By Abbas Nazil
Vietnamese architects are increasingly turning to traditional techniques and local materials to design flood- and storm-resilient buildings as the country faces escalating climate risks.
With over 2,000 miles of coastline and low-lying river deltas, Vietnam is ranked among the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations.
More than 70% of its population is regularly exposed to natural hazards including typhoons, floods, and salt-water intrusion.
The World Bank estimated climate-related disasters cost the nation about $10 billion in 2020 alone, amounting to 3.2% of its GDP.
Projections by the United Nations Development Programme warn that 40% of the Mekong Delta, home to nearly 18 million people, could be submerged by the year 2100.
In response, local architects are drawing inspiration from heritage designs to adapt to these conditions.
One notable example is Terra Cotta Studio in Dien Phuong, developed by Tropical Space for local artist Le Huc Da.
Completed in 2016, the cube-shaped structure allows monsoon waters to flow harmlessly through its perforated brick walls rather than resist them.
The design not only endures seasonal floods but also provides shade and airflow against the region’s extreme climate.
In 2023, the project expanded into Terra Cotta Workshop, adding more studio space, a kiln, and visitor facilities, with raised storage platforms and elevated electrical wiring to ensure operations remain safe during floods.
Hanoi-based H&P Architects has taken another approach with its Floating Bamboo House prototype.
First conceptualized in 2015 and realized in 2022, the home floats on repurposed plastic barrels while being anchored to the riverbed.
Its triangular bamboo frame and large roof allow for rainwater collection and solar power generation, while flexible doors provide ventilation and storm protection.
Designed as an affordable option costing just $5,000, the house can be built within weeks and could serve as a practical alternative for millions of low-income households in flood-prone communities.
VTN Architects, founded by Vo Trong Nghia, have meanwhile explored bamboo’s flexibility to withstand strong winds.
Their Casamia Community House in Cam Thanh, completed in 2021, uses 22 bamboo arch trusses forming a large vaulted canopy.
The structure survived the destructive 2020 typhoon season, demonstrating bamboo’s strength and resilience.
Nghia has since taken bamboo projects abroad, including to China and the Venice Architecture Biennale, highlighting its potential for global application.
Other innovative projects include T3 Architects’ HippoFarm near Ho Chi Minh City, which raised buildings above flood levels using recycled steel horse boxes and rice-husk insulation.
The design relies on local materials and emphasizes sustainability while addressing frequent storms, heatwaves, and floods.
Although bamboo is praised as a low-carbon and culturally familiar material, regulatory challenges remain.
Only eight countries have building codes for bamboo, with the United States the only Western nation among them.
Vietnamese architects argue that with proper treatments and hybrid use alongside timber or steel, bamboo could play a far greater role in sustainable construction worldwide.
These locally rooted yet globally relevant innovations show how Vietnam’s architectural community is blending tradition and modern design to confront the climate crisis while offering solutions that could be adapted across borders.