The aim is to improve the links between Can Gio and other provinces such as Vung Tau. As the city of Ho Chi Minh gets bigger, more and more infrastructures are needed and the ecology of Can Gio could get damaged. A special emphasis is put on developing the links with nearby beach resort of Vung Tau. First, through a network of speedboats and later with the construction of a tunnel under the sea. While the Jury found the tunnel proposal to be highly arguable, they do acknowledge that the previous approved masterplan does not make enough provision for improving these links. Team 4 made those links a central objective.
Another axis of development displayed by the team is the diversification of tourism activities. These could include walks or boat trips through the mangrove but also farms visits, beach activities and visits to nearby provinces made easily accessible with the new links. A project of reclaiming land to create two artificial islands just off the coast at the eastern and western end was also put forward by the team. These islands would host diverse tourism activities.
These objectives will not be met unless the infrastructure is improved. A system of speed transportation needs to be implemented. It should respect the environment and limit the pollution and it will bring Can Gio closer to nearby development areas. Fresh water needs to be supplied for citizens and tourists. A water collection and recycling system should be used to make better use of a precious resource and to avoid pollution of the water. Construction of eco houses will counter-balance the development of infrastructure. All other means of transport will also be environmentally friendly.
The project aims at enhancing the quality of life of the inhabitants of Can Gio. This will be achieved by retaining the activities of farming, and along the beach and by upgrading them. Locals will be encouraged to join the services, trade and production activities in order to serve the needs of tourism. Local traditional activities will be increased so people who live in the forest or on the beach or river can share their way of life. Many public spaces and associated activities of leisure and entertainment will be created.
The south of Can Gio along the beach will be developed and will pay particular attention to maintain links from the forest to the sea. There will be 6 types of links: an agricultural production axis, a commercial axis, a festival axis, a handicraft village axis, a traditional market axis and a public space axis.
The ultimate goal of this proposal is to enhance people’s senses and emotion, thus creating an ‘emotional city’. Visitors and locals alike will be able to listen to the sound of the forest and to the sound of the beach They will enjoy spectacular views of the sea and of the forest. They will swim and touch the waves or touch the forest. They can smell the air of the sea and discover the complex fragrances of the mangrove. They can taste the local production of seafood from the river or from the sea. Their emotions will be enhanced by the history, the culture and the tradition of Can Gio.
Ho Viet Vinh – Leader Architect, Urban Planner
Pham Phu Cuong – Architect
Nguyen Hong Minh – Architect
Hoang Anh Tu – Architect, Urban Planner
Pham Anh Tuan – Architect, Urban Planner
Nguyen Anh Tuan – Architect, Landscape Architect
Team 4, being composed of Vietnamese professionals only, Leader by Architect Ho Viet Vinh, had very strong insights about the future of Can Gio. It set itself a number of objectives to be achieved through the development of Can Gio. These included the protection of the mangrove, including both the core and transition area, to make full use of the local production activities and to develop them, to protect the water from pollution from the Saigon-Dong Nai river and from the sea.
Team 4 was awarded a special mention by the Workshops of Cergy- Pontoise.
Next project | FRAGILE
Fragile
“The quiet beauty and subtle melancholy, reflecting the fragility of life and the passage of time, enhancing the sense of fragility and evoking a sense of wonder and contemplation.”
Ho Viet Vinh
(Fragile, Acrylic on canvas, 130x97cm, Maison d’Art 2024)
Maison d'Art
the fragility of life and the passage of time
The quiet beauty and subtle melancholy
Next project | MANG THIT RED CERAMIC BRICKS FESTIVAL 2024
Architect Ho Viet Vinh
(Mang Thit 16/11/2024)
Mang Thit – where brick kilns tell stories, where rivers light up Vietnam’s heritage.
A Journey of Riverside Culture and Traditional Craft
Mang Thit – more than just a name, it is the pulse of a riverside culture unique to the Mekong Delta. Inspired by the legendary Thay Cai Canal, where the nearly century-old brick and ceramic craft village flourished, the stage for the 2024 Mang Thit Brick and Ceramic Festival promises to be a creative symbol, not only preserving but also spreading the values of tradition.
1. A Floating Stage on the River – A Symbol of Harmony Between Culture and Nature
Imagine a stage designed as a living painting on water, where wooden boats adorned with shimmering lights drift gently, carrying the echoes of time and life. The main stage is not merely a place for performances but a “creative island” floating on the canal, pulsating as the heart of nature.
On the stage, the iconic imagery of traditional brick kilns will be reimagined through a blend of lighting and materials, creating a space that feels both familiar and magical. The arches of red bricks – a signature of Mang Thit – will be crafted as gateways to a journey of cultural discovery while producing dazzling reflections on the water’s surface.
2. Dynamic Living Scenes – When Riverside Life Becomes Art
Beyond being a static stage, the festival elevates its appeal with vibrant, living scenes performed directly on the river. Boats loaded with red-fired bricks, artistic ceramics, and baskets of orchard fruits will become part of the performance – telling the story of diligent, skillful locals.
The audience will not just watch but feel immersed in the flow of life during the craft village’s heyday. Cultural performances such as traditional opera, southern folk music, or ceramic dance displays will unfold on vividly decorated boats, gracefully moving across the water.
3. Lighting – A Language of Timeless Emotion
Lighting is the soul of the festival. The entire event space will be enveloped in modern artistic lighting, seamlessly blending with natural light reflections on the water. Multicolored laser effects will not only create a mystical atmosphere but also convey the theme of harmony between tradition and modernity.
Light beams will sketch the iconic brick kilns glowing against the night sky, while floating lanterns released on the river will symbolize hope, gratitude, and pride for Mang Thit’s traditional brick and ceramic craft.
4. Explosive Media Impact – Bringing Mang Thit to the World
This festival is not just a local event but an opportunity to showcase Mang Thit on a larger scale. Every corner of the stage, every captured moment from the festival will be a unique work of art – ready to “go viral” on social media. Images of sparkling lights, vibrant boats, and lively performances will make anyone yearn to visit Mang Thit.
5. Conclusion – A Journey of Heritage in a New Era
The 2024 Mang Thit Brick and Ceramic Festival is not just a cultural celebration but a powerful message about the resilience of heritage and the aspiration to rise in a modern age. Come to Mang Thit to experience the beauty of its rivers, its craft villages, and its genuine people. This is not just an opportunity to explore but also a chance for everyone to rediscover a part of their roots in every brick, every smile, and every melody echoing from the rivers.
Brilliant at night and vibrant during the day.
Let’s join hands to promote Mang Thit – the cultural gem of the Mekong Delta – to proudly thrive on the cultural map of Vietnam and the world!
Next project | Forest rain
Forest rain
Streams of water flowed horizontally like a loom, drawing horizontal lines across the sky. The thick fog hides a forest in the dark night.
“Water jets are arranged vertically and horizontally,
Engraving a painting.”
Ho Viet Vinh.2020
Description
Exucuted in April 2020.
Styles
Lyrical Abstract
Technique
Acrylic on Canvas
Dimensions
97 Wx 130 H x 4 D cm
The authenticity of this work has been confirmed by the HVV Architect &Partners. A certificate of authenticity maybe delivered by the Company upon request to the buyer.
Vinhho Biography
Ho Viet Vinh, a Vietnamese, graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture degree in 1995 from the University of Architecture of Ho Chi Minh city, Viet Nam; he received the award for the creative design in the Final Year. He is a Registered Architect in Viet Nam and also a Registered Urban Planner in Ho Chi Minh city, as well as a Member of Association of Architects and Urban planners of Viet Nam. Ho Viet Vinh career began in 1995 when he did some competitions in Ho Chi Minh city. He becomes lecturer of Urban planning Department of University of Architecture in 1995. In 1998 He received second prize of international competition held by Summer workshop of Cergy Pontoise-France with subject “Ho Chi Minh city and Saigon river”. In 2005 He awarded special prize of international competition held by Summer workshop of Cergy Pontoise-France with subject “Can Gio Emotional city”. In 2010 he participated the International Visistor Leadership Program of USA in subject Sustainable Urban Planning. In 2015 He is choosen by Lebadang Creative Foundation to design the Lebadang Memory Space Museum in Hue. It was at this time that He becomes Director of that Fund.
Next project | SONNET
Evoking the tranquil undulations of the river a symphonic concerto of colors whispering the poetics of the natural world. The geometric shapes, with their curves and angles, juxtapose the organic with the mathematical, creating a visual sonnet that blurs the lines between the ephemeral and the eternal.
Ho Viet Vinh
Acrylic on canvas, 130 x 97cm, Maison d’Art, 2024
Next project | HAPPY TEACHER’S DAY 2024
“Happy Teachers will change the world.”
Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh
Next project | The VIDE Villa
Next project | GLINT
GLINT
The interplay of these hues, it conjures images of a visual symphony, each segment of the painting whispering a different melancholic melody or vibrant cheer. This piece truly captures the ineffable ‘glint’ of emotions.
Ho Viet Vinh
Acrylic on canvas, 97x130cm, Maison d’Art, 2024
Acrylic on canvas, 97x130cm, Maison d’Art, 2024
Acrylic on canvas, 97x130cm, Maison d’Art, 2024
Next project | Maison de Corail
Maison de Corail
A PRIVATE CONTEMPORARY ART HOUSE, THE MOST MAGNIFICENT, STATE-OF-THE-ART AND UNIQUE ONE IN SOUTHERN VIETNAM.
The concept of the project is a hybrid space, there is no determination or boundaries. We want a space that integrates botany, meditation and art where people can feel free to take care of themselves, slowly with relaxation. Using nostalgia and natural matter, crafted by artisan hands, paintings that desire to finding beauty in imperfection but real environments. The facade make by breezeway blocks to allow sun and wind in, to avoid artificial air conditioning systems. The general purpose is to create a minimalist lifestyle in which a slow passing of time. The lava stones react shades to the sunlight movement along the day. Various forms are manifested by the light gradually moving. A spiral staircase along the courtyard has a rendered banister and concrete treads. It leads up to an open art workshop and meditation space.
“Ẩn tàng chốn lạ mà quen
Lá chen mây trắng hoa chèn sắc hương
Ngõ vương ánh nắng qua đường
Yêu thương đọng lại khu vườn ngày xưa.”
“Strange but familiar hidden place
Leaves insert flowers into white clouds
Light alley across the street
Love leaves the old garden. ”
Architect Ho Viet Vinh
PROJECT INFO
| Type: | Residential |
| Year: | 2020 |
| Location: | Ho Tram, Ba Ria Vung Tau |
| Team: | Ho Viet Vinh Tran Thanh Hai Le Van Thoi Ngo Dang Linh |
| Contractor: | Cuong Quang Construction |
| Interior Designer: | Ho Viet Vinh |
| Photographer: | Ho Viet Vinh |
| Structural Engineer: | Nam Viet |
Next project | S T I L L N E S S
HO TRAM
2019
Size
450 Sq.m
Project Team
Ho Viet Vinh, Tran Thanh Hai, Tran Thi Thu Ha
Collaborators Quang Nhat Furniture, RitaVo Company, KOHLER
Next project | AURA
Inviting a contemplation of the divine within the mundane, a glimpse into the aura of life itself, forever capturing the transient light and darkness that dance within the soul’s depths.
Ho Viet Vinh
(Aura, Acrylic on canvas, 130x97cm, Maison de Corail.2024)