In May 2002, the Government of Vietnam promulgated its new National Barrier
Free Codes and Standards. The efforts to develop the Codes and Standards
began in 1999 when Vietnam concluded that barrier-free access should be
a component of all new construction in the country. As a result of this
action, Vietnam Assistance for the Handicapped (VNAH), a non-profit, non-governmental
organization, has entered into an agreement with ICC to begin the work
necessary to train Vietnam Government officials in the design and implementation
of monitoring and enforcement systems.
On February 18 through February 28, ICC representatives traveled to Hanoi,
Vietnam, to begin work implementing the enforcement system for the new
Barrier Free Law. VNAH asked ICC to:
1) Review the recently enacted Barrier Free Codes and Standards to
ensure they provide a guide for the majority of construction/reconstruction
activities in Vietnam for barrier free access for People with Disabilities
(PWDs).
2) Recommend means to ensure full implementation of the Codes and Standards.
3) Recommend means to ensure all architects, and other relevant persons,
have the training necessary to understand and employ the provision of
the Codes and Standards.
The effort to develop the new law began in October 1999, when VNAH and
the U.S. Presidents Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities
(PCEPD), with assistance from ICC, brought together Vietnamese and U.S.
engineering and architectural experts with representatives of the disabled
community to examine the status and needs of PWDs vis-à-vis barrier
free access. An ICC representative was a part of the PCEPD delegation
that participated in this Conference.
The resolutions adopted at the conclusion of the Conference focused national
attention on the needs of the disabled as well as the importance of enacting
and enforcing barrier free access codes and standards. Subsequently, VNAH,
with assistance from ICC and the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA),
supported four members of the Codes and Standards Drafting Committee for
a period of four months to study the design and implementation of barrier
free codes and standards in the United States. ICC provided trainers on
accessibility standards and codes and codes enforcement issues for the
four-member delegation. ICC also arranged for construction site visits
and visits to local building departments in the U.S. The delegation then
returned to Vietnam to conduct more research and drafting of Vietnam's
Codes and Standards.
With the Barrier Free Access Codes and Standards now in place, attention
has shifted to ensuring that all Vietnamese architects have the necessary
training to employ the provisions of the Codes and Standards, and that
an enforcement mechanism is in place to promote and nurture the full implementation
of these Codes and Standards.
The purpose of the ICC visit to Hanoi was to:
1) Meet with key Vietnamese government officials, at the National and
local levels, to identify ways and means to set up an effective enforcement
system at appropriate government offices to promote and nurture the
full implementation of the Codes and Standards.
2) Analyze Barrier Free Codes and Standards enforcement mechanism in
other developing countries to determine best practices, lessons learned
and appropriate models.
3) Review in the United States, before departing for Vietnam, the recently
enacted Codes and Standards to determine if they provided an adequate
"blueprint" to guide the majority of construction/reconstruction
efforts in Vietnam over the near team.
4) Meet with appropriate officials in the Ministry of Construction,
the Hanoi Architect University and other relevant institution to help
design the courses and curriculum to ensuring all current and future
architects in Vietnam have the necessary training to understand and
implement the new Barrier Free Access Codes and Standards.
Meeting with Ministry of Construction
Vice-Minister Architect, Nguyen Tan Van and MOC Director of Science
and Technology, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huu Dung to discuss MOC needs and
what ICC can offer to meet those needs and to discuss implementation
and enforcement of codes and standards in Vietnam. Left to right:
VNAH President Ca Van Tran, Brent Snyder ICC, Richard Kuchnicki ICC,
VNAH interpreter Diep-Thu, Jim Hanlan VNAH, unknown, Prof. Dr. Nguyen
Huu Dung, Vice-Minister Nguyen Tan Van.
On the first day of the ICC Team visit to Hanoi, Friday, February 20,
2003, they met with Architect, Nguyen Tan Van, Vice Minister of Construction,
Professor Dr. Nguyen Huu Dung, Director of Science and Technology, Ministry
of Construction (MOC) and several architects from the MOC. The purpose
of the meeting was to discuss MOC needs, what ICC can offer to meet those
needs and discuss implementation and enforcement of codes and standards.
The ICC Team, on the same day, also met with Professor Dr. Nguyen Viet
Chau, Director of the Research Institute for Architecture and others from
the Institute to discuss U.S. and international experiences with the implementation
of building codes and standards in general, and barrier-free design in
particular. Discussions at this meeting further reinforced the issues
raised by the MOC as well as the need to provide training on implementation
and enforcement of the Barrier Free Standards and Codes and code enforcement
in general. ICC was informed that the Institute is working on three Hanoi
pilot projects on barrier-free renovations: at the Hanoi Railroad Station,
the Peoples Cultural Hall and the main Post Office building. After the
meeting, the ICC Team visited the Railroad Station site and Peoples Cultural
Hall site to observe the current conditions and to see first-hand the
problems confronting PWDs using either of these facilities.
At Architectural Research Institute: Review of
plans and drawings of pilot projects for Hanoi Railroad Station and
Peoples Cultural Hall
On Monday, February 24 the ICC Team met again at the Architectural Research
Institute with Deputy Director Dr. Tran Quoc Dzung, and the researchers
and MOC officials to review and comment on the renovation plans for the
two pilot project sites visited previously. The building designs presented
were very well-planned and appeared to comply with the Vietnam Access
Codes and Standards. The method used in the design in both cases visibly
exhibited a clear understanding of how to make existing facilities comply.
Both projects appeared to take into consideration the need to continue
the use of the facility during the renovation, and a method of doing the
project in the most unobtrusive and economical manner possible. Both were
well done and as pilot projects should be considered successful.
On the same day, the ICC Team visited with officials from the Hanoi Department
of Construction and Hanoi Department of Public Works to learn about and
discuss currently used building code enforcement mechanisms. It appeared
that building code administration procedures used in Hanoi are quite similar
to the U.S., but there appeared to be some question as to how much authority
a Hanoi building inspector or plan reviewer has in insuring code compliance.
The following day, Tuesday, February 25, 2003, the ICC Team visited the
Hanoi Architectural University (HAU) and met with the HAU Rector, Prof.
Dr. Arch. Trinh Hong Doan, Assistant Rector, Prof. Dr. Arch. Nguyen Hong
Thuc, and other HAU faculty responsible for developing and implementing
curriculum on building design to comply with the Vietnam Access Codes
and Standards. A presentation was made by the HAU officials on their curriculum
development for training their student for compliance with the Barrier
Free Law and the curriculum was discussed with the ICC Team. The HAU program
has been developed for the Senior Class and will be incorporated into
the senior year programs. The format, as explained, was impressive, because
instead of the traditional focus on the "where," "when"
and "how much," this curriculum appears to address "why."
Incorporating "why" into the learning experience, in our opinion,
greatly increases the level of sensitivity needed by design professionals
in preparing projects.
The curriculum, as presented, is a very impressive multifaceted approach
for educating architects at three levels; undergraduates, seniors and
post-graduates. In reviewing the curriculum, the ICC Team found no obvious
omissions. ICC Team Member Brent Snyder stated, "The quality and
thoroughness is such that we had to re-think an initial assumption as
to where the greatest effort would have to be made. In our experience,
architects have not been involved in the development of the law or in
accessibility issues at the very beginning in such a proactive manner.
Our experience has been that architects have been placed in an almost
reactive position and have not been as supportive as we found the staff
at HAU and IAR."
In the afternoon the ICC Team gave a presentation to the HAU architectural
students on U.S. Barrier Free Access Codes and Standards.
A wrap-up discussion with Professor Dr. Nguyen Van Lien, Vice-Minister
of Construction and Professor Dung, Director of the MOC Department of
Science and Technology and other enforcement entities within MOC was held
on Wednesday, February 25, 2003, on their needs for future VNAH assistance
in implementation and enforcement of codes and standards.
Following the wrap-up session the ICC Team visited the Giang Vo Exhibition
Center to view the 25 potential designs for a new assembly house and meeting
rooms. The 25 designs were submitted by 19 foreign companies (21 total
designs) and 4 Vietnamese companies. The 25 designs are the result of
the largest architectural design contest ever held in Vietnam. The designs
were all amazing, but it appeared only a few contained any provisions
for accessibility. In promoting the new Barrier Free Access Law and for
recognizing the rights of people with disabilities, ICC will highly recommend
that such events or competitions in the future require accessibility provisions
as an important element.
Site visit to pilot project - Hanoi Railroad Station.
Site visit to pilot project, People's Cultural Hall,
Brent Snyder, Diep-Thu and MOC engineer Tran Thanh Y.
At the end of the visit and assignment to Vietnam, the ICC Team observed
that it would not have been able to accomplish what was needed without
the direct support of Mr. Ca Van Tran and his VNAH support staff members.
What also very clear was the respect that the various government agencies
and individuals had on a personal level with Mr. Tran. Because of his
assistance, an immense amount of information was gathered, meetings were
held, site visits to the pilot projects were made and ICC was able to
meet with a number of people on a one-to-one basis. The ICC Team further
concluded that it would take both an enormous amount of time and financial
resources to compare with VNAH and their accomplishments.
Through VNAH's efforts, several key areas to address the needs of PWDs
have now been completed or are very near completion. They are:
Creating an environment whereby various government agencies are supportive
of PWDs.
Creating/developing/enacting a new barrier Free Access Law.
Developing curriculum to train the Senior class of architectural students.
Developing a short program to give practicing architect the opportunity
to learn and increase their knowledge and understanding of the new Law.
Assisting local self help groups in being advocates for implementation
of the new Law.
Assisting business owners in discovering the value of employing PWDs.
There is still much to be done and it is important to expedite in the
completion of the initial effort to prevent a loss of enthusiasm and momentum.
The areas identified by ICC as possible sources for this loss of momentum
to occur are:
Developers/investors. This group may still not be aware of the new
law or that the new law applies to them and their projects. Education
should be the key component/effort used to address this group.
Builders/contractors. This group has the same characteristics and
potential problems as the developer/investor. Education should be the
key component for this group.
Building owners and the general public. Within this group may be the
most resistant people. Their resistance will be based on the belief
that the rights of PWDs do not apply to them because they are not disabled
and do not plan on catering to the disabled at their places of business.
Education may, initially, have little effect on this group.
Attempting to educate so many people in so many locations with limited
time and resources, at first, may seem to be impossible to accomplish.
ICC believes that the "Train the Trainer Program" may be the
solution. As a part of the discussions and meetings ICC suggests the program/seminar
be custom designed for the intended participants and should include:
An introduction to the new law that would be used to remove some of
the apprehension that exist when any new law is implemented.
Discussion on the scope of the new law with particular attention to
access into and egress from new projects.
Discussion on the elements, but not necessarily the details such as
specific measurements, of key elements required to be accessible.
Discussion of the benefits of using the universal design concept.
If possible, utilization of the pilot projects as examples of how
existing buildings can be made to comply.
The Train the Trainer Program could be used for all identified groups
with the anticipation that each participant would be charged with the
responsibility of returning to his or her own group and training them.
The ICC Team recommends that as quickly as possible the following tasks
take place:
Develop a checklist and get it approved at the highest possible level
of government.
Begin distributing the checklist to the largest possible audience.
If possible, have it published in the newspaper in order to get the
broadest possible dissemination.
Using the existing ICC 105: Seminar Workbook and the new Barrier Free
Access Code develop a two-day seminar (when an interpreter is used).
Conduct the Train the Trainers seminars in four cities.
Continue to assist local self help groups in monitoring new construction
projects by using the checklist to determine compliance.
Establish a broad-based, uniformly applied enforcement program that
consists of the following:
1. Designs of new facilities shall comply with the new law or they
will not be processed for project approval.
2. Local Government offices/agencies with project approval authority
shall determine if the project complies or they will not issue the
project approval.
3. Contractors/builders shall construct the project to comply
with the new code or their project progress will be halted.
4. When the project is completed, the approval agencies shall
determine that all agreed upon accessibility elements necessary
to comply with the code have been met or occupancy will not be permitted.
5. Building owners, managers and occupants shall be responsible
for maintaining the accessible features of the facility.
The ICC Team will present to VNAH a detailed report of its findings and
recommendations on next steps for VNAH's technical assistance to implement
Barrier Free Access Codes and Standards for Vietnam.
