Paint colour is one of the first finishing choices, and for many families in Hai Phong choosing house colours by feng shui is an essential step. This guide summarises the traditional five-element approach, then adds technical advice so colours last in northern Vietnam's humid, hot climate.
Note: feng shui is a cultural tradition and should be treated as a reference. A "lucky" colour does not replace good design, daylight and quality materials, which are what really make a home pleasant.
The five elements
The five elements are Metal (Kim), Wood (Mộc), Water (Thủy), Fire (Hỏa) and Earth (Thổ).
- Generating cycle: Metal produces Water, Water feeds Wood, Wood feeds Fire, Fire creates Earth, Earth produces Metal.
- Controlling cycle: Metal cuts Wood, Wood depletes Earth, Earth absorbs Water, Water extinguishes Fire, Fire melts Metal.
People usually favour their own element's colours and those of the element that generates it, and limit colours of the element that controls it.
Colour table by element
| Element | Own colours | Supporting colours | Colours to limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metal | White, grey, metallic | Yellow, earth brown | Red, pink, orange, purple |
| Wood | Green | Black, blue | White, grey |
| Water | Black, blue | White, grey | Yellow, earth brown |
| Fire | Red, pink, orange, purple | Green | Black, blue |
| Earth | Yellow, earth brown, beige | Red, pink, orange, purple | Green |
Finding your element
The element is based on the lunar birth year, so people born in January or early February should check whether they were born before or after Tết. House colours traditionally follow the head of the household; private rooms can follow their occupant. Check your element and suitable building years and directions with our house-building age checker.
Using element colours tastefully
Avoid painting the whole house in a strong element colour. Use the 60–30–10 rule: 60% light neutral base on walls and ceilings (tinted towards your element if you like), 30% secondary colour in large furniture, curtains and floors, and 10% accent in cushions, art, the front door or one feature wall, where strong element colours work best.
Practical painting advice
- Light reflectance: lighter colours reflect more light (higher LRV). Deep townhouses with few windows benefit from light walls and ceilings. Lamp colour temperature also changes how paint looks; our lighting calculator helps you choose fittings.
- Damp and mould: use washable, mould-resistant interior paint in kitchens, bathrooms and ground floors, an alkali-resistant primer, and waterproof wall bases and bathroom walls first. Avoid painting during the damp season (roughly February to April); walls must be dry or paint may blister and peel.
- West-facing and exterior walls: choose light colours to absorb less heat, consider heat-reflective exterior paint, and use UV-, water- and mould-resistant exterior products. Dark exterior colours fade faster.
- Test first: colours usually look stronger on a large wall. Paint a 1 m² sample and check it morning, afternoon and under evening lights.
Combine feng shui with the whole design
Colours work best when chosen together with flooring, joinery, stone, curtains and lighting. If you are planning a build, read about 3-storey house costs in Hai Phong, then contact HICONIQUE × PQT for a colour scheme that suits both your element and your home.
