After studying architecture at NTUA (1969–74), she pursued advanced degrees in urban design (MA, UCLA, 1975–77) and urban geography (PhD, University of London, 1985–90). From 1982 to 2019, she served as a faculty member in NTUA's Department of Urban and Regional Planning, teaching urban analysis, planning, and gendered approaches to urban space.

Vaiou has been a pivotal figure in NTUA's postgraduate program in Urban and Regional Planning, where she coordinated courses from 1998 to 2003 and 2007 to 2012. She has supervised numerous research projects and theses, influencing urban planning education in Greece.

Her research spans feminist critiques of urban analysis, exploring public/private divisions and gendered uses of urban space. She has also investigated informal labor markets, gendered labor divisions, and the effects of European integration on Southern European women. Furthermore, her work examines urban transformations driven by migrant settlements in Greek and Southern European cities.

Dina Vaiou's contributions include extensive publications, memberships in scientific associations, and editorial roles in prominent journals such as European Planning Studies, Gender, Place and Culture, and Antipode. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges geography, urban planning, and gender studies, making her a respected voice in her field.