“If you don’t know how to relax in the pure land,
A life will pass without ever touching happiness.”

Thay Thich Nhat Hanh

The Zen garden embodies the breath of nature, nestled in a coniferous forest that greets the morning sun and immerses itself in the cool embrace of the beach. Here, people move freely in an open space, unbound by positions or frames of reference.
Movement transcends traditional notions of inside and outside, high and low, creating a seamless unity between heaven and earth, plants, flowers, and people. Each step taken resonates with the essence of the pure land, harmonizing all into a single breath of serenity.

Type
Architecture design, Interior design
Year
2019
Location
Ho Tram, Vietnam
Team
Ho Viet Vinh, Tran Thanh Hai, Tran Thi Thu Ha
Collaborator
Quang Nhat Furniture, RitaVo Company, KOHLER

Bước đi trên thửa ruộng, một bên đang chín vàng và một bên tuổi mười sáu, lòng như bước vào một ngã rẽ thời gian. Vựa lúa đồng bằng không ngủ để mang thóc gạo đến các hải cảng, để chuyển đến nơi cần đến. Vậy mà nó không một khoảng lặng nghỉ ngơi giữa các mùa vụ để hồi sinh. Ngày xưa, người dân cho đất nghỉ sau các mùa vụ canh tác; thế mà giờ đây nó phải đầu tắt mặt tối, phải gồng gánh sức nặng của mưu sinh. Một khi không được nghỉ ngơi vào mùa nước tràn đồng thì đất sẽ suy kiệt do không ngậm được phù sa, cái thưở mùa nước nổi cả đồng bằng như vào một ngày hội lớn: sự tất bật tạm lắng lại để tiếng cười và tiếng thở của đất được rền vang và hồi phục. Giờ đây, đến mùa nước nổi, cánh đồng vẫn vậy, nước không tràn qua đê bao bảo vệ mùa vụ. Dòng phù sa được ví như dòng sữa mẹ nuôi dưỡng vùng Châu thổ thì giờ đây đã cuộn cuộn chảy ra biển tạo thành các cù lao, ụ nổi ngăn đường ra biển lớn.

Ruộng thức là trăn trở và tâm sự của một vùng châu thổ trù phú đất ngậm phù sa một thời.

KTS. Hồ Viết Vinh

FRAGILITY

“A sea of swirling blue, evokes the tempestuous depths of the soul, adrift in a world of fleeting beauty and despair. The stark white, a beacon of hope, struggles against the relentless tide of azure, a poignant reminder of the fragility of human existence.”

Ho Viet Vinh

The Concept for the Thu Thiem Master Plan envisions a lush peninsula of trees and waterways. Its urban spatial morphology is designed to achieve a balanced scale, harmonizing with the existing urban fabric. The central square is seamlessly connected by canals, directing water flows through the wetland forest. Along the banks of the Saigon River, open parks create a buffer that bridges the high-density urban spaces on the river’s west side.

The master plan for the Thu Thiem New Urban Center triumphed over 29 competing proposals (14 international and 15 Vietnamese) to earn high acclaim. The selected plan, originally proposed by SASAKI Inc., incorporated additional ideas during the detailed planning stage.
The selection committee, comprising renowned domestic and international urban experts, included figures such as Professor John Lang from New South Wales, Professor William S.W. Lim from Singapore, Professor Nguyen The Ba, and Professor Nguyen Manh Thu.

Type
Urban Planning
Year
2003
Area
730 hectares
Location
District 2, Ho Chi Minh City
Team
Professor Nguyen Trong Hoa
Master of Urban plannning Ho Viet Vinh

The goal is to enhance connectivity between Can Gio and neighboring provinces, particularly Vung Tau. As Ho Chi Minh City continues to expand, the demand for infrastructure grows, posing potential risks to Can Gio’s ecological integrity. Special attention is given to strengthening links with the nearby beach resort of Vung Tau, initially through a speedboat network and eventually with the proposed construction of an undersea tunnel.
While the jury found the tunnel proposal highly debatable, they acknowledged that the previously approved masterplan lacked adequate provisions for improving these connections. Team 4 prioritized these links, making them a central focus of their proposal.

Another key aspect of the development proposed by the team is the diversification of tourism activities. These could range from walking or boating excursions through the mangroves to farm visits, beach activities, and trips to nearby provinces made more accessible through the improved transportation links.
The team also presented a project to reclaim land and create two artificial islands off the coast at the eastern and western ends. These islands are envisioned as hubs for diverse tourism activities, offering unique experiences to visitors.

Achieving these objectives will require significant improvements to infrastructure. A high-speed transportation system must be implemented in a way that respects the environment and minimizes pollution, bringing Can Gio closer to nearby development areas.
Freshwater supply is critical for both residents and tourists. A sustainable water collection and recycling system should be established to optimize this valuable resource while preventing water pollution.
The construction of eco-houses will help balance the infrastructural development, ensuring harmony with the natural surroundings. Additionally, all other modes of transportation within the area will be designed to be environmentally friendly.

The project seeks to enhance the quality of life for the residents of Can Gio. This will be accomplished by preserving and upgrading traditional activities such as farming and those along the beach.
Locals will be encouraged to participate in service, trade, and production activities to meet the demands of tourism while maintaining their cultural heritage. Traditional practices will be promoted, enabling those living in the forest, on the beach, or along the river to share their unique ways of life.
Additionally, numerous public spaces and recreational activities will be developed, fostering leisure and entertainment opportunities for both residents and visitors.

The southern area of Can Gio along the beach will be developed with a focus on preserving the connections between the forest and the sea. Six key axes will serve as the foundation for these links: an agricultural production axis, a commercial axis, a festival axis, a handicraft village axis, a traditional market axis, and a public space axis.
This approach ensures that development respects the natural and cultural heritage of the region while creating vibrant and functional spaces for both residents and visitors.

The ultimate aim of this proposal is to evoke and enrich people’s senses and emotions, creating an “emotional city”. Both visitors and locals will be immersed in a symphony of sensory experiences:
They will listen to the soothing sounds of the forest and the rhythmic waves of the beach. They will marvel at breathtaking views of the sea and lush forests, swim in the waves, and feel the textures of the forest’s natural wonders.
The air will carry the refreshing scent of the sea, mingling with the intricate fragrances of the mangrove. They will savor the local flavors, from seafood harvested from the river and sea to traditional delicacies.
Beyond these sensory delights, their emotions will be further deepened by the rich history, vibrant culture, and timeless traditions of Can Gio, making every moment a journey of discovery and connection.

Team 4

• 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, comprised entirely of Vietnamese professionals and led by Architect Ho Viet Vinh, brought a profound vision for the future of Can Gio. The team outlined a series of key objectives, including the preservation of the mangrove ecosystem—both its core and transitional areas—the optimization and development of local production activities, and the protection of water resources from pollution originating from the Saigon-Dong Nai River and the sea.
For their insightful and forward-thinking approach, Team 4 awarded a special mention from the Workshops of Cergy-Pontoise.

The Zen garden embodies the essence of nature, situated within a coniferous forest, where it bathes in the morning sunlight and is immersed in the cool breeze of the nearby beach. Visitors move freely within its open space, unbound by fixed positions or traditional frames of reference.
Movement transcends notions of interior and exterior, high and low. Heaven and earth, plants, flowers, and humans merge into one harmonious whole, where every step resonates with the breath of the pure land.

Spiritual Sustainability as the Core Essence

For Architect Hồ Viết Vinh, a sustainable structure must encompass multiple dimensions: structural sustainability, environmental sustainability, aesthetic sustainability, and cultural sustainability. Yet, there is one essential, foundational element that underpins them all: spiritual sustainability. One of his upcoming and most cherished projects currently in development is the Trịnh Công Sơn Park in the ancient capital of Huế.

Guided by a philosophy of holistic sustainability, Hồ Viết Vinh has crafted unique architectural works such as Lebadang Memory Space and more recently, the Coral House in Hồ Tràm.

Could you share more about the milestones that have shaped your 25-year career?
I can summarize my more than 25 years of navigating this profession—full of challenges—into four stages: searching, understanding, contemplation, and practice.
The first stage took me around five years. I was seeking a way to survive in this field, with much effort but little clarity beyond earning a living.
The second stage arrived when I realized that architecture demands not only physical effort but also profound intellectual engagement.
The third stage was contemplation—reflecting on the distinct values that drive creativity. This was perhaps the most challenging period. It required me to relinquish things I had painstakingly gathered over time, clearing my mind to make space for the new.
Finally, the fourth stage is practice—not merely following thought processes, but letting intuition and wisdom guide my actions.

Your design philosophy seems inspired by Buddhist thought, correct?
Yes, indeed! The teacher who profoundly influenced my design philosophy is Thích Nhất Hạnh from Làng Mai (Plum Village), with his wisdom of interbeing (tương tức). According to Thích Nhất Hạnh, interbeing means: “If we understand that humans and nature are inseparable, we will know how to treat nature as we would treat ourselves—with care, gentleness, and love, free from violence. If we don’t want to harm ourselves, we should not harm nature, for harming nature is ultimately harming ourselves, and vice versa.”

How do you incorporate the concept of emptiness in your architectural works?
In essence, space is defined by emptiness. Without emptiness, there is no space. We must distinguish between the concepts of empty/full and open/closed. The former refers to spatial density, while the latter concerns the degree of openness to the external environment.
Emptiness is where dialogues unfold—between humans and nature, between individuals, and between oneself and the spiritual realm. It is a void that leads to infinite transformation and change.

What is your perspective on sustainable architecture? What, in your view, is the primary factor that defines sustainability?
When discussing sustainability, we must ask: sustainable in what sense? Is it structural, environmental, aesthetic, or cultural sustainability? Today, most conversations focus on environmental sustainability, as we face the brink of ecological destruction.
In my perspective, a truly sustainable structure must integrate all four aspects, with an additional core foundation: spiritual sustainability. This form of sustainability is rooted in an intuitive understanding of the fundamental truth of life on Earth—harmony, where all beings support one another to coexist.

“Architecture is a part of nature, and thus, it must harmonize with its surroundings. Light, wind, rain, storms, and even insects are all guests of the space.”

Is there a project that best embodies your design philosophy?
That would be the Lebadang Memory Space in Huế. This space is a harmonious blend of three elements: nature, form, and poetry. Nature includes the creations of the Earth—trees, flowers, rivers, skies, stones, humans, and animals. Form is defined by lines, shapes, colors, and materials that shape the space. Poetry is the soul that breathes life into it, creating a space that resonates with both the physical and the spiritual.

The thread that connects natural elements with the crafted form is poetry—a melody that flows from the primordial, carrying with it layers of cultural sediment, merging with the rhythm of life to shape the memory of time.

An Architect who has influenced you?
That would be Peter Zumthor, the renowned Swiss architect known for his famous quote:
“To design buildings that captivate the senses, architects must transcend the limits of form and structure.”

What experience do you consider most important for an architect like yourself?
Architecture came to me as destiny. Therefore, every experience carries its own value—there is no good or bad experience.
However, one pivotal experience stands out as a turning point in my creative journey. In 2005, I had the opportunity to participate in the 8th International Creative Competition organized by Les Ateliers Internationaux de Maitrise d’Oeuvre Urbaine Cergy Pontoise in France.
The competition brought together nearly 40 architects, urban planners, economists, managers, and environmental specialists from 17 countries. The theme was Ecological Tourism Urbanism in Cần Giờ (Can Gio entre ville ecologique et destination touristique).
Our project, titled “The City of Distinct Emotions” made a powerful impression on the jury and won the Special Award.

What is your perspective on materials in architecture? Are you experimenting with any specific materials?
Materials play a vital role in evoking aesthetic emotions within architectural spaces, alongside form and design language. Under the influence of light, these three elements harmonize to create the texture of space.
In my architectural designs, I place particular emphasis on exploring and incorporating local materials. These materials infuse spaces with the spirit of the place, giving them a unique identity and soul.

Could you share more about an upcoming project you are excited about?
A project I hold dear and that is currently being developed in Huế is the Trịnh Công Sơn Park.
Located at the confluence of three rivers, it rests against the Gia Hội Ancient Quarter, gazes upon the Hương River, and looks towards Ngự Bình Mountain as its front shield, with the Kim Phụng Range stretching across the landscape. This harmonious geographical setting provides the perfect foundation for the park in the heart of the ancient capital.
The park spans approximately 6.2 hectares and stretches nearly 1 kilometer along the lower reaches of Hương River, surrounded by water landscapes. Its structure is divided into two main sections: (1) The Space of “The Great Circle of Unity“ (20,000 m²); (2) The Musical Garden Space (42,000 m²).
The Great Circle of Unity is designed around the symbol of the Vietnamese Embrace, forming a double-layered circle representing the Fields of Vietnam. This concept draws inspiration from Trịnh Công Sơn’s musical longing for peace.
At its heart stands the statue of Trịnh Công Sơn, with a poised and serene posture, emerging from the landscape like a mountain standing tall. He becomes a symbol of the nation’s desire for unity, love for humanity, and a reflection on the human condition.
Every step into this space echoes with the uplifting and refreshing melodies of his music. It invites us to connect, hand in hand, forming a unified entity called Vietnam.
The Musical Garden Space, on the other hand, captures the lingering melodies of nature. Here, one can sense the gentle whispers of grass, flowers, birds, and the vibrant life that surrounds us—a symphony of nature’s tender serenade.

See the original article at the link.

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.