A sea-inspired design blends flowing forms, natural textures, and coastal hues, evoking the serenity and rhythm of ocean waves.Tucked into the rhythmic pulse of Nha Trang’s lively café street-just minutes from its turquoise coastline-Vi Việt Quán (Vi Viet Restaurant) is not simply a place to dine.
It is a serene architectural retreat that redefines how coastal design can elevate a culinary experience.Set within a modest 232.5-square-meter plot, the restaurant uses space, light, and texture to craft a sensorial journey that begins at the façade and unfolds delicately throughout-a journey rooted in feeling the beach through sand and rock textures.
With only 172.8 square meters of usable floor area, the architecture does not rely on scale or grandeur.Instead, it leans into atmosphere, rhythm, and softness-creating a layered experience that speaks to the slow beauty of coastal life.Drawing influence from Mediterranean coastal charm, the tropical informality of Balinese resorts, and the warmth of Indochine style, Vi Viet’s design becomes a fusion of place and time, reimagined for contemporary Vietnamese identity.
From the street, Vi Viet makes an immediate impression-not through opulence, but through elegance and intimacy.The façade is defined by curvaceous “beach coconut” arched niches, a motif drawn from regional vernacular, interpreted with modern simplicity.These sculptural cutouts act as both a visual identity and lighting elements, glowing softly at night and radiating a warm sense of welcome.Their rounded forms recall the gentle nature of the sea, offering an architectural expression of calmness and hospitality.
The main entrance arch is softened by cascading greenery and subtle lighting, creating a tranquil threshold.By day, the combination of foliage and shadow lends a tropical softness; by night, it transforms into a glowing lantern-a gentle and poetic gesture that quietly invites guests inward.
FLOWING VOLUMES AND ORGANIC FORM: THE SPATIAL JOURNEY
Upon entry, the restaurant expands vertically into a double-volume dining hall, immediately distinguishing itself from the typical compressed interiors of urban eateries.This dramatic yet restrained space is designed not to impress, but to envelop.
Framed by arched windows and large glazing, the dining area welcomes natural light and openness.The floor is a tactile patchwork of pebble wash stone, natural flagstone, and handmade terrazzo, echoing the materials commonly found in coastal resorts around Nha Trang.This materiality anchors the architecture in local context-reinforcing the feeling of the beach through sand and rock textures.A graceful curved staircase in terrazzo, anchored by a warm timber handrail, acts as a sculptural gesture that links the two levels.Its sinuous form complements the verticality and encourages movement while maintaining a sense of calmness.
Rounded corners, arched wall niches, and fluid circulation define the interior geometry.Communal tables are arranged openly, fostering connection and social energy, while quieter corners and elevated seating areas provide spaces for intimacy and privacy.The spatial layout is inherently flexible, responding to different moods, group sizes, and times of day.
At Vi Viet, material selection is more than aesthetic-it is emotional.Each surface tells a story: of sea breezes, coastal sunlight, and the textures of everyday life in Nha Trang.The architecture invites guests to experience a space that is visually rooted and sensorially rich, evoking both coastal memory and tactile comfort.
The material palette thoughtfully combines textures and tones inspired by Nha Trang’s beachside character.The outdoor terrace and dining floor area are paved with natural flagstone, grounding the space with a rugged, earthy elegance reminiscent of coastal walkways and rocky shores.The dining wall areas feature pebble wash stone, its uneven texture capturing the feeling of beach pebbles and sand underfoot-making guests feel the beach through stone and sand textures.
In the toilet walls and floors, handmade terrazzo adds crafted detail and soft reflectivity, also used for tabletops and the upper floor dining area, introducing visual consistency across key zones.Its subtle aggregate sparkles gently under natural and ambient light, blending functionality with artisanal charm.The drop-off area is defined by basalt stone, its deep hue and strong linearity creating a grounded and elegant entry threshold- cool to the touch and visually commanding, contrasting with the sun-washed textures within.
Walls throughout are finished in a sand-textured plaster, evoking the soft dunes and sun-aged stones of the nearby coastline.This surface treatment brings a tactile depth and visual calm that reinforces the restaurant’s beachside character.
A defining architectural feature is the series of arched wall niches, softly lit and shaped like coconut shells-a nod to local iconography and the rhythm of tropical living.These glowing alcoves provide both ambient lighting and sculptural interest, threading regional metaphors into a clean, modern expression.
Together, these materials-natural flagstone, handmade terrazzo, pebble wash stone, basalt, and sand-textured finishes-form a narrative of place and atmosphere.They offer guests a setting that is not only visually striking but emotionally resonant, connecting the act of dining with the spirit of Nha Trang’s natural and cultural landscape.
Lighting throughout Vi Viet is designed not just to illuminate, but to enhance mood and emotion.In the double-volume hall, a cluster of handcrafted pendant lights hangs at varying heights, mimicking the gentle sway of ocean waves.These hanging lights -locally crafted-cast a warm, diffused glow that shifts from soft daylight filtering in to a golden shimmer as dusk falls.
Wall-integrated lights within the arched niches provide an ambient glow, casting highlights and shadows that play across textured surfaces.This creates a multi-layered lighting environment that feels alive, warm, and personal-a subtle drama that doesn’t overwhelm.
The entrance arch becomes especially radiant at night.Bougainvillea vines drape softly around the edges, catching the warm golden hues that spill from within.The resulting silhouette is both architectural and romantic-drawing guests inward, while creating a recognisable identity on the street.
While Vi Viet’s architecture stands confidently on its own, it is ultimately inseparable from its culinary narrative.The design exists to elevate and complement the food, not overshadow it.Each design decision-from the tactile flooring to the softness of light-supports the sensory act of dining.Here, food becomes part of the atmosphere, and space becomes part of the flavor.
The menu itself celebrates Vietnamese regional identity.Dishes like Nem Nướng Nha Trang (grilled pork and shrimp sausage), and Chả Giò Trái Cây Hải Sản (seafood and fruit spring rolls) draw directly from Nha Trang’s coastal bounty.Broader Vietnamese culinary traditions are also showcased through dishes such as Mẹt Bắc Việt (a Northern-style platter), Mẹt Cuốn Việt Viet’s specialty platter), Bún Chả Hà Nội, and Nem Cua Bể Hải Phòng (crab spring rolls from Hải Phòng).Each is prepared and presented in a way that complements the restaurant’s tactile, natural setting.
The bar area, although compact, becomes a glowing centerpiece of activity.It functions as a hearth-drawing people in, encouraging informal conversation, and reinforcing the restaurant’s easy, coastal pace of life.
Vi Viet is more than a place to eat-it is a place of rhythm, comfort, and connection.The double-volume openness invites sunlight, breeze, and energy, while the layering of textures and lighting creates moments of stillness and reflection.The upper mezzanine level is a peaceful refuge.Elevated slightly above the bustle of the ground floor, it offers a new perspective-still visually and acoustically connected, but with added privacy.This interplay of openness and intimacy is central to Vi Viet’s character: an orchestration of space that supports both social interaction and personal pause.
Throughout, lush greenery blurs the lines between built and natural.Hanging vines soften architectural edges, potted palms add vibrancy, and flowering climbers animate walls and railings.Nature is not an afterthought-it is a participant in the spatial experience.
Vi Việt Quán is not just a restaurant-it is an expression of coastal life.It is a living dialogue between architecture and place, between culinary art and material craft, between memory and experience.In a world where many spaces strive for visual novelty, Vi Viet chooses calm, elegance, and timelessness.It embraces the softness of Nha Trang’s landscape and translates it into a built form that nourishes both body and spirit.The restaurant doesn’t shout; it whispers-inviting guests to slow down, to savor, to feel the sand beneath their feet, and to connect.
Through every arched niche, every sand-washed wall, and every bowl of steaming noodles, Vi Viet tells a story of Vietnamese hospitality, tropical serenity, and architectural grace.It is an ode to Nha Trang-not just its cuisine or beaches, but its enduring sense of ease, warmth, and connection.
