Read the Latest Issue
HD MAGAZINE
Inspiration at your fingertips
Sign up for the latest edition of Hospitality Design magazine and HD's various newsletters
DIGITAL EDITION PRINT SUBSCRIPTION NEWSLETTERS
ARCHIVED ISSUES
HD EXPO + CONFERENCE
See you in 2025!
Save the date for the industry's leading event in Las Vegas, May 6–8th, 2025
HD EXPO + CONFERENCE
        • Projects
          • Development + Destinations
          • Boutique + Lifestyle
          • F+B
          • Hotels + Resorts
          • Retail + Commercial
          • Wellness + Sustainability
        • People
          • Interviews
          • Podcasts
          • Webinars
        • News
          • Business + People
          • Boutique + Lifestyle
          • Development + Destinations
          • F+B
          • Five on Friday
          • Hotels + Resorts
          • Retail + Commercial
          • Wellness + Sustainability
        • Products
          • Accesories + Art
          • Bath + Spa
          • Beds + Bedding
          • Flooring.
          • Furniture
          • Lighting
          • Outdoor
          • Roundups
          • Surfaces
          • Technology
          • Textiles
        • Videos
          • Awards + Events
          • BDNY
          • HD Expo + Conference
          • HDTV
          • Partner Spotlight
        • Awards + Events
          • HD Expo + Conference
          • BDNY
          • HD Awards
          • HD Summit
          • HD NextGen Forum
          • HD Platinum Circle Awards
          • HD CitySCENE
          • HD Wave of the Future
          • BD Forums
          • BD Match
          • Gold Key Awards
          • Senior Lifestyle Design Match
          • Event Photos
HD MAGAZINE
Inspiration at your fingertips
Sign up for the latest edition of Hospitality Design magazine and HD's various newsletters
DIGITAL EDITION PRINT SUBSCRIPTION NEWSLETTERS
ARCHIVED ISSUES
HD EXPO + CONFERENCE
See you in 2025!
Save the date for the industry's leading event in Las Vegas, May 6–8th, 2025
HD EXPO + CONFERENCE
Follow Along
  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow
M
POPULAR SEARCHES
PODCASTS
WEBINARS
FURNITURE
PROJECTS
VIDEO INTERVIEWS
INTERVIEWS
M
    
Search IconA magnifying glass icon.
  • News
    • Business + People
    • Boutique + Lifestyle
    • Development + Destinations
    • F+B
    • Five on Friday
    • Hotels + Resorts
    • Retail + Commercial
    • Wellness + Sustainability
  • Projects
    • Development + Destinations
    • Boutique + Lifestyle
    • F+B
    • Hotels + Resorts
    • Retail + Commercial
    • Wellness + Sustainability
  • People
    • Interviews
    • Podcasts
    • Webinars
  • Products
    • Accessories + Art
    • Bath + Spa
    • Beds + Bedding
    • Flooring
    • Furniture
    • Lighting
    • Outdoor
    • Roundups
    • Surfaces
    • Technology
    • Textiles
  • Awards + Events
    • HD Expo + Conference
    • BDNY
    • HD Awards
    • HD Summit
    • HD NextGen Forum
    • HD Platinum Circle Awards
    • HD CitySCENE
    • HD Wave of the Future
    • BD Forums
    • BD Match
    • Gold Key Awards
    • Event Photos
  • Videos
    • Awards + Events
    • BDNY
    • HD Expo + Conference
    • HDTV
    • Partner Spotlight
  • Subscribe
    • HD Newsletters
    • HD Magazine – Print
    • HD Magazine – Digital
    • BD Newsletters
    • BD Magazine
Read the Latest Issue
PROJECTS: Hotels + Resorts
March 13, 2018

The Myst Dong Khoi

Words by: Olha Romaniuk

Photos courtesy of Myst Dong Khoi

Projects:

Hotels + Resorts
March 13, 2018

The Myst Dong Khoi

Words by: Olha Romaniuk
Photos courtesy of Myst Dong Khoi

Located in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, the Myst Dong Khoi stands out as a peculiarity at first. Its irregular façade with oddly shaped and unevenly spaced windows creates a contrast against the emerging skyline composed of the nearby highrises. It is behind this exterior, however, that the hotel’s full story is unveiled in its most complete form. A depository of memories and a showcase of local artisanship at once, the Myst puts a contemporary spin on local traditions, evoking nostalgia through its bold design.

Designed by the Vietnamese architectural firm A21 studio, the 18-story hotel unfolds as a journey of discovery of the city, integrating local icons and cultural references that position Saigon not only as an emerging metropolis but as a culturally rich city, too. Beyond simply conveying the local charm of Ho Chi Minh City, A21 studio’s architect Nguyen Hoa Hiep sought to preserve the disappearing traditions and cultural vestiges of Saigon that are slowly giving way to rapid urbanization.

Hong Nam, hotelier and chairman of Vietnam’s Silverland Hotels & Spas Vu, which manages the Myst Dong Khoi, says that preserving the culture and the history of the city was always the primary aim of the hotel’s design: “Saigon is a warm-hearted, generous city with vibrant energy and rich heritage. We created the Myst, a modern sanctuary that tells the story of Saigon then and now, as a way to give back to the city.”

Throughout the property, a deliberate departure from a typical hotel typology draws curiosity and a sense of exploration. The hotel’s winding corridors with concrete ceilings and exposed sprinkler pipes are more reminiscent of the Saigon streetscape than a traditional hotel hallway. “Forms, space, and colors of the hallways remind people of small alleys in Saigon, mirroring the city’s twists and turns,” explains Hiep.

Similarly, in the lobby and at the outdoor café, Hiep integrated industrial parts and scraps salvaged from the demolished 200-year-old Ba Son Shipyard across the river to provide a glimpse of the real Saigonese history. Rooms, too, take cues from the traditional layouts of typical Vietnamese houses, complete with outdoor showers and small gardens that grow a variety of tropical flora that partially shield city views for more privacy.

Basic, vernacular materials like brick, tile, concrete, and wood instill a deeper sense of place as well as context within the Myst’s interiors, showcasing the humble, locally sourced products and craftsmanship. “Furniture and kitchenware in bedrooms are all handmade and can be easily found in the south of Vietnam,” says Hiep. “All together, these make up a welcoming atmosphere and showcase Saigon’s simple charms and rich traditions. In this way, the Myst is a gratitude to our beloved Saigon.”

Hotels + Resorts

SHARE

em

ln

fb

pn

tw

PROJECTS Hotels + Resorts

Saudi Arabia’s Desert Rock Immerses Guests in the Land

May 28, 2025

PROJECTS Hotels + Resorts

W Hotels 2.0 Elevates the Brand Into Its Luxury Era

May 21, 2025

← Previous Project Next Project →
HD MAGAZINE
hospitality design magazine august 2024 issue product marketplace

Inspiration at your fingertips

Get the newest issue of Hospitality Design magazine

DIGITAL EDITION

PRINT SUBSCRIPTION
ARCHIVED ISSUES
HD NEWSLETTERS

Join the list

Sign up for HD's various newsletters
for exclusive weekly content
SUBSCRIBE

BD MAGAZINE + NEWSLETTER

boutique design magazine fall 2024 issue

Sign up!

Don't miss the latest from Boutique Design

NEWSLETTER SIGN UP

SUBSCRIBE

ARCHIVED ISSUES

About | Contact | Buyers Guide | Advertise | Advisory Board | Sitemap

FOLLOW US ON

  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow

Subscribe

Emerald Logo
© 2025 Emerald X, LLC. All Rights Reserved
ABOUTCAREERSAUTHORIZED SERVICE PROVIDERSYour Privacy ChoicesTERMS OF USEPRIVACY POLICY

Sign up to stay informed about our latest awards and events.

Follow Along
  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow

Sign up to stay informed about our latest awards and events.

Follow Along
  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow