Tâm Tâm Vegetarian Restaurant / HectaDesign

Architects: HectaDesign
Area: 350 m²
Year: 2025
Lead Architects: Nguyen Tai Ngoc
Architects Team: Ngo Thanh Quy, Huynh Anh Tuan, Nguyen Vuong Binh, Duong Ngoc Chi Tam
Collaborators: Mộc Hoàng Gia
Client: Mrs. Phuong
City: Ho Chi Minh City
Country: Vietnam

Tâm Tâm Vegetarian Restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City reinterprets Vietnamese tradition through the lens of minimalism and modernity. Designed by HectaDesign for client Mrs. Phuong, the 350-square-meter project is envisioned as more than a conventional dining establishment. It is a carefully composed setting where architecture, cuisine, and memory intertwine. At its heart is the preservation of a century-old limewood roof from the French colonial period, whose trusses and beams remain intact, carrying the patina of time. The design extends this historical layer into a multisensory dining experience that begins with a stone-paved path, flanked by a lotus pond and rustic walls, leading into interiors shaped by filtered natural light, crafted details, and natural materials. Completed in 2025, the project reflects the client’s aspiration to create a restaurant that embodies simplicity while evoking cultural resonance. With handcrafted lanterns, lime-plastered walls, and raw wood finishes, Tâm Tâm establishes a serene atmosphere where guests can enjoy vegetarian cuisine while reconnecting with heritage and emotion.

Tâm tâm vegetarian restaurant / hectadesign

Tâm Tâm Vegetarian Restaurant distinguishes itself by embracing both the tangible and intangible qualities of Vietnamese heritage. More than a dining space, it was conceived as the architectural embodiment of a brand philosophy that seeks to connect minimalism with memory. The client’s ambition was not only to launch a new culinary destination but also to establish a place where design fosters emotional depth alongside the dining experience.

The project’s defining gesture is the preservation of its 100-year-old roof structure, a rare fragment of the colonial era in Ho Chi Minh City. Instead of concealing or reconstructing, HectaDesign reinforced the aged limewood beams and trusses, allowing their imperfections to remain visible. Lighting was used strategically to draw attention to the surfaces, ensuring that the weight of history is felt within the space.

The approach to the restaurant is orchestrated as a spatial narrative. Visitors enter along a narrow stone path that runs beside a lotus pond, with rustic earth walls and vegetation setting a rural tone amid the urban surroundings. From there, a wooden staircase ascends toward the main dining area, a gesture that recalls the intimate scale of traditional Vietnamese homes. This sequence emphasizes the act of transition, guiding guests into a contemplative environment before the meal begins.

Light and materiality form the core of the interior experience. On the ground floor, daylight is softened by a corrugated roof layered with white linen, diffusing illumination into a gentle glow that reduces glare and enriches the atmosphere. The upper floor, which houses the main dining hall and bar, benefits from the openness of the high-pitched roof and carefully placed openings that provide both ventilation and brightness. The restrained palette of patterned encaustic tiles, raw timber, and lime-coated walls reinforces a sense of authenticity and simplicity.

As evening falls, the space transforms. Recessed LEDs highlight architectural elements, while handcrafted bamboo and ceramic lanterns create a warm and inviting ambiance. These artisanal details extend the dialogue between past and present, integrating craftsmanship into the contemporary dining setting.

Tâm Tâm Vegetarian Restaurant stands as an exploration of how heritage can be reinterpreted for modern life. By aligning the preservation of a historic structure with a minimalist, emotionally resonant design language, HectaDesign has crafted a setting that transcends the act of dining. It is a place where architecture, memory, and gastronomy converge, offering guests not only a culinary experience but also a renewed connection to cultural identity.