The program “Unlimited Connections – Building a City of Light” broadcast on HTV9 provides a comprehensive perspective on the role of lighting in shaping modern and sustainable urban areas.

The story of Saigon’s light—an essential element of life and culture—has been shaped by its tropical climate and a distinctive “nightlife” culture since the city’s earliest days. Lighting not only ensures the safety of living and working spaces but also contributes to the aesthetics and prominence of modern urban architecture. However, uncontrolled use of lighting can lead to energy waste and environmental pollution. The program emphasizes the importance of smart lighting that is appropriate, sufficient, and aesthetically pleasing while minimizing light pollution, aiming to enhance overall visual harmony with the surrounding space. Building a city of light that is exemplary, harmonious, and rich in identity is a collective effort—to make the city brighter, more beautiful, and increasingly civilized.

Urban lighting is not merely about beautification; it also fosters a sense of comfort and relaxation, drawing residents into the city’s nighttime activities, thereby making the urban environment more vibrant and dynamic.

Architect Hồ Viết Vinh

We invite you to watch the program to explore the role of lighting in building smart, modern, and sustainable cities.

Kiến trúc sư Hồ Viết Vinh (Đêm giao thừa đón Xuân Ất Tỵ 2025 tại Cố đô Huế)
Trong bối cảnh hiện nay khi thế giới đang đối mặt với những thách thức lớn về môi trường, biến đổi khí hậu và sự phát triển bền vững, giá trị phổ quát của kiến trúc chính là nâng cao phẩm giá của con người trong mối tương quan với thiên nhiên. Phẩm giá này được tạo dựng dựa trên các nền tảng sau:

1. Kiến trúc là cầu nối giữa con người và thiên nhiên: Kiến trúc không chỉ là việc tạo ra những công trình để che chở con người mà còn là cách để con người kết nối với thiên nhiên một cách hài hòa. Thiết kế kiến trúc tốt phải tôn trọng và phản ánh mối quan hệ tự nhiên giữa con người và môi trường, thay vì tách biệt hoặc đối đầu với thiên nhiên.
2. Nâng cao phẩm giá con người: Kiến trúc có khả năng nâng cao chất lượng cuộc sống và phẩm giá con người thông qua việc tạo ra những không gian đẹp, tiện nghi và ý nghĩa. Một công trình kiến trúc tốt không chỉ đáp ứng nhu cầu vật chất mà còn nuôi dưỡng tinh thần, cảm xúc và nhận thức của con người.
3. Thiên nhiên là nguồn cảm hứng vô tận: Thiên nhiên không chỉ là yếu tố cần được bảo vệ mà còn là nguồn cảm hứng vô tận cho kiến trúc. Các nguyên tắc tự nhiên như sự cân bằng, đa dạng và thích ứng có thể được áp dụng vào thiết kế. Kiến trúc tương lai cần học hỏi từ thiên nhiên để tạo ra các giải pháp bền vững và hiệu quả.
4. Kiến trúc bền vững là trách nhiệm đạo đức: Trong bối cảnh biến đổi khí hậu và suy thoái môi trường, kiến trúc có trách nhiệm đạo đức trong việc bảo vệ thiên nhiên và giảm thiểu tác động tiêu cực. Kiến trúc bền vững không chỉ là xu hướng mà còn là sự cần thiết để đảm bảo tương lai cho các thế hệ sau.
5. Kiến trúc tương lai chính là tạo dựng sự hài hòa giữa con người, thiên nhiên và công nghệ: Kiến trúc tương lai cần kết hợp hài hòa giữa nhu cầu của con người, sự tôn trọng thiên nhiên và ứng dụng công nghệ tiên tiến. Công nghệ không nên là yếu tố thống trị mà là công cụ để hỗ trợ con người sống hòa hợp với thiên nhiên.

Kiến trúc tương lai cần đặt con người và thiên nhiên vào trung tâm, từ đó tạo ra những không gian không chỉ đẹp và tiện nghi mà còn bền vững, nhân văn và giàu ý nghĩa. Đây không chỉ là mục tiêu của kiến trúc mà còn là trách nhiệm của toàn xã hội trong việc xây dựng một tương lai tốt đẹp hơn.

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.

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

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

The Vietnam Traditional Architecture and Art Gallery features buildings representing the three regions of Vietnam: Hanoi, Hue, and Saigon. Selected works showcase the quintessential artistic values of Dai Viet culture (Northern region), Champa culture (Central region), and Oc Eo culture (Southern region).
Architectural types include communal houses, temples, pagodas, palaces, tomb houses, and traditional homes, crafted from materials such as wood, stone, and terracotta. In addition to architectural works, the gallery space also exhibits wood carvings, stone sculptures, and intricate decorative details.

Type
Art gallery
Year
2015
Location
University of Architecture of Ho Chi Minh City
Team
Ho Viet Vinh
Mai Que Vu

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.

Phuoc Tich Ancient Village, established in 1470 during the reign of King Le Thanh Tong, lies 40 kilometers north of Hue, embraced by the gentle flow of the O Lau River. Within the village, 26 ancient wooden houses (nhà rường), each over a century old, stand as testaments to traditional craftsmanship. Among these, 12 houses are particularly esteemed for their architectural and artistic value. Additionally, the village is home to 12 water docks, iconic symbols of the rural charm of Hue.
Phuoc Tich pottery, renowned for its meticulous firing process in robust, high-temperature kilns, boasts exceptional durability—resistant to cracking and brittleness—while retaining heat and preserving flavors. The intricate designs etched into Phuoc Tich pottery are distinctive and refined, making them unmistakable among other ceramic products. Historically, Phuoc Tich pottery surpassed many renowned competitors to become the exclusive choice for the imperial court of Hue.
Today, the art of Phuoc Tich pottery is experiencing a revival, driven by passionate young artisans dedicated to preserving the traditional craft passed down through generations. Visitors to the ancient village can immerse themselves in its cultural heritage by participating in pottery-making workshops with local artisans, creating a memorable and hands-on connection to this timeless tradition.

HVV Architect & Partners embodies a vision where architecture resonates deeply with local heritage and the natural environment. All their design and construction projects are rooted in a commitment to authenticity, with a distinctive focus on using Phuoc Tich pottery as a core material.
Phuoc Tich pottery are not merely functional but carry the soul of Hue’s artisanal legacy. Their durability, natural hues, and fine craftsmanship make them a perfect medium for creating spaces that blend tradition with modernity. By incorporating the material, HVV Architect & Partners elevates local materials into architectural expressions that honor the past while embracing contemporary aesthetics.
Each project reflects a philosophy of harmonious living, where the choice of materials and design principles creates spaces that are sustainable, culturally enriched, and emotionally resonant. Visitors and occupants alike experience an intimate connection to Hue’s cultural identity through the timeless beauty of Phuoc Tich pottery, seamlessly integrated into innovative and inspiring architectural designs.
Through these efforts, HVV Architect & Partners not only showcases the versatility of traditional materials but also contributes to the preservation and celebration of Hue’s rich artistic heritage. This approach ensures that every building tells a story of place, people, and enduring craftsmanship.