VIETNAM and LAOS

ARCHITECTURE
History of Architecture 3
 • Socialist Republic of Vietnam
• Boundaries:
China -  north
Laos -  northwest, 
Cambodia – southwest
South China Sea - east
• Became independent from
Imperial China in 938 AD.
• Colonized by the French in the
mid-19th c
• Divided by a Communist north
and a capitalist south during the
Cold War.
• HANOI - capital city since the
reunification of North and South
Vietnam in 1976.

http://www.amazone-travel.com/vietnam-e.html
 Two main cities of
Vietnam are both located
next to large rivers.
1. Hanoi (north) - Red
River.
2. Ho Chi Minh
City/Saigon (south) -
delta of the Mekong
River.

http://catalog.flatworldknowledge.com/bookhub/reader/2657?e=berglee_1.0-ch11_s02
 http://www.friendsofvso.org/sitepages/culture.html http://rol.vn/resourcedetail/1/1125/water-puppetry/

Water Puppet

• Vietnamese culture is an amalgamation of many ethnic groups

such as the Cham, Khmer, Muong, Hmong and Chinese.
• Vietnam's history goes back to the civilization of the Hung kings,
about 400 years ago.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7971389@N03/495618057/lightbox/ http://www.hanoitraveltours.com/unique-architecture-one-pillar-pagoda.html

Old Hindu Temple One Pillar Pagoda, Hanoi

• Vietnam has no state religion.

• Main religion is Buddhism, introduced during the Chinese
occupation with classic monasteries and pagodas.
• Hinduism is the first religion of the Champa kingdom brought
from India. The Cham people erected Hindu temples (Bimong)
throughout Central Vietnam.
LY DYNASTY
The Ly Dynasty initiated a new phase in
architectural development during the 11th
century while a united-feudal state was
developing. Generally, the architecture of Ly
Dynasty, 11th and 12th centuries, had five
orthodox styles
-Citadels
-palaces
-Castles
-Pagodas
-Houses

architectural characteristics of the Ly Dynasty

were residential complexes, more ornamental
roofs, doors, door-steps, banisters, and
rounded statues, all in a suitable design for the
climate and traditional customs of Vietnam.
Streets, markets, ground and stilt houses in
The Thang Long Citadel had a
popular architectural design developed
complex of palaces, many of which
simultaneously as royal palaces. were 3-4 floor temples.
THE LE DYNASTY
The orthodox architecture under Le Dynasty in
the 15th century, had two dominant styles:
-the imperial palace
-the royal tomb

But Thap Pagoda in Bac Ninh Province is

famous for its structure and for the
techniques used to build the tower

The But Thap Pagoda in Bac Ninh Province

THE NGUYEN DYNASTY
-The development of Bac Ha region at the beginning of the 19th century was
slowed down
-development in Thang Long increased and citadels, cultural structures, temples,
and new residential areas were built.
-The center of the significant development was in Hue where imposing citadels,
palaces, and tombs were built.
-The Vietnamese culture in Hue was influenced by the gardened-type houses
which is quite different from the tubular type of houses in Hanoi.
-he architecture of Hue was considered as a collection of traditional influences
which relied on flat surfaces, citadel and urban centers, interior decoration, and
scenery structures.
THE TRAN DYNASTY
The dominant architecture models under the
Tran Dynasty, were the:
-royal palace
-pagoda
-house
-temple
-citadel

The complexity and structure of Pho Minh Pagoda is an outstanding example of

the architectural style of the Tran Dynasty period and of the following centuries.
The structure was designed in 3 main sections: the lobby, main hall, and sanctuary.
Thang Long Citadel of the Ho Dynasty

http://www.worldheritagesite.org/sites/thanglong.html
http://unescopostcard.blogspot.com/2011/12/vn1358-citadel-of-ho-dynasty-available.html

VIETNAM ‘s UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and

Cultural Organization) inscribed on World Heritage Lists:

Cultural
1. Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long - Hanoi (2010)
2. Citadel of the Ho Dynasty (2011)
3. Complex of Hue Monuments (1993)
4. Hoi An Ancient Town (1999)
5. My Son Sanctuary (1999)
Natural
6. Ha Long Bay (1994)
7. Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park (2003)
http://www.vietnamdiscoverytravel.com/bhaya-cruise.html

HA LONG BAY 
• Located in the Gulf of
Tonkin, within Quang
Ninh Province,
northeast of Vietnam
• Covers an area 43,400
ha. with over 1600
islands and islets.
• Seascape of limestone
pillars/ mature Karst
landforms
http://hasslefreevietnam.com/halong-bay-one-day.html
 HOI AN ANCIENT TOWN

• South-East Asian trading port

in Quang Nam Province,
which dates back from the
15th - 19th c.
• Buildings and street plan
reflect the influences, both
indigenous (traditional http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PhoCoHoiAn.jpg

Vietnamese) and foreign Chinese Temple

(Chinese, Japanese, etc.)

 French-era building http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Asia/Vietnam/South_Central_Coast/Da_Nang/Hoi_An/photo201

http://www.concierge.com/travelguide/centralvietnam/hotels/42501
812.htm
HOI AN 
ANCIENT TOWN

• Buildings are aligned along

narrow lanes which include
religious buildings, such as
pagodas, temples, meeting
houses; markets, houses and http://www.vietnamonline.com/destination/hoi-an.html

other which relate to the

development of a port
community.
• Architecture almost entirely of
wood.
• Typical house conforms to a
corridor plan, the following
elements occurring in
sequence: house, yard and
house.
http://www.aprotravel.com/centre-heritage/hoi-an-charming-tours/676-hoi-an-daily-trip-and-around.html
HUE
COMPLEX OF MONUMENTS
 HUE • Walled city, north side of
COMPLEX OF MONUMENTS the Perfume River.
• Served as administrative capital
of southern Vietnam in the 17th c.
and again in the 18th c.
• Planned according to ancient
oriental philosophy and
Vietnamese tradition :
– Respect for the physical conditions
of the site:
http://www.vietnamwiki.net/Hue-See-Hue_Imperial_city-P78 – Perfume River as the main axis.
– Ngu Binh mountain (Royal
Screen).
– Relationship between:
– 5 cardinal points (centre, west,
east, north, south)
– 5 natural elements (earth, metal,
wood, water, fire)
– 5 basic colors (yellow, white, blue,
black, red)

http://www.vietnam-aloha.com/about-hue-vietnam-what-to-see-eat-and-do.html
HUE
COMPLEX OF MONUMENTS
• National capital of united Vietnam
in 1802 – 1945
• Four citadels or defended
enclosures made up the city

1. Kinh Thanh (Capital City) -

official administrative buildings http://www.vietnamculturaltravel.com/destinations/world-heritage-sites/the-citadel-of-hue-city /

2. Hoang Thanh (Imperial City) -

royal palaces and shrines
 HUE
COMPLEX OF
MONUMENTS

• Political, cultural and

religious center under http://www.vietnamwiki.net/Hue-See-Hue_Imperial_city-P78

the Nguyen dynasty. 3. Tu Cam Thanh (Forbidden Purple City or Inner

City) - royal residences, similar to China where only
the emperors, concubines, and those close enough
to them were granted access.

3. Tran Binh Dai - additional defensive

work in the northeast corner of the
Capital City, designed to control
movement on the river.

– Tran Hai Thanh (Coastal Bastion) – 5 th

fortress constructed a little later to protect
the capital against assault from the sea.
 Hai Ba Trung High Sch
Khai Dinh Tomb http://www.flickr.com/photos/40295335@N00/7989950481/

Thien Mu Pagoda Tu Duc Tomb Quoc Học High School

http://vietnamheritagetravel.com/blog/3-royal-tombs
http://flickriver.com/photos/nguyenloc_sg/3749015616/

Monuments along the Perfume River:

1. Tombs of several emperors, including Minh Mạng, Khai Dịnh, and Tu Duc.
2. Thien Mụ Pagoda - largest pagoda in Hue and official symbol of the city.

French-style buildings along the south bank of the Perfume River:

3. Quoc Học High School - the oldest high school in Vietnam
4. Hai Ba Trung High School
MY SON SANCTUARY

• Dates from the 4th -14th c.,

located in Duy Phú, Quảng
Nam province in Central
Vietnam, a valley surrounded
by two mountain ranges. http://mysonsanctuary.com/107/how-to-get-my-son-sanctuary/

• Indian influenced Hindu

temple complex, and political
capital of the Cham dynasty.

http://www.vietnamtravelblog.info/destinations/my-son-sanctuary/
 MY SON SANCTUARY

• Complex of temples and tombs

• Tower temples were designed
and built to symbolize Mt.
Meru, the mythical sacred
mountain of the Hindu gods at http://www.vir.com.vn/news/travel/my-son-sanctuary
the center of the universe,
symbolically reproduced on
earth in the mountainous
homeland of the Cham people.
• Used of fired brick with stone
pillars and decorated with
sandstone bas-reliefs depicting
scenes from Hindu mythology.

http://www.mediastorehouse.com/low.php?xp=media&xm=3764363
 Hanoi Opera House

HANOI FRENCH QUARTER

• Wide tree-line boulevards and

imposing colonial buildings which
began in 1983.

History Museum blends Asian and European styles

http://www.1stophanoi.com/articles/french_quarter http://www.flickr.com/photos/21264033@N00/6349746934/in/photostream/
LAOS
• Centers on the Mekong
River basin and rugged
mountain terrain.
• Boundaries:
 Vietnam - east
 Cambodia - south
• Lao Kingdom in 1500s
was part of the Kingdom
of Siam.
• Under French Colony
• Received independence
from France in 1949. 

http://catalog.flatworldknowledge.com/bookhub/reader/2657?e=berglee_1.0-ch11_s02
Vat Xieng Thong

HISTORIC TOWN OF
LUANG PRABANG

• Royal capital in the

mountainous region along
the Mekong river.
http://www.allposters.com/-sp/Vat-Xieng-Thong-Luang-Prabang-UNESCO-World-Heritage-Site-
Laos-Indochina-Southeast-Asia-Asia-Posters_i8738077_.htm • Complex with Buddhist
temples, monasteries and
National Museum, Vat Ho Pha Bang
Buddhist Temple at Haw Kham (Royal Palace) the village.
complex
• Fusion of traditional
architecture and Lao urban
structures with those built
by the European colonial
authorities in the 19th and
20th c.

http://www.allposters.com/-sp/National-Museum-Vat-Ho-Pha-Bang-Luang-Prabang-UNESCO-
World-Heritage-Site-Laos-Indochina-Posters_i8739295_.htm
 THAT – Lao Stupa

http://www.worldisround.com/articles/352969/photo9.html

That Pathum (Lotus Stupa), Wat Phat Luang (Golden lotus bud),
LUANG PRABANG Vientiane

• Known as That Makmo • Site of a previous stupa of Khmer

(watermelon stupa) origin.
• Reconstructed large squat • Mandala - Terraced Stupa.
stupa, Sri Lankan style. • Combination of Khmer, Lao and
Ceylonese influences.
 UNESCO World Heritage Sites:
1. The Historic Town of Luang Prabang

2. Wat Phou (Vat Phu) - ancient Hindu temple complex

WAT or VAT – Temple Mountain

http://www.smh.com.au/travel/activity/great-outdoors/remains-of-the-day-
http://www.paksecruise.com/vat-phou-boat/the-visits/vat-phou-ruins/
20111012-1lkhp.html
REFERENCES:

De la Croix, Horst and Richard Tansey. Gardner’s Art Through the Ages.
Ancient, Medieval and Non-European Art. 7th ed. Harcourt Brace
Jovanovich, Inc. USA. 1976.
Goepper, Roger. Landmarks of the World’s Art. The Oriental World. Mc.
Graw-Hill Book Company, New Yorkl – Toronto. 1967.
Harris, Cyril M. Historic Architecture Sourcebook. Mac Graw Hil, Inc.
USA.1977.
Palmes, J.C. Sir Banister Fletcher’s A History of Architecture. 18th ed. The
Athlone Press, University of London. London

Other Sources:
Pictures and data from Internet Sources