Cổ rêu phủ kín một đền đài, như một tấm thảm thời gian lặng lẽ trải dài trên bức tường cổ kính của Cố đô Huế. Những lớp rêu mỏng manh, nhưng kiên cường, bám chặt trên bề mặt xù xì của chất liệu: tựa như những ký ức xa xưa vẫn còn lưu lại, không thể phai nhòa theo năm tháng.

Trong ánh sáng mờ ảo của buổi chiều tà, màu xanh của cổ rêu trở nên lung linh hơn, như những viên ngọc bích nhỏ bé, lấp lánh giữa không gian yên tĩnh. Những đường vân của rêu, như những nét vẽ tinh tế của một họa sĩ tài hoa: tạo nên một bức tranh thiên nhiên sống động, đầy cảm hứng.
Mỗi không gian cổ rêu là một câu chuyện, một mảnh ghép của quá khứ, gợi nhớ về những ngày tháng vàng son của triều đại xưa. Đôi khi, một cơn gió nhẹ thổi qua, làm rêu lay động, như những dòng chữ cổ xưa đang thì thầm kể lại những bí mật của thời gian.
Cổ rêu tại Cố đô Huế không chỉ là một phần của cảnh quan, mà còn là biểu tượng của sự trường tồn, của vẻ đẹp giản dị nhưng sâu lắng, khiến lòng người không khỏi bồi hồi, xao xuyến mỗi khi bước ngang qua nó.

Kiến trúc sư Hồ Viết Vinh, Huế. 2025

“Happy Teachers will change the world.”

Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh

“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

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.

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.

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.

The Dragon d’Annam is a place where the mountains and the sea come together, standing between the South and the North, the land is high, the mountains and rivers are surrounding. In waterways, there are Thuan An and Tu Hien the mouth of the sea bay,  which are deep and dangerous; by road, Hoanh Son and Hai Van gates are blocked; The great river opens  the front, the high mountain protects  the back, the adoration dragon and guard tiger, the place is solid, it is arranged by heaven and earth, it is truly the king’s capital.

Source: According to the national history of the Nguyen Dynasty

Description
Exucuted in April 2020
Style
Lyrical Abstract
Technique
Acrylic on Canvas
Dimension
97W x 130H x 4D 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 is a Vietnamese architect who graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture degree in 1995 from the University of Architecture Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, where he received an award for creative design in his final year. He is a Registered Architect in Vietnam, a Registered Urban Planner in Ho Chi Minh City, and a member of the Association of Architects and Urban Planners of Vietnam.
Vinh’s career began in 1995 with participation in several design competitions in Ho Chi Minh City. That same year, he became a lecturer in the Urban Planning Department at the University of Architecture.
In 1998, he won second prize in the international competition organized by the Summer Workshop of Cergy-Pontoise, France, with the theme “Ho Chi Minh City and the Saigon River.”
In 2005, he was awarded a special prize in another international competition by the Summer Workshop of Cergy-Pontoise, France, for his project “Can Gio Emotional City.”
In 2010, he participated in the U.S. International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) focusing on Sustainable Urban Planning.
In 2015, Vinh was selected by the Lebadang Creative Foundation to design the Lebadang Memory Space Museum in Hue. During this time, he also became the Director of the Fund.

For generations, the wood carving craftsmanship of Hue carpenters has been etched into history. Intricate embossed patterns on armrests, beams, arches, and panels reveal the profound artistry embedded within each wood grain.
The touch of the craftsman is incredibly refined. As the chisel glides along the wood grain to remove the excess, the shapes of phoenixes, flowers, and leaves emerge, filling the void with intricate beauty. The wooden panels are not merely decorative; the dual framing system creates overlapping layers, adding spatial depth and transforming physical boundaries into the perception of infinity.
These exquisite carvings have elevated Hue’s palaces, temples, pavilions, mausoleums, and traditional homes beyond mere material structures to the realm of emotional art. This mastery has earned them recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage.
The pride lies in the soul delicately carved by talented artisans from across the nation, each seeking to present their finest beauty to the Buddhas, Kings, and Ancestors.

Type
Garden house
Year
2012
Location
Thu Duc city
Team
Ho Viet Vinh
Duong Dinh Vinh

Tuyên ngôn năm 2026 – “HVV Architect & Partners tin rằng kiến trúc không bắt đầu từ hình khối, mà bắt đầu từ bầu không khí.”

Một không gian chỉ thực sự có giá trị khi nó chạm đến ký ức, văn hoá và chiều sâu nội tâm của con người.”
Chúng tôi theo đuổi một con đường rõ ràng: chạm đến tính bản địa và cá nhân hoá cho từng chi tiết thiết kế để tạo nên sự hoà quyện giữa truyền thống và đương đại.

1. Kiến trúc là sự lắng nghe vùng đất

Mỗi công trình khởi đi từ địa tầng ký ức: khí hậu, ánh sáng, vật liệu, tập quán, nghề thủ công, nhịp sống.
Chúng tôi không sao chép truyền thống. Chúng tôi giải mã tinh thần của nó. Bản địa không phải là hình thức lặp lại, mà là sự tiếp nối của năng lượng nơi chốn trong một hình thái mới.

2. Cá nhân hoá là đạo đức thiết kế

Mỗi khách hàng là một thế giới riêng. Chúng tôi không tạo ra “mẫu nhà đẹp” lặp lại, mà kiến tạo những không gian phản chiếu cá tính, lối sống và khát vọng sống. Cá nhân hoá không dừng ở mặt bằng hay công năng, mà đi vào chi tiết vật liệu, ánh sáng, tỷ lệ, nhịp điệu không gian. Kiến trúc, vì thế, trở thành một chân dung sống.

3. Truyền thống và đương đại không đối lập

Chúng tôi không nhìn truyền thống như quá khứ, cũng không xem đương đại là sự đoạn tuyệt với quá khứ. Truyền thống là chiều sâu. Đương đại là nhịp thở. Khi hai dòng chảy ấy gặp nhau,một bầu không khí mới được sinh ra vừa quen thuộc, vừa khai mở.

4. Kiến trúc – Hội hoạ – Điêu khắc – Thi ca

HVV Architect & Partners vận hành trên bốn không gian:

• Không gian ở: Kiến trúc
• Không gian nhìn: Hội hoạ
• Không gian chạm: Điêu khắc
• Không gian trong tâm thức: Thi ca

Chúng tôi tin rằng một công trình chỉ hoàn chỉnh khi nó đồng thời chạm vào thân thể và tâm hồn.

5. Bản chất trước hiệu ứng

Chúng tôi không chạy theo hình ảnh gây ấn tượng tức thời. Chúng tôi đi tìm bản chất. Cái cơ bản nếu được thực hiện đến tận cùng sẽ tạo nên sự bền vững và sang trọng thực sự. Sự giản lược, khi đúng chỗ, chính là biểu hiện cao nhất của tinh tế.

6. Kiến trúc như một hành vi hiện sinh

Mỗi công trình là một tuyên ngôn sống. Mỗi dự án là một cuộc đối thoại giữa con người và thời đại.
Trong một thế giới ồn ào và đồng dạng, chúng tôi chọn con đường lặng lẽ nhưng sâu sắc: Kiến tạo những không gian có linh hồn.

HVV Architect & Partners theo đuổi tinh thần Kiến trúc thi ca (Poetry of Architecture): Chạm đến bản địa; Tôn vinh cá tính; Kiến tạo bầu không khí sống.

Nestled gracefully above tranquil waters, Maison de l’Eau embodies the harmonious blend of modern architecture and nature. Its unique curved design, crafted from warm wood, invites sunlight to dance through expansive windows, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding forest. This serene retreat not only provides a peaceful sanctuary but also celebrates sustainable living, encouraging a deep connection with the environment. Maison de l’Eau stands as a testament to the beauty of simplicity, where every curve and corner reflects the gentle flow of nature, creating a perfect balance between comfort and elegance.

Hồ Viết Vinh 29.12.2024 (Commemorating the announcement of the resolution establishing Huế as a centrally governed city)

Legend, memory, and romance breathe life into the Ancient Capital of Huế.
Huế stands as one of the rare ancient capitals in urban history, crafted with emotion; it embodies unique human values and serves as a perfect bridge between humanity and the cosmos. As one wanders through its Imperial City, a poetic soul seems to linger, inviting reflection. Time flows slowly here, awakening seeds of love that draw us back to childhood memories. Every street corner, every road, and every structure is steeped in nostalgia and gently dusted by time. Each architectural masterpiece tells its own historical tale, weaving the legend of this Sacred Land. The poetic city of Huế manifests not only in its physical form but also in the mythical tales surrounding its river’s origins. Whether these stories bring joy or sorrow, they remain an integral part of us. The endless inspiration for love that creates this poetic city originates from the Perfume River and Ngự Bình Mountain. Cao Bá Quát once likened the Perfume River to: “A long river standing like a sword in the blue sky.”

Huế: A land of Legends, with its tangible and intangible cultural heritage of the Chăm community. From the Phú Diên Tower and Hòn Chén Temple to the Thành Lồi Citadel, these are remnants of the Champa Kingdom in Huế. The influence of Chăm aesthetics in music, architecture, sculpture, and cuisine is distinctly evident in Huế’s cultural treasures.

Huế: A land of Memory, continuing the legacy of the Tây Sơn and Nguyễn dynasties, both glorious and tragic. With nine Lords and thirteen Nguyễn emperors, it formed the land of Thuận Hoá over 720 years, contributing eight cultural heritages to the world.

Huế: A land of Romantic Wisdom. The great intellectuals of Vietnam in modern history were directly or indirectly influenced by the magnificent and splendid culture of Thuận Hoá-Phú Xuân.

Today, Huế has reclaimed its position as a unique cultural center of Vietnam and Asia, embodying the nation’s spirit of integration to enrich its treasury of wisdom and romance for enduring values. The journey is carried by the love for the homeland and the wisdom of the era, crafting a new visage worthy of history and the times. A message both affirming and reminding us not to forget, as playwright Đào Tấn expressed: “Together we drink the waters of the Perfume River, yet none comprehend its fragrant essence.”

On the evening of December 29, a ceremony was held at Ngo Mon Square in Hue City to announce the National Assembly’s resolution establishing Hue as a centrally governed city. Hue is now the sixth centrally governed city in Vietnam.