DAV Co-organizes the First HPAIR Asia Conference held in Viet Nam

On the morning of 20 August 2026 in Ha Noi, the Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam (DAV), in collaboration with the Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations (HPAIR) and VinUniversity, organized the Opening Session and key academic activities of the HPAIR Asia Conference 2026. This marks the first time the Conference has been held in Viet Nam.

An International Dialogue Forum for the Next Generation of Leaders

Taking place from 19 to 23 August 2026 under the theme “Rising with Resolve”, the HPAIR Asia Conference 2026 brought together more than 300 delegates, including scholars, experts, policymakers, business leaders and students from countries across the Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the Americas, including Viet Nam, India, the Republic of Korea, Indonesia, the United States, Germany, Argentina and Colombia.

Founded in 1991, HPAIR is a student-run organization at Harvard University operating on a non-profit basis, with the aim of promoting dialogue, connections and cooperation among young leaders, scholars, experts and policymakers interested in issues concerning Asia. The HPAIR Asia Conference is held annually in different cities across the region.

This year, following three competitive rounds of selection, Ha Noi was chosen to host the HPAIR Conference 2026. The first-ever organization of the Conference in Viet Nam provided an opportunity for international delegates to gain a deeper understanding of a peaceful, dynamic, innovative, and culturally rich Viet Nam that is proactively integrating into the international community. It also created a platform for Vietnamese and international young people to exchange views on issues shaping the future of the region and the world.

The Conference agenda focused on six thematic areas: International Relations and Geopolitics; Public Policy and Governance; Global Economy and Business; Innovation, Science and Technology; Sustainable Development and the Environment; and Media and Culture.

In addition to keynote sessions and thematic discussions, the Conference featured policy simulations, academic networking activities, and Impact Challenges.

Opening Session and Flagship Roundtable on the Future of the Global Order

The programme on the morning of 20 August at VinUniversity was attended by Dr. Nguyen Hung Son, President of the Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam; Dr. Le Mai Lan, Vice Chairwoman of Vingroup and President of VinUniversity; Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and former Ambassador of Viet Nam to the United States; Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and former Permanent Representative of Viet Nam to the United Nations; as well as speakers, guests, and a large number of Vietnamese and international delegates.

In their opening remarks, Dr. Le Mai Lan and Dr. Nguyen Hung Son warmly welcomed the speakers and international delegates to Ha Noi and to the HPAIR Asia Conference 2026.

The President of the Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam highlighted the importance of creating an open space for dialogue where young people from different countries, cultures and professional backgrounds can exchange ideas, expand connections, and seek innovative solutions to profound changes taking place in the region and the world.

The organization of the Conference in Ha Noi not only reflects growing international interest in Viet Nam’s role and development prospects, but also contributes to promoting Viet Nam’s image as an active and responsible member of the international community, ready to contribute to discussions on the future of Asia.

A highlight of the programme on 20 August was the Flagship Roundtable entitled “Multilateralism and the Future of the Global Order”, featuring Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh and Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga.

During the Roundtable, the speakers discussed changes in the international environment, opportunities and challenges facing multilateralism, and prospects for the global order amid strategic competition and increasingly intertwined traditional and non-traditional security challenges.

Drawing on their practical experience in bilateral and multilateral diplomacy, the two Ambassadors shared their perspectives on the role of dialogue, international cooperation, and multilateral institutions in addressing common challenges. The discussion also brought Viet Nam’s experiences and approaches closer to the international community of students, scholars, and young leaders.

DAV President Discusses Major Power Relations and Responses in Southeast Asia

Also on the morning of 20 August, Dr. Nguyen Hung Son delivered a lecture and engaged in an interactive discussion with delegates on “Major Powers Relations and Responses in Southeast Asia”.

The lecture examined major milestones in ASEAN’s history, relations among major powers, and how countries in the region have adapted to changes in the international environment, protected their national interests, maintained strategic autonomy, and promoted regional cooperation.

Through an interactive format, the session attracted strong interest and active participation from delegates. Questions and comments focused on Southeast Asia’s position in a changing international landscape, the role of ASEAN, and how middle and smaller powers, both within and beyond the region, respond to the multifaceted impacts of major power relations.

The President’s direct engagement in an in-depth academic session helped showcase DAV’s strengths in research, education, and policy advice in the fields of international relations, foreign policy, major power relations and regional affairs.

DAV Students Actively Contribute to the Organization and Activities of the Conference

The Conference was organized through cooperation between the Harvard Organizing Committee (HOC), comprising approximately 30 Harvard University students, and the Home City Organizing Committee (HCOC), comprising 30 students from universities in Viet Nam.

Eight DAV students joined the HCOC and were directly involved in academic content, speaker liaison, event coordination, protocol, and delegate support. Their participation from the preparation stage through to the actual organization of the Conference provided an opportunity to apply their academic knowledge, strengthen teamwork skills, develop international event coordination skills and gain experience in handling situations in a multinational environment.

In addition to the students directly involved in the Organizing Committee, more than 60 DAV students were selected to attend discussion sessions and other activities within the Conference programme.

The participation of DAV students in both organizational and academic activities demonstrates the value of connecting education with practical experience. It also provided students with opportunities to develop critical thinking, intercultural communication, and international engagement skills, while expanding their networks with young people from different countries and regions.

DAV’s co-organization of the HPAIR Asia Conference 2026 represents a concrete step in advancing the Academy’s internationalization efforts and expanding its global academic and policy networks. It also further strengthens DAV’s role in education, research, and academic exchange in the fields of international relations and foreign policy.

The HPAIR Asia Conference 2026 continues through 23 August 2026, featuring in-depth discussions, cultural exchange activities, policy debates and the various rounds of the Impact Challenge.