“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.

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.

Solid and rough are the emotions of Da Lat. 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 STREAM
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.

SUỐI MÂY
Theo làn gió suối tuôn về muôn nẻo,
Đường mù sương lấm tấm hạt sương bay.
Tình men say gối đêm vào giấc mộng,
Cho ngập lời tiếng gọi cõi nhân sinh.

ho viet vinh. dallat 2019

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.

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

Điều này có nghĩa rằng nếu bạn chưa đủ thời gian để nghĩ suy thật sâu, thật tường tận vấn đề thì lời nói sẽ hời hợt, nông cạn và thiếu sức thuyết phục. Trong ngạn ngữ Việt cũng có câu: “uốn lưỡi bảy lần trước khi nói” là vậy! Cuộc sống gấp gáp, nhịp đập cuồng quay tác động làm cho ta cũng đảo điên theo sự trôi lăn.
Vậy im lặng là ngồi im mặc cho cuộc đời kéo trôi hay sao?
Không hề!
Diễn dịch theo ngôn ngữ đạo là “im lặng hùng tráng”, tịnh khẩu để thân tâm tập trung khai mở năng lượng tuệ, chiếu kiến để thấu đạt vấn đề. Sau khi quán được bản chất sự vật, hiện tượng ta sẽ dễ dàng hiểu và minh giải được căn nguyên của nó. Từ đó ngôn từ của ta sẽ chuyên chở được đầy đủ thể, tướng và dụng để lời nói trở nên có phẩm chất. Ông bà ta thường chê những lời nói “sáo rỗng” nghĩa là không có phẩm chất, chỉ là đùa vui vậy thôi.
Để im lặng đạt đến sự hùng tráng mà không phải câm lặng là cả một quá trình tu thân và hiểu đạo. Người tu thân phải buông bỏ được tà kiến để thấy được tánh không của vạn pháp mà ngay cả thân và tâm ta cũng do duyên hợp nên bản tánh là không, giả danh và hư dối.
Thấy được như vậy thì ta sẽ hoà làm một với vấn đề mà ta muốn biết nên ta sẽ hiểu nó như nó đã là. Khi đó ta sẽ thông đạt thực tướng để nói những điều nên nói và những điều nên im lặng.

Hồ Viết Vinh.15012026

An elegant white tone as the main theme, featuring multi-layered spaces with depth and subtle connections. The space is shaped with soft curves inspired by abstract nature creating a sense of fluidity and natural flow in the architecture. The decorative surfaces of loose furniture are finished with high-quality Vietnamese lacquer techniques. Natural light blends harmoniously with artificial lighting, interacting with materials like glass, lacquer, premium fabrics, and marble, evoking emotional contrasts between light, material, and space. The overall design exudes a contemporary artistic elegence.