CAN GIO EMOTIONAL CITY - Ho Viet Vinh Architect & Partners
Can Gio Clam beach panorama-Photo by Vinhho

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.

Can Gio Master Plan

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 | Maison de la LUNE

Maison de la Lune embodies a poetic interplay between architecture and nature, where the invisible space reflects upon the surface of existence. The fluid curves of the structure mirror the organic forms of the surrounding environment, creating a harmonious dialogue between the built and the natural. The expansive glass panels invite the outside in, blurring the boundaries between interior and exterior. Light and shadow dance across the surfaces, evoking a sense of tranquility and introspection. This architectural masterpiece is a serene sanctuary, a place where the essence of nature is captured and reflected, offering a contemplative retreat from the chaos of the world.

Maison de la Lune
HVV Architect & Partners with AI supported

Next project | HVV Recruitment

HVV Recruitment:
In 2025, HVV is looking to recruit talented individuals for the following positions:

  • 2 Urban Planners;
  • 2 Landscape Architects;
  • 2 Architects specialized in Architecture and Interior Design.

Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field for each position;
  • 2–3 years of work experience;
  • Proficiency in commonly used design software, such as ACAD, SU, Lumion, Rhino, 3Dmax,…;
  • Skilled in one or more of the following areas: 3D and 2D concept visualization, design implementation, design management;
  • A professional attitude, eagerness to learn, creativity, and integrity.

Join us in creating inspiring living spaces that reflect cultural identity!
At HVV, we are not just looking for talented architects but also seeking to collaborate with creative minds who are passionate about innovation and aspire to achieve timeless values. Let your talent bring meaningful projects to life and leave a lasting mark with us.
Contact:
HVV Architect and partners
Architect Ho Viet Vinh
Phone: +84 908 376 727
Email: [email protected]

Join us now to turn unique ideas into reality!

Next project | RED KINGDOM – Masterplan of Brickyard village at Mang Thit, Mang Thit District, Vinh Long province

“This is a project to preserve and develop the Mang Thit traditional brick and masonry heritage area, combining production space and water landscape. This area is planned into a contemporary product with different functional layers: preserving ceramic tile craft villages, expanding living space along the river and recreating the unique river landscape of the South. The multi-level dike approach helps maintain riverside living space, supports ceramic production and also develops eco-tourism, turning the area into a cultural and experiential destination for visitors.”

HVV Architect & Partners

Client:
Board of Civil and Industrial Construction Project Management – Vinh Long province People’ s Committee
Location:
Mang Thit dictrist, Vinh Long province, Vietnam
Size:
3.060 hectares
Services:
Masterplan
Status:
Approved on 2024
Team:
HVV Architect & Partners –  Urban Planning Institute

Intro

Mang Thit District, Vinh Long Province, is one of the few remaining localities in Vietnam that preserves a unique and extensive architectural complex alongside a traditional craft. This architectural ensemble comprises nearly 1,000 domed kilns, spanning over 3,060 hectares along the banks of the Thay Cai, Hoa My, Cai Nhum canals, forming a southern arc that extends to the Nhon Phu and Hoa Tinh canals within the district. This is truly a valuable treasure, shaped by over a century of cultural and technological exchange between Khmer, Kinh, and Hoa people, resulting in a distinctive architectural heritage and traditional craft. However, this treasure has not been fully recognized or appreciated.
Over the past decade, more than 1,000 kilns have been demolished, and the remaining kilns are deteriorating and face the imminent threat of complete destruction. Given this alarming situation, it is imperative and urgent to conduct research and develop solutions to preserve and promote this architectural complex and traditional craft.

Learning from the Past and Looking to the Future:

Over 100 years of formation and development, the structure of the craft village ecological system have established with 6 main space, including: surface water, brickyard system, yards, storage, fruite garden and house, fields.

The system of canals and land has formed a distinctive, easily recognizable landscape. Rivers and canals flowing from Co Chien River along Thay Cai canal, going deep into agricultural areas, have determined the main landscape axes; Residents live along the canals, inside are fruit and vegetable gardens, and deeper are fields and aquaculture areas. The ecosystem associated with the brick kiln area has created a closed process in the production of Mang Thit red ceramic. This is a characteristic and value that needs to be preserved and promoted.

Adaptive conservation in continued development

Adaptive conservation in continued development – preserving the existence of production space heritage, symbiotic ecological space, and Southern garden development cultural heritage; These valuable materials and spiritual values ​​have been perfected during the development process, providing a contemporary breath and improving the quality of each space, gradually improving the quality of life of local people, so that their politics will gradually transform, reviving the soul of the place.
The heritage of Mang Thit – known as The Red Kingdom will be an interesting destination in Mekong Delta and should not be missed in your lifetime.

Zonning plan

The area is divided into 9 main zones according to 3 layers.

No.1. Mixed-Use Development (Services – Tourism – Rural Residential): Approximately 347.91 hectares, with primary functions including residential development, mixed-use development (tourism services – rural residential), mixed-use development (services – urban residential), public services, public utility green spaces, specialized green spaces, other technical infrastructure, transportation, agricultural areas, and other functions.

No.2. Mixed-Use Development (Services – Urban Residential) along Co Chien River: Approximately 250.05 hectares, with primary functions including residential development, mixed-use development (services – urban residential), public services, public utility green spaces, specialized green spaces, heritage and religious sites, other technical infrastructure, transportation, agricultural areas, and other functions.

No.3.  My An – Hoa My Residential Area: Approximately 415.50 hectares, with primary functions including residential development, mixed-use development (services – urban residential), public services, public utility green spaces, specialized green spaces, heritage and religious sites, other technical infrastructure, transportation, agricultural areas, and other functions.

No.4. Cai Nhum Eco-Residential Area: Approximately 150.31 hectares, with primary functions including residential development, public services, public utility green spaces, other technical infrastructure, transportation, agricultural areas, and other functions.

No.5. My Phuoc Eco-Resort: Approximately 106.43 hectares, with primary functions including residential development, public services, public utility green spaces, tourism development, other technical infrastructure, transportation, agricultural areas, and other functions.

No.6.  My Phuoc Eco-Residential Area: Approximately 253.76 hectares, with primary functions including residential development, public services, public utility green spaces, specialized green spaces, heritage and religious sites, offices, other technical infrastructure, transportation, agricultural areas, and other functions.

No.7. Nhon Phu Eco-Residential Area: Approximately 309.78 hectares, with primary functions including residential development, public services, public utility green spaces, heritage and religious sites, offices, other technical infrastructure, transportation, agricultural areas, and other functions.

No.8. Hoa Tinh Eco-Resort: Approximately 198.23 hectares, with primary functions including residential development, mixed-use development (services – urban residential), public services, public utility green spaces, heritage and religious sites, offices, transportation, agricultural areas, and other functions.

No.9. High-Tech Agriculture Area: Approximately 1,028.03 hectares, with primary functions including residential development, public utility green spaces, tourism development, other technical infrastructure, transportation, agricultural areas, and other functions.

Master plan

The plan identifies 3 main development axes including:

  • Mang Thit brick and ceramic kiln space at the center combined with service corridor along Co Chien river, agricultural experience corridor – traditional garden village along Cai Nhum river, high-end resort tourism corridor in the South;
  • Mixed service axis – contemporary residential area in the Southern region of the West;
  • The Eastern resort tourism axis will create motivation for development of the entire region.

The resort spaces around heritage area (My Phuoc eco resort, My Phuoc Eco-Residential area, Nhon Phu Eco-Residential Area, Hoa Tinh Eco-Resort) offer a variety of ecological, cultural and agricultural production experiences, taking the ceramic brick kiln area as inspiration for creativity.

Oriented masterplan development diagram to 2045

With 5 gateways – 5 landscape architectural spaces typical of the Southern rivers and the ceramic brick kiln area, it will be an unforgettable, impressive identification point when visitors approach the ceramic brick kiln area by both Water transport and road transport.

The landscape of the welcome gate, orchard and ceramic tiles combined with the riverside landscape follows a multi-level soft embankment model, providing many different experience spaces for visitors to explore the traditional Tile and Ceramic Craft Village along the Co Chien River.
The new residential community landscape is associated with the internal canal system. The riverside spaces are shaped by multi-level soft embankments creating different functions and landscape nuances according to the flooding season.
Landscape on both sides of Thay Cai canal, the core conservation area of ​​the ceramic craft village with a system of multi-storey soft embankments and alternating hard stepped embankments combined with a boat wharf and ceramic tile service space organized along the river. Support the transition process, while developing ecotourism, turning this area into a cultural and experiential destination for tourists.

Conclusion

This is a project to preserve and develop the Mang Thit traditional brick and masonry heritage area, combining production space and water landscape. This area is planned into a contemporary product with different functional layers: preserving ceramic tile craft villages, expanding living space along the river and recreating the unique river landscape of the South. The multi-level dike and heritage landscape approach helps maintain riverside living space, supports ceramic production and also develops eco-tourism, turning the area into a cultural and experiential destination for visitors.

Next project | SPARKLE

“Whispers of ephemeral beauty, a tranquil moment captured in the chaos of existence. Shades of yellow and brown morph together, cradling hints of white and red, embodying the fleeting glimmer of life. Amidst this tumultuous beauty, the painting proposes a reflection on the essence of “sparkle” – not as mere glitz, but as a profound glitter of existence, intricate dance of light and shadow, beauty and decay.”

Ho Viet Vinh

(Sparkle, Acrylic on canvas, 130x97cm, Maison d’Art 2024)

Next project | DRIFTING

“A delicate symphony of muted hues pirouettes in the ever-changing light. Its dance mirroring the soul’s ebb and flow, serving as a melancholic ode to time’s fleeting passage and life’s ephemeral beauty: a poignant reflection of existential drift.”

Ho Viet Vinh
Drifting
Acrylic on canvas, 130x97cm, Maison d’Art, 2024

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 | Glay Pottery Gallery

Inspired by Professor Thai Kim Lan’s collection of more than 7000 ceramic artifacts recovered from the Perfume River, an idea was born to revitalize the artifacts to match their value. All ceramic products are born from the earth and mature through fire. The heat of the fire has hardened the earth to the test of time. Dark red painted steel will represent this tempering property. The contrasting pairs of hot-cold, hard-soft are applied in the language of placement to highlight the value of time and place.

PROJECT INFO

Type:Art Gallery
Year:2019
Location: Thai Kim Lan Garden house
Team:Ho Viet Vinh
Tran Thu Ha  

Next project | U Minh Thuong National Forest Ecological Experience Area

Project:
U Minh Thuong National Forest Ecological Experience Area
Location:
U Minh Thuong district, Kien Giang province
Area:
19,819 hectares
Services:
Urban planning, Architecture, Interior
Status:
Approved the detailed planning project at scale 1/500, 2019
Approved the project investment for the construction, 2020
Under construction
Team:
HVV architect and partners – CREA

Aerialview

Characteristics:
This is the former Provincial Party Committee Headquarter during the anti-American war, aimed at educating younger generations about revolutionary traditions and honoring the ecological and aesthetic values of U Minh Thuong National Forest in Kien Giang Province.

Design Principles:

  1. Respect the existing landscape characteristics while creating diverse spatial arrangements to accommodate the various functions of the overall project.
  2. Inherit the cultural heritage values of Southern Vietnam through the development of a resort area that harmonizes local cultural elements with the natural landscape.
  3. Ensure vibrancy throughout the overall spatial design, maintaining solemnity in the central area while providing privacy and seclusion for functional areas such as eco-experience resorts, recreational areas, and spaces for outdoor activities reflecting Southern Vietnamese lifestyles.
  4. Protect the environmental landscape by preserving the existing ecological scenery, employing on-site earthworks, and utilizing local materials.
Square – monument
Traditional Provincial Party Committee Base
Service building
Restaurant
Lake Ecological Experience House
Garden Ecological Experience House
River Ecological Experience House
Melaleuca Forest Ecological Experience House
Club – Pier
Welcome Area – Southern Vietnamese Cuisine Restaurant
Diversity in Activities and Modes of Movement

Next project | PHU DOAN PLAZA

Phu Doan Plaza in existing condition

Phu Doan Plaza at Committee Popular of Thua Thien Hue province (also called City Hall) is a lively and contemporary embodiment as a “Hue ancient capital”. Today the Plaza is an inclusive hub of Hue’s life outdoors but for decades this was not the case. Prior to renovation Plaza was an uninviting and inaccessible maze of raised and sunken terraces, hidden passageways, and gloomy malnourished trees. The opportunity for change raised the park, both physically and metaphorically, to the prominence of its location at the foot of Hue City Hall. The Plaza provides universal accessibility by bringing the entire site to street level, and encourages use throughout the day. The entire Plaza, with its generous lawn, interactive fountain, café, and ample seating amidst green groves of native plantings, are all built atop the nexus of Hue City center’s multi-modal transit system and acts as a connective gateway to all neighborhoods. The park functions as a 8.190 sq.m creating a welcome all-season spot for relaxation and public recreation.

Performing art in front of Hue City Hall
Art Light Performing at night
Outdoor Ampitheatre in front of Perfume River

Products

  • Landscape Forms
  • Granite Stone
  • Advanced Soil Technologies

Plant List:

  • Bombax ceiba
  • Asian palmyra palm
  • Laurus nobilis
  • Cinnamomum camphora

PROJECT INFO

Type:Public Realm
Year:2020
Location:Hue City, Thua Thien Province
Team:Ho Viet Vinh Ngo Hai Tan
Duong Thi Thanh Thanh
Nguyen Dinh Nhat Thu

Next project | Mine Art Gallery

Cam Pha coal mine was established by the French in 1886 with the name Société Francais des Charbonneges du Tonkin under King Tu Duc. The stratigraphic structure of the coal mine is deepened in the shape of deep underground terraces. The coal seams gradually revealed themselves in the light that cut through the valley. The jet black color of greed mixed with the reddish brown color of the earth and the dry dust in the air: all blended to create abstract colors tinged with depth. The project is inspired by the block of coal seams that overlap in opposite directions. An inverted image of the coal seam structure to represent the remaining void. Construction materials are taken from coal seams to form stacked bricks. Space, materials and scenery seem to blend together to create the mood of the miners.

PROJECT INFO

Type:Gallery  
Year:2016
Location:Campha City  
Team:Ho Viet Vinh
Mai Que Vu