory board: Landscape Architecture Creative Art Institute LAAi

Supervising Lecturer:
Master Planner Alexandre Labelle

Local Guide:
Architect Vũ Đức Chiến – Founder of Urban Sketchers Vietnam with Urban Sketchers Vietnam members and friends who love urban and heritage sketching

Tour Guide:
Viet Lotus
Urban Studies students – Quebec Monteal- Canada University (UQAM)

The trip is designed as a journey of urban exploration through the lenses of history, culture, and architecture in Saigon – Ho Chi Minh City.

The two focal areas selected are Chợ Lớn and the center of District 1 (Paris Commune Square ) – urban spaces that vividly reflect the East–West, old–new, traditional–modern intersections.

Here, the students will be guided by architect Vũ Đức Chiến – founder of Urban Sketchers Vietnam – to observe, discuss, and practice urban sketching as a creative and dynamic method of spatial research.

Surveyed locations include:

Binh Tay Market
Thien Hau Temple
Cha Tam Church
Saigon Opera House
HCMC People’s Committee Building

At the conclusion of the STUDY TOUR, selected authors of outstanding urban sketches will reunite with the Canadian delegation at an exhibition of their works held at 28 Thao Dien. Here, they will have the opportunity to visit and meet with architect Olivier – founder of DE-SO – to hear his insights on architecture, some of his landscape architecture projects in Ho Chi Minh City, and his perspectives on urban landscape design in Vietnam. During this visit, students will also meet Mr. Nguyen Manh Binh San, who will share his thoughts on green architecture and sustainable approaches in architectural practice.