MIỀN TUỆ UYỂN – TUE GIAC MONASTERY - Ho Viet Vinh Architect & Partners

“The beauty of the four seasons helped him heal his mind and heart from the wounds of war. The peaceful and wholesome atmosphere of the campus helped him have many deep insights, flowers, and fruits of the practice. Perhaps that is why Thay always remind us that nature can help us heal ourselves.”

Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh – [At home in the World]

Location:
Tan Binh commune, Nhu Xuan District, Thanh Hoa Province, Vietnam
Size:
1,53 hectares
Services:
Master plan, Architecture and Interior design
Status:
Approved Master plan at scale 1/500, 2024
Under construction.
Team:
HVV Architect & Partners

Intro

As our society advances and technology continues to evolve, our quality of life has seen remarkable improvements. Yet, the desire for relaxation, tranquility, and a deeper connection with oneself has become a fundamental part of our daily existence. This need is increasingly pressing, given the rising prevalence of mental health challenges like stress and anxiety.
The relentless pace of modern life, combined with the pressures of work, often leads to heightened stress, anxiety, and various mental health concerns. Taking a moment to pause and breathe can offer us a valuable chance to reconnect with nature and reflect on ourselves. Nature holds a profound healing power: when our minds are no longer disrupted by the constant noise of traffic, when our emotions are no longer constrained by concrete jungles, and when we can breathe clean, unpolluted air, we experience true inner peace. Immersed in nature, we rediscover the serenity that lies within our souls.
Thus, creating a meditation retreat that harmonizes with nature is essential. This sanctuary will offer a tranquil haven where individuals can find solace, cultivate mindfulness, practice meditation, heal their souls, and share positive values with the world.

Site location

Tue Giac Zen Monastery is located northwest of Song Muc Lake – in Ben En National Park, Tan Binh Commune, Nhu Xuan District, Thanh Hoa Province; The distance from this area to Tho Xuan airport is about 143374ft along National route 15.

Song Muc Lake | Source: internet
Ben En | Source: HVV, supported by AI

The planned research area features a convergence of hillside topographical elements, with valleys and lakes nestled below. It is a location that boasts pristine natural landscapes. Furthermore, the terrain’s structure and geomorphology provide many sites with expansive, diverse, and breathtaking views.

Design principles

Master plan

To create a space for returning, studying, and practicing the teachings of Buddhism, cultivating virtue, and enhancing moral awareness. A place that offers a harmonious environment with nature, where individuals can engage in meditation, seek enlightenment, and liberate themselves from the afflictions and suffering of life.

The architectural layout harmonizes seamlessly with the natural terrain, incorporating a variety of structures within distinct spaces to create visual appeal. The pagoda, meditation hall, main hall, guest house, and dining hall are arranged in a descending terraced formation. The design employs overlapping and rhythmic elements, offering dynamic perspectives from different viewpoints and highlighting the surrounding natural beauty of the mountains, lakes, and cliffs. The architecture, landscape, and on-site activities are interwoven in a cohesive and fluid manner.

“Light from Above| Source: HVV, supported by Ai

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 | Sóng

Sóng
Vinhho, Acrylic on canvas, 252x92cm, Maison de Corail reserved, 2025

Những con sóng nối tiếp nhau trườn trên bãi cát vẽ nên những đường cong tự do phơi mình dưới ánh mặt trời.
Sóng muôn hình vạn tướng: thấp cao, nghiêng ngã, cong tròn, méo lệch, yếu mạnh hợp quần tạo nên sắc khí của đại dương.
Cái thể tính bất phân ly tạo nên tính cách riêng biệt của sóng chính là sự tràn đầy. Năng lượng tích tụ vượt lên trăn trở bộn bề, trải qua một cuộc trường chinh đầy gian khó, nay đã gặp bờ để thổ lộ niềm kiêu hãnh.
Ấy vậy mà hình trạng của sóng chợt tan biến, ẩn khuất trong lớp lớp tạo tác liên tục của sự va đập không ngừng nghỉ.
Trong chiều quay biến thiên của sự tồn tại, mọi hình hài đều trở nên mong manh trước sự biến đổi của chính nó.

Kiến trúc sư Hồ Viết Vinh.01122025



Next project | Lotus

Ngẩng đầu nghe gió hát,
Tắm mát mạch nguồn khơi,
Chơi vơi miền êm ả,
Nghiêng ngã một đời không?

Ho Viet Vinh
Photo by Vinhho @ Aobaom

Next project | Clay Pottery Gallery

Inspired by Professor Thai Kim Lan’s collection of over 7,000 ceramic artifacts recovered from the Perfume River, the idea was conceived to restore and elevate these artifacts to reflect their true value. All ceramic products originate from the earth and are matured through fire. The intense heat of fire hardens the earth, enabling it to endure the test of time.
To symbolize this tempering quality, dark red painted steel will be used. The interplay of contrasting elements—hot and cold, hard and soft—will be applied in the design language to accentuate the significance of time and place.

Type
Art gallery
Year
2019
Project
Thai Kim Lan Garden house
Team
HVV Artchitect & Partners, Ho Viet Vinh, Tran Thu Ha

Next project | Le Ba Dang Memory Space

The landscape architecture of the museum, spanning 16,000 square meters, is itself a full-scale “Lebadang Space” artwork. Paintings, sculptures, installations, and “Space” artworks by the world-renowned artist Lebadang are periodically rotated, with exhibition content and display methods meeting international standards.
The museum brings to life artist Lebadang’s dream of “an immense artwork, a cosmic landscape, a life in harmony with nature, and an eternal vision.” Its location in Hue, Vietnam’s ancient capital, embodies his aspiration for Hue to become the center of Vietnamese contemporary art and culture in the 21st century.

“Đường mòn lối nhỏ  lượn vòng quanh
Trăm hoa đua nở khoe hình sắc 
Thấp thoáng hương quê gió nội đồng
Toàn chân đón cảnh mây trời hiện
Một chốn tiên bồng giữa thế gian.”

“Small paths that revolve around
Hundreds of flowers in bloom
Village hidden behind rice fields
Flying clouds in the sky
What a great place. ”
Architect Ho Viet Vinh

A charcoal sketch by Vinhho on 2007

Le Ba Dang Memory Space reimagines the image of Co Loa as a unique creation of the Vietnamese spirit. Emotions are etched into the landscape like a giant painting. The winding pathways lead us into a vivid tapestry of reality, where people and nature merge as one. The soul finds peace, and emotions flow freely.
Brilliant flowers bloom, birds chirp joyously, the breeze carries drifting clouds, and every element resonates with authentic sounds, drawing our minds back to the dreams of childhood.

“Great architecture can give us hope, great architecture can heal.”

Type
Museum
Year
2019
Location
Huong Thuy, Hue
Team
Ho Viet Vinh, Tran Thanh Hai, Le Van Thoi, Ngo Dang Linh
Civil Engineer
Nam Viet
Contractor
Rickenbach Development and Construction
Interior Designer
Eric Mignagd
Lighting Designer
Elek Co, Ltd
Photographer
Dalo lab
Structural Engineer
Nam Viet

Press
ART REPUBLIK 1, Elitism for all, Spring-Summer 2020

Youtube
LeBaDang Memory Space – Contemporary Art in Hue – An article by Dalo Studio on Youtube via the link.

Next project | MELALEUCA Forest

Một lối mòn hun hút dấu mình trong màu xanh thẳm cuối cùng của cánh rừng Tràm.
Chẳng ai có thể biết cuối con đường sẽ dẫn đến đâu,
ấy thế mà vẫn mang trong sự bí ẩn và quyến rũ đến kỳ lạ.
Mong manh luôn là lằn ranh giữa thăng hoa và lụi tàn:
ở đó vẻ đẹp xuất hiện.

Melaleuca Forest
Vinhho, 120x80cm, Acrylic on canvas, Maison d’Art@2025

A trail, vanishing into the deepest green at the far end of the Melaleuca forest.
None can tell for certain where it might lead, and yet it holds within itself a most singular charm and mystery.
How delicate is the line between flourishing and decay:
it is there that beauty reveals itself.

Photo by Vinhho, Maison de Corail, 2025

Next project | The VIDE Villa

VIDE Front Facade
VIDE Section
VIDE Sketches

Next project | Tự tại

Êm đềm tựa giọt sương tinh khiết gieo mầm an lành.
Can trường cắm cội rễ sâu bền trước bão lũ.
Hoa trôi nở hương thơm giữa dòng nổi sóng, bờ cỏ lặng lẽ tựa mặt hồ thu.
Hương Giang trở thành ngọn đuốc chánh niệm – vừa tỏa sáng tự thân, vừa soi đường dẫn lối.

Sông Hương sau cơn lũ 2025 | Photo by Vinhho 01.11.2025

Next project | Phu Doan Plaza

Phu Doan Plaza, located at the Thua Thien Hue Provincial People’s Committee (also known as City Hall), is a vibrant and modern interpretation of Hue’s identity as an ancient capital. Today, the plaza serves as an inclusive outdoor hub of Hue’s cultural and social life, but this was not always the case.
Before its renovation, the plaza was an uninviting and inaccessible space, characterized by uneven terraces, hidden passageways, and neglected trees. The transformation elevated the park—both literally and symbolically—to match its prominent location at the foot of Hue City Hall.
The plaza now offers universal accessibility by leveling the entire site to meet the street, encouraging activity throughout the day. It features a spacious lawn, an interactive fountain, a café, and ample seating amid green groves of native plants such as Bombax ceiba (cây gạo), Borassus flabellifer (cây thốt nốt), Laurus nobilis (cây nguyệt quế), Cinnamomum camphora (cây long não). Built atop Hue City Center’s multi-modal transit hub, it acts as a gateway connecting all neighborhoods.
Covering 8,190 square meters, the plaza provides a welcoming, all-season destination for relaxation and public recreation.

Phu Doan Plaza in existing condition
Performing art in front of Hue City Hall
Art Light Performing at night
Outdoor Ampitheatre in front of Perfume River

Type
Landscape design
Year
2020
Location
Hue city, Vietnam
Team
Ho Viet Vinh
Ngo Hai Tan
Duong Thi Thanh Thanh
Nguyen Dinh Nhat Thu

Next project | Cloud

Solid and rough are the emotions of BAOLOC. Spatial topography consists of interlaced hills, layers hidden under layers of cold pine forests. In that autumn silence, the clouds are the witch who transforms to soften the rough, dry and cold.

Solid and rough are the emotions of BaoLoc. Spatial topography consists of interlaced hills, layers hidden under layers of cold pine forests. In that autumn silence, the clouds are the witch who transforms to soften the rough, dry and cold.

CLOUD
Following the wind, the stream flows in all directions,
The foggy road is dotted with flying dew drops.
Love is drunk at night in dreams,
Filled with the call of the human realm.

Vinhho.2022