When talking about Vietnam, iconic symbols like gravel, embankment, Mekong River, French shutters and celadon mottled walls always come into mind. Slender Vietnamese girls dressed in red Ao Dai wander to and fro in the bustling market, and streets and alleys are filled with the fragrance of rice noodles and coffee floating in addition to the aroma of jasmine and earth. As depicted in Marguerite Duras's writings, Vietnam is such a country where French romance and the unique gentle temperament of Southeast Asia coexist.

Hoi An, as a "gem" in Vietnam, enjoys a unique location, right in the middle of Vietnam's s-shaped coastline, and was once a major Southeast Asian trading port in the 16th century. Dating from hundreds of years ago, generations of Chinese people immigrated here and cultivated the roots of the earliest Chinatown and a prosperous Chinese community. Japanese, Dutch as well as French merchants and colonists chose to stay and conduct business here as well, making this port a place where Eastern and Western cultures converge.

Hoiana Hotels & Suites is located in Hoiana Integrated Resort, which is Vietnam's first world-class integrated resort as well as a top comprehensive resort & tourism development in Asia.

Inherit cultural context, reproduce the past

The built environment of the ancient town Hoi An is predominated by time-honored heritage buildings with delicately preserved authentic Vietnamese style, containing no trace of modern architecture. In addition, the French colonial style has been deemed as one of the architectural features of this town for more than a century. Inspired by the French colonial era in Vietnam, the design of Hoiana Hotels & Suites incorporates representative French colonial architecture style and decoration elements.

While taking French colonial style as the design thread, local customs and artistic elements are combined to create a memorable experience and trigger sensory emotions in space.

Stepping into the hotel lobby, what comes into sight becomes the first impression to guests. Bearing that in mind, CCD adopted classic French-style symmetric layout to organize the space, which is incorporated with natural tropical rain forests and original local culture as well as orderly placed decorations like floral art to enhance a sense of ceremony and generate a refreshing and elegant ambience.

The design team picked Southeast Asian-style lamps, ceiling fans and dark black-toned ebony furnishings, portraying a spatial scene that recalls colonial period.

By deconstructing and recombining design approaches and materials, CCD team interpreted old materials in an innovative way, and created a contrast of the old and new in different functional areas, thereby producing varied spatial experiences.

Light and shadows interplay on material textures, resulting in a stunning yet illusionary visual effect and responding to local context as well.

Nostalgic sentiments, exotic style

While inheriting the cultural quintessence of Hoi An, CCD team reflected on how to cater to people's diversified functional demands for space in the contemporary context, and creatively introduced new meanings and functions into the space.

The restaurant blends colonial style and Oriental elements, such as retro wall decorations and wooden lines.

Woven textures, French shutters, pendent lamps and prints show the fusion of modern and retro styles.

Culture is revealed from trivial details of daily life. Articles that echo a certain period such as tea wares, lamps and flower decorations represent local aesthetic taste and cultural features.

These elements enrich the space and enable it to transcend time, inviting visitors to interpret and redefine it and hence gaining everlasting charm.

The bar features delicate floorings and counter veneers, the patterns of which are inspired by Medieval pictures of Southern France. Those material textures and patterns are gentle, lovely and also elegant, neutralize the earthiness of furnishings and create a stylish space.

In the meantime, nature and plants are brought into this space in a seemingly random way, further strengthening the dialogue between interior and outside. The natural landscape, light and shadows subtly infiltrate in, enlivening the space and the cultural symbols in it.

Calm and cozy, generous and genial

The swimming pool area combines both aesthetics and functionality.

Local common tropical flowers and trees including palms and broad-leaved plants are brought to this area, to express the dynamic, passionate Southeast Asian style.

Open-air courtyard, outdoor furniture pieces and flourishing plants harmonize with each other, showing Oriental charm and playfulness.

The infinity pools combined with the azure ocean bring a calming and cozy experience, generating an exquisite and delicate view.

Salty sea breeze, colorful dreamy scene

The guestrooms adopt typical Vietnamese-style layout, equipped with outdoor terraces that provide an unobstructed view to the fascinating white sand beach and coastal scenery.

The guestrooms show thoughtful details and design. The customized furniture along with unique textures and wall decorations enhance the comfort of the space.

Through subtly combining colors, materials and patterns, and according with ergonomic principles, each guestroom provides a comfortable and relaxing environment that matches with traditional Vietnamese aesthetics.

The guestroom design maintains a modest gesture with appropriate decorations. Both the furniture and lighting emphasize space utilization and enjoyment. Lighting accentuates the configuration of furniture pieces, and changes the tone of different areas in the room.

The design expresses true "inner beauty", which has its soul and will last in spite of the passage of time.

The retro furnishings and deliberately designed lamps in the guestroom produce a unique atmosphere that recalls art films.

The elegant French colonial style and patterned textures portray a retro scene of earlier times. The simple, modest design language and restrained color palette create a calming atmosphere for guests.

Dialoguing with the sound of waves and the rowing boats, this hotel presents the colorful impressions of Hoi An to its guests.

Project name: Hoiana Hotel & Suites

Client: Hoi An South Development ltd.

Location: Hoiana Integrated Resort

Area: 19,693 square meters

Interior design: CCD / Cheng Chung Design (HK) (www.ccd.com.hk)

Hotel photos: Fred Wissink

Hotel photo copyrights: CCD / Cheng Chung Design (HK)