Towards Creating Sustainable HighRise Buildings in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam: Lessons from Traditional Building Design Principles
Hai-Yen Hoang
Abstract
Hai-Yen Hoang
Abstract
In the context of global climate change, Vietnam is facing significant challenges in achieving sustainable development goals, particularly those related to carbon neutrality in the construction sector. Modern high-rise buildings in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) contribute substantially to greenhouse gas emissions due to their reliance on artificial cooling systems and imported materials. In comparison, vernacular architecture of Vietnam has long embodied passive design principles—natural ventilation, shading, the use of local materials, and adaptation to tropical climates, which are effective low-energy techniques which have produced sustainable buildings for centuries. In this context, this paper examines how these traditional principles can inform sustainable design strategies for contemporary high-rise buildings in HCMC. The research adopts a qualitative methodology, involving a literature survey and consultation of experts through interviews. These are supported with global case studies alongside Vietnamese case studies on climate-responsive dwellings employing passive design strategies in vernacular architecture. The findings reveal that integrating vernacular wisdom into modern constructions could enhance thermal comfort, reduce energy demand, and support a low-carbon transition. The paper thus concludes that vernacular heritage offers a rich source of sustainable knowledge applicable to modern sustainable architecture. Learning from traditional design logic—orientation, material use, cross-ventilation, and community layout—can help cities like HCMC to develop high-rise buildings that are both technologically advanced and environmentally rooted in local culture.
Keywords:
Vernacular architecture, Passive design, Sustainable building, Net Zero Carbon, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.