With Unchecked Destruction, Saigon's Heritage Shophouse Architecture Is in Danger
The colonial shophouse, one of Saigon’s most iconic forms of architecture, is in imminent danger of extinction.
Keeping Cool in Thủ Đức With This Humble Abode’s Well-Ventilated Design
Thick multi-layer brick walls, shaded areas, water features, and natural ventilation allow this private home to stay cool amidst the city's stifling heat.
Modular Shading, Sliding Doors Blur the Line Between Interior, Exterior at Bà Rịa House
Located 130 kilometers from Saigon, this humble housing project in Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu is a prime example of living enough rather than living large. Even though the family owns a lot spanning a total area...
A New Reading Space in Trà Vinh Creates Comfort From Recycled Materials
“A book must be the axe for the frozen sea inside us,” according to famed Czech writer Franz Kafka.
This Terracotta Workshop Makeover Sings the Praises of Vietnam's Red Bricks
A Quảng Nam brick kiln that's been operating for over twenty years has received a makeover that allows guests to get a more intimate look at the traditional craft of making terracotta.
A New Company Headquarters Brings a Green Respite to Industrial Đồng Nai
Hammocks, koi ponds and mature trees are not typically associated with industrial parks.
Mai House Embraces Hocance Guests this Summer
Korean speakers invented the word hocance, a portmanteau of the English word hotel and the French word vacance (vacation), to describe staying in a hotel near one’s home in order to relax and pamper o...
In Hanoi, a Family Home Balances Commercial Hustle With Spiritual Haven
If many Vietnamese families often opt to reserve one room in their house plan for ancestor worship, this household in Hanoi decided to dedicate an entire backyard to their family altar.
Hẻm Gems: In Đà Nẵng, Góc Nhà Tụi Mình Is Where Tea Time Feels Like Home
As a Đà Nẵng native, I often get asked where and what to eat and drink by friends who are in town. The tried-and-true list of places in my mind always includes Góc Nhà Tụi Mình, which I’ve frequented ...
Ocean Vuong Brings Vietnamese Text, Original Photos to Helmut Lang Collection
Peter Do, the recently named Creative Director of the storied fashion brand Helmut Lang, enlisted writer Ocean Vuong to provide text and photos for his debut collection.
A Delta Nest in Cao Lãnh Fit for a Solitary Poet
Who says a single person can't nest?
Creativity and Quality Surprise at Mai House’s Affordable Seafood Buffet
Unripe mangosteen chicken salad has been all over Vietnamese social media during the past few weeks, though we didn’t expect to find it at an upscale hotel dinner buffet. But across from the sushi and...
Linh Phạm in Hanoi Ngõ Nooks
Ngõ Nooks: What a Tea Ceremony Taught Me About Our Lotus Tea Traditions
“The lotus is our national flower, and lotus tea is regarded as the national tea.”
Hẻm Gems: In a Saigon Hẻm Lives a House for Rare Regional Delights
One fine day a few months ago, I embarked on a search for the flavors of faraway lands across Vietnam, all of which are present in a hẻm in the middle of Saigon.
In Phú Nhuận's Communal House, a Kỳ Yên Festival Right by the Train Track
The Kỳ Yên festival is the biggest annual event held at the Phú Nhuận communal house from the 16th to the 18th of the first lunar month.
From Swampland to Heartland: The History of Bến Thành Market
From the very first discussions in 1868 regarding a new marketplace for Saigon, it was not until 1914, that Bến Thành Market became a reality. The birth of the market was like a dream come true, one t...
Amid Bảo Lộc Hills, a Wooden Cafe Floats Amongst the Clouds
In the middle of nowhere Bảo Lộc, perched on the side of an alternative national road is the wooden carapace of Nguyen Coffee, a veritable “Noah’s ark” welcoming travelers in for a short break to enjo...
Khôi Phạm in Saigon Hẻm Gems
Hẻm Gems: From a Historic D5 Shophouse, An Duyên Serves up Tasty Chợ Lớn Classics
An Duyên Chợ Lớn transcends Chợ Lớn quán stereotypes of rustic mom-and-pops with rickety amenities to provide a comfortable dining experience, made memorable thanks to aesthetically pleasing décor and...
Khôi Phạm in Literature
From Architecture to Folklore: 5 Indie Book Projects for Vietnamese Culture Buffs
In our years of writing about Vietnam, Saigoneer has had the pleasure to meet many passionate, inquisitive individuals whose creative and academic projects inspired us to appreciate the many facets of...
Amid a Resort, This Thatched Hut Houses a Zero-Waste Water-Bottling Plant
A humble production hut built with recycled bottles, local timber, thatched roof and simple granito concrete floors is used as a bottling facility for drinking water.
[Photos] Katinat Cafe's Gò Vấp Location Is an Industrial Glass Fortress
Cement, air, water, sand, and gravel: concrete is a simple material. Same for glass, that spread of super-heated quartz sand.
On a Hill in Huế, a Glass-Filled Home Welcomes Natural Light With Open Arms
Are hills simply mountains that lack ambition?
Award-Winning Open Home in Hanoi Invites Generational Connections
CH House, a multi-generational abode that fosters harmonious family connectivity amidst Hanoi's discordant din, recently won the Dedalo Minosse International Prize for clients commissioning a house in...
Biên Hòa Cafe Embraces Industrial Design for a Transient Existence
If your dwelling is temporary, how much care do you pay to your surroundings?
In Sơn La, Nà Khoang School Serves Both Students and the Local Thái Community
It's a flower's imperfections that make it beautiful.
In Huế, a Glass Cottage to Spend the Rest of Your Life With Your Beloved
If somehow your relationship manages to survive illnesses, conflicts, and external temptations to endure until both of you are in your sunset years, how would you spend the rest of your life?
Hanoi Unveils Design for New Floating Opera House Near West Lake
Hanoi is planning to build a 13,000 square-meter floating theater near West Lake with a capacity of around 3,500 seats.
[Photos] A House in Sơn La Cocoons Its Residents Around a Quiet Courtyard
In many up-and-coming urban areas in Vietnam, empty plots of land are sectioned off and sold as narrow puzzle pieces that will eventually become towering tube houses facing the chaos of arterial stree...
In Đà Lạt, Greenhouses Revolutionize Farming, but at What Environmental Cost?
Plastic greenhouses in the city of Đà Lạt may protect farmers from the impacts of erratic weather, but the environmental toll of agri-plastics is building in the agriculture-dependent region.
[Photos] This Buôn Ma Thuột House Is a Cottagecore Dreamland
In recent years, the Central Highlands has slowly become one of the most sought-after regions in Vietnam for young people to travel and live in.
VTN Architects Win Asia's Most Influential Designer Award
Võ Trọng Nghĩa, founder of the prolific namesake architecture firm, VTN Architects, has racked up several awards this year, including the Asia's Most Influential Designer Award at the 2021 Designer of...
[Photos] T3 Architects Turned a Modernist Villa Into a Celebration of Chocolate
Looks like we'll be working remote today.
[Photos] A House in Đồng Nai Designed for the Warmth of Tết Gatherings
Family gatherings might be a touchy subject for many of us who don’t connect well with some family members, but if one was to design a house with cordial meals and warm banquets in mind, what would it...
Photography Exhibition Spotlights the Beauty and Perils of Vietnam's Mangrove Forests
Transcending the boundaries of a conventional art exhibition, “Midnight in the Mangroves - Đêm Trong Rừng Ngập Mặn” tackles the beauty and important environmental role of mangrove forests via the lang...
Linh Pham in Parks & Rec
House Dance Hanoi Teaches You How to Free the Body
I stood on the top floor of a building on Khâm Thiên Street, feeling grateful for the cold air. I came out here to take a break from the other side of the floor, which was divided into three rooms — t...
[Photos] A Peaceful House by the Lake in Cổ Đông, Hanoi
This family home outside Hanoi proves that it is possible to build inside nature without destroying it in the process.
[Photos] A Non-Traditional Residence Inspired by Traditional Village Homes
With dedicated spaces for yoga and various exercises, the Red Cave's color and structure stand out amid the tube houses and international-style mansions in Saigon.
Vĩnh Long's Rich Architectural Heritage Tells Stories of Taste, Time, and Turbulence
Vĩnh Long is a land of rich historical values located in the Mekong Delta. Here, generations of residents from diverse cultural backgrounds have been living, working, and interacting across key milest...
[Photos] This Bình Dương House Harks Back to a Simpler Tree-Filled Time
If only we could all have a garden around our house.
[Photos] At Hanoi's Astronomy Park, an Earth-Bound Journey to the Stars
Vietnam's major cities are infamously short on green space, so any new park is noteworthy — particularly when they are as uniquely designed as the Astronomy Park in Hanoi's western suburbs.
[Photos] A Vegetarian Restaurant in Hanoi Conceived Like an Art Space
Has an art exhibition ever made you hungry?
[Photos] This Petite Abode Brings Adaptability and Comfort to the Forefront
Big, spacious homes certainly have their appeal, but sometimes all you need is a cozy little abode.
[Photos] Đen Đá's Phù Đổng Outlet Sets Itself Apart in a Busy Roundabout
If one is looking for upside in the proliferation of cafe chains across Saigon, we would argue that the more locations there are, the more chances there are for architects to get more creative than yo...
Local Architecture Projects Win Awards at 2021 Architecture MasterPrize
The winning designs include family homes, a health center, office buildings, and hotels built across Vietnam.
[Photos] VTN's Stunning Bamboo Restaurant on the Edge of Cúc Phương National Park
Floating on emerald water amid lush foliage-covered hilltops, the structure could pass for the setting of a fantasy novel.
[Photos] The Little Son La House at the Base of the Hill
If children like your house design, you must be doing something right.
[Photo] An Open-Air Cafe in Hoi An to Catch the Morning Sunlight
"I have nature and art and poetry, and if that is not enough, what is enough?” said renowned artist Vincent Willem van Gogh. Perhaps coffee should have been added to the list.
[Photos] D2's Okkio Cafe Is an Architectural Homage to Wong Kar-Wai
Today's architecture feature will be familiar to frequent visitors of Thao Dien.
Michael Tatarski in Loạt Soạt
A Wildly Original Intermingling of Tales From Vietnam, Past and Present
In the Saigoneer office — which I haven't actually seen in person for months — a common concern is the prevalence of the war in literature about Vietnam. Even among younger writers, particul...
[Photos] Renovation Project Brings Comfy Classrooms to Remote Son La School
It's hard to nourish the mind when the body is suffering.
[Photos] An Open-Plan Abode That Harks Back to Traditional Homes
With seasonal floodwaters no longer reaching the neighborhood, when it came time to rebuild this home, architects opted to abandon the stilts previously used in the area while seeking to retain a trad...
[Photos] In Quang Ninh, a Dilapidated Park Receives New Lease on Life
The 1990s Quang Ninh Park was nearly abandoned in need of a revamp to attract local exercisers and loafers alike.
2 Vietnamese Projects Win Jury Prize at Architecture Awards by Architizer
A number of architecture projects in Vietnam have made the list of finalists or even won prizes at the A+Awards organized by Architizer.
Linh Pham in Tech
Wonder How Much Air-Con Costs You This Summer? A Homegrown App Can Help.
Vietnam is facing a serious electricity shortage, yet we have no idea how much energy we use everyday.
[Photos] A 'Tropical Chalet' in Da Nang for Post-Pandemic Travel Dreams
What comes to mind when you see the word "chalet"?
Vietnamese Architects Are Leaders in the Architecture of the Information Age
Over the past few years, Vietnamese architects have been developing a new architecture beyond modernism for small projects such as houses and schools. Architects around the world are taking notice and...
[Photos] A Phu Tho Home Embraces Traditions and Contemporary Design
Oh, to live amongst exposed brick and polished wood.
[Photos] Hanoi Architects Grow Creative Ecosystem Inside Slender Tube House
Completed last year, the VUUV building takes the tube house structure and turns it into a multi-purpose complex filled with dynamic hangouts and creative platforms.
[Photos] Hanoian Kindergarten Adds a Funky, Sunny Twist to Its Asymmetrical Design
Faced with the restrictions of rigid urban planning rules, school building projects in central areas of cities often have limited control of their land usage and surroundings.
The Aesthetic Yet Functional Role of Shade in the Genome of Vietnam's Modernist Architecture
Since the mid-twentieth century, Vietnamese architecture has started to be made from industrial materials such as concrete, steel, glass, et.. This resulted in Vietnamese modernism, a branch of global...
[Photos] Old Couple Finds Refuge in Lush Quang Ninh Abode
A house in Vietnam's coal country brings open air and greenery to an industrial landscape.
[Photos] The Thu Duc Pavilion Resembling a Giant Arts and Crafts Project
Remember making arts and crafts projects using wooden popsicle sticks?
[Photos] New House in Bat Trang Village Pays Homage to Its Pottery Traditions
The unique house in suburban Hanoi showcases a new way that buildings could lionize the raw beauty of bricks.
[Photos] New House in Bat Trang Village Pays Homage to Its Pottery Traditions (2)
The unique house in suburban Hanoi showcases a new way that buildings could lionize the raw beauty of bricks.
[Photos] A Rustic Hue House as Charming as Grandma's Cottage
Who doesn't want a getaway home nestled in a garden?
[Photos] Colorful New Coffee Shop Brings Cargotecture to Can Tho
Do you sometimes find vintage coffee shops too cluttered and just want to experience something different?
[Photos] Da Nang Architects Turn Old 1970s House Into New Coffee Shop
If only more new building projects in Vietnam could take a moment to consider which old elements can be improved, instead of going straight for the wrecking ball.
The Beauty of Saigon's Mid-Century Shophouses via Street Sketches
What was Vietnamese architecture after colonialism?
[Photos] Saigon Architects Turn Old French Villa Into Judo Dojo
A team of local architects has transformed a French building into a practice hall for martial arts.
[Photos] When Bricks Not Only Form a House's Structure but Also Unique Texture
Gardens and bricks allow Bien Hoa's Wall House to fill its lungs. It is essential we have some in our homes. But not all air is equal.
[Photos] Floating Nest Home Re-Imagines the Traditional Vietnamese Tube House
Tube houses have long been a consistent presence in Saigon’s urban fabric - their rectangular designs matching the city’s traditionally narrow lots.
2 Buildings in Vietnam Win Dezeen's Urban, Rural House of the Year
A Quang Ngai home with a garden-rich roof and an eco-conscious Da Nang dwelling both snagged 2020 Deezen Awards.
[Photos] Vinh House Brings a Slice of the Countryside to Its Urban Neighborhood
Instead of a typical tube house, architects turned this lot in urban Vinh into a rustic home reminiscent of the countryside.
Saigon Student Culture Center Wins World Architecture Award
The five-story building, which includes a cinema, a 900-seat auditorium, large conference rooms, space for club activities, libraries and free areas, was praised for its eco-friendly design.
[Photos] On Phu Quoc Island, Jungle-Tucked Bungalows Bring People Closer to Nature
Concrete jungle < actual jungle.
Vietnam Debut of 'Les Misérables' to be Staged Next Month in Hanoi
The play with a title that currently describes the general mood of humanity is heading to the Hanoi Opera House.
