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Architectural Secrets of Zannier Bãi San Hô

Discover the architecture of Zannier Bãi San Hô in Dak Lak, Vietnam, where tribal-inspired villas reflect Cham, Bahnar and Ede heritage.

Zannier Bãi San Hô, Dak Lak, Vietnam - Inspiration behind the architecture - © Pie Aerts

Set within 98 hectares of ancient paddy fields, verdant hilltops and palm groves, Zannier Bãi San Hô resort in Dak Lak, Vietnam, faces a kilometre-long white powder beach. It has been created to be at one with its surroundings, with a cultural approach to design that celebrates the region’s heritage, materials and way of life through artful simplicity.

Zannier Bãi San Hô, Dak Lak, Vietnam - Interior of a Beach Pool Villa with natural and calming materials

Tribal Architecture Interpretation

The Terrace, Hill Pool and Beach Pool villas each draw inspiration from Vietnam’s rich cultural heritage, including from the Cham, Bahnar and Ede tribes. Each is a modern reinterpretation of the traditional dwellings found in these communities, built ecologically using age-old techniques that preserve thei architectural authenticity while offering a contemporary way of living. Spread across 98 hectares of pristine land, the three villa categories each express a distinct style.

Zannier Bãi San Hô’s design embodies Zannier Hotels’ “less is more” signature style, with pared-down interiors featuring natural colours and textures, while Vietnamese paintings and silk prints grace the walls. Soft furnishings incorporate raw silk, woven rattan and hessian, and elegant furniture is handcrafted from reclaimed wood and bamboo.

What sets the resort apart is its devotion to the region’s heritage, from artefacts and antiques sourced locally to decor born of resourcefulness. Materials left over from construction have been given new life, and in the Beach Pool Villas, painted driftwood frames sit alongside the textiles used throughout the resort.

Terrace Villas

A TRIBUTE TO FISHERMEN HOUSES

The 25 Terrace Villas, with 4 by the beach and 21 by the paddy fields, are inspired by the fisherman’s houses found in the nearby floating villages. What began as a fishermen’s market became a thriving floating community. Originally built as a place for returning fishermen to sell their fresh catch from the night before, the floating villages quickly became residential, with people living, eating, sleeping, working and socialising on these tiny, self-sufficient islands.

Designed to be a refuge amongst the paddy fields, the 49 m² wooden villas have been built on stilts in the traditional style, with interconnecting walkways snaking through the greenery and expansive terraces making the most of the stunning countryside views. Inside, the blue walls echo the fisherman’s homes, with the interiors decorated simply yet effectively, creating a continuity between inside and out.

Touches such as Non La (Vietnamese conical leaf hats) lining the walls and woven reed fishing baskets are a nod to the locale, whilst a daybed by the window is lit with a hessian lampshade to provide the perfect spot to enjoy the beauty of the rice fields.

Zannier Bãi San Hô - Traditional Vietnamese Fishermen Houses that inspired Green Field Villas
Zannier Bãi San Hô - Exterior view of a Green Field Villa with a pond view

Beach Pool Villas

INSPIRED BY THE CHAMS’ ARCHITECTURE

Situated directly on the beach, the 21 Beach Pool Villas are inspired by the Chams (Chăm), who live along the central coasts of Vietnam.

The Chams traditionally follow the matriarchal system with boys staying with their wife’s family. As a result, the ground type homes are often built close together, reflecting the strong bonds of the Cham communities.

Traditionally, these single-level houses are built in very orderly rows, with a west-facing entrance. The Beach Pool Villas are no different in this respect. With thatched roofs, a wooden claustra to provide privacy and walls covered in cob, a natural material of clay, sand and straw, the villas have been designed to resemble a typical house of a Cham family.

Built on wooden stilts, the 11 Beach Front Pool Villas, 7 one- and 3 two-bedroom Beach Pool Villas wach feature a private pool facing the turquoise sea, with powder-white sand just steps away. The interiors evoke the Chams’ simple way of living, with a beige and cream colour tone, walls adorned with painted driftwood panels, and cool cottons and linens that create a light and airy feel reflective of their beachside setting.

The thatched roofs are built from the wood of “Gỗ Chò Chỉ” (Parashorea chinensis), a fragrant evergreen tree resistant to the moisture of Vietnam’s humid forests.

Zannier Bãi San Hô - A traditional house of the Chams tribe used as inspiration for the Beach Pool Villas
Zannier Bãi San Hô - Exterior of a Beach Pool Villa inspired by the Chams tribe

Hill & Grand Bay Pool Villas

EVOKING RADE LONGHOUSES

Sitting proudly on the hilltop, with panoramic views, the 25 Hill Pool Villas and 2 Grand Bay Pool Villas have been inspired by the longhouses of the Rade people (Ê Đê) who inhabit the Central Highlands. Typically a succession of rooms, the ingenious architecture of these dwellings allows for expansion as the family grows, with some reaching up to 100 metres in length.

With their long shape, low tiled roofs and bamboo cladding, the villas draw on the distinctive elements of this architectural style. Each one- and two-bedroom villa is surrounded by a loggia and features a private pool and terrace overlooking the coral bay, while tropical foliage ensures peace and privacy.

The interiors are designed in the spirit of a traditional longhouse, featuring an eye-catching vaulted wooden ceiling resembling a boat’s hood and following the division between the Gah, a communal area with a large living room for family activities, and the Ok, which includes the kitchen and bedrooms.

Rustic interiors feature earthy tones throughout, with brushed stone walls, smooth bamboo flooring, beautifully weathered wood and lantern-style lighting. Unfinished wood is the primary material throughout the villas, while touches such as the driftwood tray atop the minibar are inspired by those local villagers once used to carry home wood gathered from the forest. Overlooking the resort with incredible views across the bay, the villas are reminiscent of the traditional longhouses found in the mountains, with a denser colour palette that draws on earth tones for a more rustic aspect.

Zannier Bãi San Hô - Traditional house of the Vietnamese Rade tribe that inspired the Grand Bay Pool Villa
Zannier Bãi San Hô - Exterior view of the Grand Bay Pool Villa Inspired by the Vietnamese Rade tribe

Bà Hai Restaurant

AN ODE TO BANHAR ARCHITECTURE

Bà Hai not only provides an authentic culinary journey through Vietnam, but is a breathtaking architectural masterpiece. Overlooking the rice fields, the impressive 12-metre-high building is a tribute to the traditional architecture of the Bahnar Communal House, one of the most beautiful remaining examples of which is showcased at the Ethnographic Museum of Vietnam in Hanoi (Bảo tàng Dân tộc học Việt Nam). It is also probably the most iconic and complex building developed at Zannier Bãi San Hô.

One of the most ionic sights of Vietnam’s Central Highlands, these communal houses sit at the heart of every village and can reach up to 30 metres in height and serve as gagthering places for ceremonies, festivities, and community life.

Situated at the heart of the resort, Bà Hai echoes this role, bringing guests together through authentic Vietnamese cuisine. Built on stilts, the 346 m² structure is constructed using grass, bamboo and wood from the Central Highlands. Long horizontal beams supported by wooden pillars, while the steep blade-shaped roof, covered with thatched leaves and reinforced by diagonal beams, provides exceptional resistance to wind.

Inside, the extraordinary nine-metre-high ceiling reveals an intricate network of exposed bamboo, rattan and wooden beams, showcasing exceptional craftsmanship. The interior design celebrates the natural beauty of Vietnam through local artefacts and objects, including a beautiful collection of old pots.

Extending over the paddy fields, the terrace provides an idyllic setting for alfresco dining, while the refined and peaceful atmosphere invites guests on a journey of the senses. Bà Hai not only offers an authentic culinary journey through Vietnam, but is also a breathtaking architectural masterpiece.

Zannier Bãi San Hô, Vietnam - Building that served inspiration for Ba Hai Restaurant
Zannier Bãi San Hô, Dak Lak, Vietnam - Exterior view of Bà Hai Restaurant inspired by the Bahnar tribe