New Eco-Resort In Vietnam Honors Local History And Culture

A new eco-resort is on track to open on the coast of Vietnam. The lush property will become one of the largest hospitality focused masterplans in south east Asia. The design for the Mui Dinh Ecopark will include six resort hotels and a boutique hotel.

All in all, the destination will boast 7,000 rooms with 500 ocean-facing villas. Not unlike a Disney park, guests will have an array of experiences to choose from since there will be a theme park, casino, beach club, and mountain clubhouse.

More importantly, at the core of the property, there will also be an Ecopark where anyone can learn about the local ecosystem. As a central feature, this resource will give both residents and visitors the ability to learn about and experience the nearby habitat.

The company who designed this masterplan, Chapman Taylor, has been designing cutting edge buildings since 1959. While they have studios across Europe and the Middle East, they also have quite a bit of experience working on projects in Vietnam. The group has already won over 250 global design awards and hopes to create a lasting legacy with the Mui Dinh project.

Chapman Taylor’s South East Asia Director, Oscar Martinez, is spearheading this project and shares his optimistic view of this unique undertaking, explaining, “We are delighted that the Vietnamese government has given its full support to our Masterplan and this ambitious and unique eco-development, which will transform this beautiful coastal area into a new exciting sustainable destination and give an economic boost to this region of eastern Vietnam.” 

The overarching aim behind the Mui Dinh Ecopark is to reflect the surrounding environment. The mixed-used development plan draws inspiration from local elements such as the sand, sea, salt, and sun. This approach creates a natural focus towards environmental sustainability at the heart of the project.

The team took a close look at the topography, local ecosystem, and local weather so they could understand how the natural elements work together in this area. After studying the local environment, the team was able to create a masterplan that would complement the ecosystem.

The buildings are designed to take advantage of the elements, so they can be ventilated by the wind and shaded during the hotter hours of the day. The rainwater will be harnessed during dryer months, and they plan to recycle grey water.

The team tapped into the local history and culture when putting together the design. This part of Vietnam was first inhabited by the Cham people hundreds of years ago. By creating temples, homes, and fabrics using local materials, the tribe shaped the area for generations. It was important for the Chapman Taylor team to blend this rich history into the masterplan.