How to Spot Local Modernist Architecture in Southern Vietnam

Vietnamese modernist architecture grew rapidly after the country gained independence in 1954. During this period of rebuilding, local architects took the lead. They rejected the old French neo-classical designs. Instead, they chose modernism to represent a forward-looking nation. This style quickly spread from professional drawings to the streets of southern Vietnam. Today, travelers can see these mid-century designs in daily life, from urban shophouses to quiet coastal towns.

According to a report by Saigoneer, much of this modernist architecture in southern Vietnam was built without formal blueprints. In Ninh Thuận, some modernist homestays were designed by family members and built by local craftsmen who improvised with concrete. Neighbors copied features they liked, such as concrete sunscreens (brise-soleil). This informal sharing created regional variations, or local "dialects," of modernism across the southern provinces.