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Building a Brighter Future: Energy Efficiency and Simulation in Vietnam

Article07.07.20255 min readAI-assisted summary
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AI-assisted summaryThis article is an AI-assisted summary of the public sources listed at the end. It is not original research by IBPSA Vietnam.

Vietnam's economic growth brings increasing demands on its energy infrastructure, particularly within the building sector. As construction continues across the country's diverse climate zones - from the subtropical north to the tropical south - the need for energy-efficient and sustainable buildings is growing. Meeting this challenge requires not only implementing the national technical regulation on energy-efficient buildings (QCVN 09:2017/BXD, to be replaced by QCVN 04-3:2026/BXD from 01/02/2027) but also exploring more advanced technologies and design strategies1. This is where building performance simulation plays a crucial role.

The Power of Simulation for Vietnamese Climates

Building performance simulation software, such as EnergyPlus, allows designers and engineers to predict how a building will perform energetically before it is built2. This is particularly valuable in Vietnam, where climatic conditions differ markedly between the north, centre and south of the country.

By modelling a building with local weather data, simulation can assess the impact of different combinations of energy-saving technologies and design features, and rank them by their energy-saving potential2. A 2022 study using EnergyPlus with Python for Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City reported that its optimised combination of measures reduced energy use by around 55% compared with a baseline building designed to QCVN 09:2017/BXD3.

Addressing Cooling Loads in Hot and Humid Climates

In hot and humid climates like Vietnam's, cooling is a major part of building energy use, and rising temperatures linked to climate change add to that demand2. Simulation is a practical tool for optimising building design to reduce cooling loads. By evaluating the energy performance of different building elements - such as walls, windows, roofs and shading - it helps prioritise technologies based on their potential to reduce cooling needs2.

A 2025 study by Korean and Vietnamese researchers illustrates this approach. It used EnergyPlus to evaluate and prioritise cooling-load element technologies suited to subtropical conditions, combined them into an integrated "Cooling Load Package System", and then built an outdoor demonstration site in northern Vietnam to check the real-world energy-saving effect2. Validating simulation results at real sites in Vietnam helps bridge the gap between theoretical potential and practical effectiveness.

Strengthening the Framework and Moving Towards Net-Zero

Vietnam has established a governance framework, including government decrees and technical standards such as QCVN 09:2017/BXD, to guide energy-efficient construction1. Collaborative work has designed and partly set up a laboratory for building physics measurement at the Vietnam Institute for Building Materials (VIBM), providing the material characteristics needed to apply energy standards and to run advanced simulations such as transient hygrothermal analysis1. These efforts support the technical application of energy standards and the development of testing, evaluation and rating of building materials1.

Beyond current efficiency standards, the conversation is also moving towards net-zero carbon buildings. The International Energy Agency's Roadmap for Energy-Efficient Buildings and Construction in ASEAN, of which Vietnam is a member state, sets out actions towards net zero-carbon buildings4. The IEA describes a "zero-carbon-ready building" as one that is highly energy efficient and uses either renewable energy directly or an energy supply that will be fully decarbonised.

Practical Recommendations for the Vietnamese Building Industry

For professionals and stakeholders in Vietnam, building performance simulation is a practical step towards more energy-efficient and sustainable construction:

  1. Integrate Simulation Early: Use tools like EnergyPlus from the initial design stages to evaluate envelope options, shading strategies and system choices tailored to the climate of the project location (North, Central or South)2.
  2. Focus on Reducing Cooling Loads: Prioritise strategies that minimise heat gain through the building envelope and make use of natural ventilation, which simulation can model and quantify2.
  3. Go Beyond Minimum Standards: While compliance with the national energy-efficiency regulation is essential, simulation allows designers to explore performance levels beyond the minimum requirements.
  4. Consider Advanced Materials: Evaluate the energy-saving potential of advanced building materials and systems using simulation, supported by physical testing where possible through facilities like the VIBM laboratory1.
  5. Plan for Renewable Integration: As Vietnam moves towards net-zero goals, use simulation to understand how on-site renewable energy such as solar PV can offset building energy consumption4.
  6. Engage with Industry and Policy: Stay informed about regional initiatives like the ASEAN buildings roadmap and national emission-reduction policy4.

Conclusion

Building performance simulation is a practical tool for developing energy-efficient and sustainable buildings in Vietnam's climate. By modelling energy use and validating results locally, simulation helps identify and optimise strategies that save energy and reduce environmental impact. Combined with a strengthening technical and policy framework, it supports Vietnam's path towards net-zero carbon construction.

  1. Le, T. S., Zegowitz, A., Le, C. C., Künzel, H., Schwede, D., Luu, T. H., Le, T. T., Nguyen, T. T. (2023). The Development of Energy-Efficient and Sustainable Buildings: A Case Study in Vietnam. Sustainability, 15(22), 15921. https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/22/15921 ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  2. Yun, T. G., Lee, S.-J., Kang, S.-P., Park, B. Y., Hoang, M. D., Nguyen, D. L. (2025). A Study on the Optimized Design for Responding to Climate Change Through Demonstration of Building Energy Cooling Load Element Technology. Energies, 18(13), 3314. https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/13/3314 ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  3. Yun, T. G., Shin, J. Y., Kang, S.-P. (2022). Analysis of Building Energy Reduction by Building Energy Package Regarding Vietnam Environmental Condition and Economic. Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society, 42(5), 63. https://doi.org/10.7836/kses.2022.42.5.063 ↩︎

  4. International Energy Agency. Roadmap for Energy-Efficient Buildings and Construction in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. https://www.iea.org/reports/roadmap-for-energy-efficient-buildings-and-construction-in-the-association-of-southeast-asian-nations ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎