In The Limelight

Vietnam’s architecture scene is steadily catching up to Asian powerhouses China and Thailand—and the world is watching.

- Margaret Sheppard

When Fong Chan Zeuthen, the founder of Kaze Interior Design Studio, first moved from Denmark to Vietnam 16 years ago, the country’s design scene lagged behind other Asian powerhouses. Much of the noteworthy architecture in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City was the work of international firms, while Vietnamese design often negatively connoted mass production.

“I had recently graduated as an architecture student,” recalls Zeuthen. “Being out here in Vietnam, in a country that had grown so fast and was still so hungry, I grew accustomed to seeing people take a lot of shortcuts. It was always a battle of quality versus quantity.”

While Vietnam still cannot match Thailand or China for architectural firms, these days the nation is rapidly catching up and the world is beginning to take note. Surging international investment, sustained economic growth, and an ever-mounting interest in the tourism and hospitality industries mean more money pouring into the country.

“Over the last four years, Vietnam has become a leading light in terms of emerging economies, with an expanding middle class, growing industrial sector, and a rapidly expanding hospitality sector,” says Andrew R. Frost, founder and director of Darkhorse Architecture. “For architects, this means there are many more exciting projects to be involved in. The cities and coastlines are transforming before our eyes.”