State management of construction is currently facing many challenges. Photo kinhtedothi.vn

HÀ NỘI – The demand for technical infrastructure and social infrastructure construction projects has significantly increased with the rapid urbanisation process.

Each year, the total investment in construction accounts for approximately 30 per cent of GDP.

Overall, the quality of construction projects has continued to improve.

Completed projects have effectively contributed to the nation’s transformation and serve as  proud achievements of the country’s renewal process. However, there are still many poor-quality projects that fail to meet acceptable standards or experience failures during construction or shortly after being put into operation, causing severe human and material losses.

The quality of construction projects is directly related to national economic development and public well-being, influencing the country’s rapid, stable and sustainable economic growth, as well as ensuring safety for both people and property.

Given the laws of a market economy, ensuring construction quality, public safety and sustainable development requires strong supervision and management of investment in construction projects.

According to urban planning expert and architect Trần Tuấn Anh, the construction sector currently has great development potential.

Rapid urbanisation increases demand for housing and infrastructure including residential buildings, commercial centres, transportation systems, industrial zones, tourist areas and satellite urban areas.

Additionally, there is a growing need to renovate and upgrade existing infrastructure while the trend towards green and sustainable construction presents opportunities for the sector to adopt and develop new, environmentally friendly technologies.

However, the construction industry also faces many challenges, including an economic downturn that affects growth and causes a shortage of skilled workers for construction and management, resulting in poor project quality.

Licensing and urban planning processes still suffer from many shortcomings. Regulations are inconsistent and cumbersome, causing delays and increasing investment costs. Moreover, infrastructure capacity struggles to keep up with economic and social development, posing further challenges for the industry.

"The most critical issue right now is the need to improve the legal framework to maximise the construction sector’s potential and its contributions to economic and social development,” Anh said.

“The Government must invest in research and technology to enhance construction project execution and management,” he added.

“Additionally, workforce training for high-quality personnel should be prioritised to improve work efficiency, project quality and State management. Stricter penalties must also be enforced to prevent violations in the construction sector, applying to individuals, organisations and public officials."

Flexible solutions

Many countries worldwide have developed strict construction management systems, which play a crucial role in ensuring project quality and preventing violations.

For example, China has implemented a quality management system for construction projects since the 1980s.

The Chinese government has established design and construction standards, certification requirements for construction firms and mandatory compliance with regulations.

Buildings can only be used after completing the required inspection and approval processes, and supervisors are not allowed to hold positions in government agencies.

Similarly, in Singapore, construction projects must meet planning, safety, fire prevention, transportation and environmental requirements before receiving approval from the construction authority. Independent supervisors oversee projects without affiliation to any government or private entity, working based on their reputation and expertise.

In Japan, the construction sector is regulated by a comprehensive legal framework with numerous interrelated laws, such as the Public Works Tender and Contract Law, the Public Finance Law and the Public Works Quality Assurance Law. Regional Development Bureaus set technical standards for inspections, while government officials conduct project supervision directly.

According to Ninh Viết Định, an arbitrator at the Việt Nam International Arbitration Centre (VIAC), despite recent improvements in State management of construction investment, many issues remain.

Inefficiencies and mismanagement lead to waste of budget resources. Various legal documents overlap or contradict each other, while bureaucratic procedures are inconsistent and lack systematic guidance, Định said.

The national construction database is also fragmented and lacks scientific organisation.

Construction investment is a crucial driver of economic and social development. Effective State management in this sector is essential to optimise resource allocation, minimise execution time, stimulate economic activity, reduce unemployment and improve public welfare.

The Government must therefore strengthen the role of stakeholders in construction investment, ensuring transparency, fairness and compliance with legal regulations, he said.

Adapting to international practices

Nguyễn Thế Điệp, president of the Hà Nội Real Estate Club, said: "Việt Nam is undergoing deep integration with the international community. Compliance with international practices is essential in this context. Learning from international experiences and adopting relevant management models is necessary.”

“However, the localisation of foreign management models and documents remains inadequate. Thus, we need greater flexibility in applying international solutions and experiences in construction management,” he said.

As for solutions to address construction violations, Anh suggested the Government further decentralise and delegate responsibilities to local authorities down to the commune level (similar to Hà Nội’s Urban Construction Order Management Team model). Simultaneously, legal regulations on administrative penalties for construction violations should be improved.

"The Government must refine and clarify construction standards and regulations, eliminate overlapping and contradictory regulations, and enhance public awareness of construction-related laws,” Anh said.

Furthermore, there should be closer coordination among law enforcement agencies in managing the construction sector. Most importantly, stronger measures need to be taken to eliminate corruption and bureaucratic inefficiencies that lead to legal violations, he added. VNS