On the afternoon of 24 September 2026, at the closing ceremony of the 9th International Conference on Estuaries and Coasts (ICEC 2026) in Qinzhou City, Guangxi, China, Thuyloi University received the hosting flag for the 10th edition of the conference. ICEC 2030 is scheduled to take place in Hanoi from 9 to 13 October 2030, bringing the conference series back to Vietnam after 18 years. On the sidelines of the conference, the University’s delegation also held working meetings with Guangxi University and the China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research (IWHR).
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dinh Nhat Quang introduces the 10th International Conference on Estuaries and Coasts (Hanoi, 9–13 October 2030) at the closing ceremony of ICEC 2026.
Hosting the ICEC Conference Series for the Second Time
Pursuant to the President’s decision on the official assignment, a delegation from Thuyloi University comprising Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dinh Nhat Quang, Deputy Head of the Department of Science, Technology and International Cooperation, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thanh Tung, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering, attended ICEC 2026 from 22 to 26 September 2026. At the closing ceremony, the ICEC 2026 Organising Committee handed over the hosting flag for the 10th conference to Thuyloi University. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dinh Nhat Quang received the flag on behalf of the University and introduced the forthcoming conference to international delegates.
This will be the second time Thuyloi University has hosted the conference series. From 8 to 11 October 2012, the University successfully organised the 4th International Conference on Estuaries and Coasts in Hanoi under the theme “Visions and Innovations – Water in a Time of Change”. The conference was chaired by Prof. Dr. Nguyen Quang Kim, then President of the University, and co-organised with IRTCES, under the auspices of the International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research (IAHR) and the International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS). It attracted approximately 200 domestic and international delegates.
Being entrusted with hosting the 10th edition reflects the international scientific community’s recognition of the University’s research and organisational capabilities in estuarine and coastal engineering.
ICEC 2026: Approximately 300 Scientists from 22 Countries
The International Conference on Estuaries and Coasts (ICEC) was launched in 2003 by the International Research and Training Center on Erosion and Sedimentation (IRTCES), which operates under the auspices of UNESCO. ICEC 2026 was co-hosted by IWHR, the People’s Government of Qinzhou City, and the Departments of Water Resources and Transport of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The conference theme was “Estuaries and Coasts in Modern Civilizations: Entering the Era of Artificial Intelligence”.
The conference brought together approximately 300 experts and scientists from 22 countries across five continents, with representatives from UNESCO and the President of IAHR in attendance, and support from the World Association for Sedimentation and Erosion Research (WASER). Presentations were organised into four thematic areas: artificial intelligence and innovation in estuarine and coastal regions; natural processes and mechanisms; ecological protection and sustainable development; and culture, economics and governance.
The conference also announced the “Qinzhou Initiative on Global Sustainable Development of Estuaries and Coasts”, jointly launched by 10 domestic and international organisations.
During the conference, the delegation attended plenary sessions, thematic sessions and professional exchanges with international scientists, including Prof. Hitoshi Tanaka of Tohoku University, Japan, who is an Distinguished Professor of Thuyloi University.
The Thuyloi University delegation with Prof. Hitoshi Tanaka (second from the left) at ICEC 2026.
Strengthening Cooperation with Guangxi University and IWHR
On the morning of 24 September 2026, the delegation met with Prof. Li Xungui, an expert in hydrology and water resources, and representatives of the School of Civil Engineering and Architecture at Guangxi University (GXU). The meeting aimed to translate into practical activities the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the two universities on 14 April 2026 at the Vietnam–China Forum on Higher Education Cooperation, Science, Technology and Innovation, held at Tsinghua University in Beijing during the state visit to China by General Secretary and State President To Lam. The two sides discussed priority areas for cooperation, including hydrological modelling, reservoir operation, the impacts of climate change on water resources, applications of artificial intelligence and faculty and student exchanges.
The working meeting between the Thuyloi University delegation, Prof. Li Xungui and representatives of Guangxi University on 24 September 2026.
That afternoon, the delegation met with the leadership of IWHR, a co-host of ICEC 2026, and IRTCES. The participants included Dr. Jiang Yunzhong, Deputy Director of IWHR, and Dr. Zhang Jianli, Deputy Director of IRTCES. The two sides discussed coordination in preparing for ICEC 2030 in accordance with the established practices of the conference series. They also explored potential areas of cooperation, including sediment research and river–estuary dynamics, numerical modelling and digital twins for water resources management, short-term training programmes and expert exchanges.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dinh Nhat Quang presents a commemorative gift to Dr. Jiang Yunzhong, Deputy Director of IWHR (second from the left).
Key Information about ICEC 2030
According to the tentative plan, ICEC 2030 will be held in Hanoi from 9 to 13 October 2030, hosted by Thuyloi University in cooperation with IRTCES, the permanent coordinating body of the conference series, and the ICEC International Steering Committee.
Theme: “Enhancing the Resilience of Coastal and Estuarine Areas: Technological Innovation and Sustainable Management in a Changing Climate”.
Conference message: “Resilient Coasts, Sustainable Futures”.
Second Announcement and Call for Abstracts: Expected to be issued in January 2030.
With more than 3,260 kilometres of coastline and two major deltas—the Red River Delta and the Mekong Delta—Vietnam is directly affected by sea-level rise, saltwater intrusion and coastal erosion. ICEC 2030 will provide an opportunity for international scientists to engage directly with these practical challenges.
“Hosting ICEC 2030 represents recognition by the international scientific community of Thuyloi University’s research and organisational capabilities. We hope this conference will be more than an academic event; it will also serve as a forum where international scientists can work alongside Vietnam to find solutions to the challenges facing estuaries and coasts amid climate change,” shared Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dinh Nhat Quang, who received the hosting flag on behalf of the University.
The working visit has contributed to enhancing the University’s international standing, expanding its network of partners in water resources, estuarine and coastal research, and initiating preparations for ICEC 2030. Further information about the conference will be published on the University’s official website.
Department of Science, Technology and International Cooperation
