VI EN
Regional & climate

Indochine

Indochina style, French-colonial Vietnamese

France meets Asia: patterned cement tiles, dark wood, rattan and louvred shutters in a tropical climate.

Lime creamTurmericDeep jadeMahogany brownLacquer black

Origin: Early 20th century, the French colonial period in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia

Indochine emerged in the early 20th century as French architecture adapted to the tropical climate and local culture of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia: European proportions with Asian materials and motifs, deep eaves, wide verandas and louvred shutters. Interiors are warm and nostalgic, with patterned cement tiles, dark wood, rattan, lanterns, ceiling fans and lacquer art. Today a restrained version suits townhouses, villas and hospitality, and is a natural fit for multi-generation families with a formal ancestral altar room.

Illustration drawn by HICONIQUE from the style’s palette and signature details.

Materials

  • Patterned encaustic cement tiles
  • Dark hardwoods such as gụ, căm xe or walnut
  • Woven rattan, bamboo and seagrass
  • Lacquer and mother-of-pearl inlay as accents
  • Louvred shutters in timber or wood-grain aluminium
  • Breeze blocks, silk and blue-glazed ceramics

Furniture & forms

  • Dark timber chairs and sofas with woven rattan backs or seats
  • Cabinets, daybeds and tea tables with light carving
  • Timber folding screens and geometric lattice partitions
  • Altar tables and cabinets in a formal worship room
  • Ceramic garden stools, timber chests and round stools

Lighting

  • Ceiling fans with timber or rattan blades
  • Silk lanterns and woven rattan lamps
  • Brass wall lights in an old French style

How it differs from similar styles

Indochine vs Tropical

Indochine has French proportions, dark wood and Vietnamese motifs; tropical is about greenery, light, paler materials and connection to the garden.
Indochine vs Classic

Classic European uses mouldings, gilding and strict symmetry; Indochine borrows only French proportions while its materials and spirit are Asian.
Indochine vs Fusion – Eclectic

Indochine is a specific historical blend of France and Indochina; fusion freely mixes any styles the owner chooses.

Best for

  • Multi-generation families with a formal altar room
  • Lovers of Vietnamese culture and nostalgia
  • Townhouses, villas and garden homes
  • Hotels, homestays and restaurants that want a local identity

Home types

TownhouseVillaGarden / resort home

Typical finishing level

Premium

Estimate building cost at this level

Common mistakes

  • Cement tiles on every floor and wall, which overwhelms the eye
  • Too much dark wood in a narrow, poorly lit tube house
  • Mixing in motifs from other cultures, diluting the Indochine identity
  • Untreated rattan and bamboo that soon mould or attract borers

Care & northern Vietnam climate

Seal cement tiles and maintain them regularly so they do not stain in humid weather. Treat rattan against mould and borers and keep it off damp walls; near the sea, use wood-grain aluminium for exterior shutters.

Styles in the same family

Regional & climate

Mediterranean

Sun, breeze and sea: whitewashed walls, arches, terracotta, sea blue and rustic wood.
Regional & climate

Tropical

Living with the climate: deep eaves, sun louvres, cross ventilation, greenery and local materials.
Modern

Modern

Function first: straight lines, clean planes and honestly used materials.

Want a home in the Indochine style?

HICONIQUE balances style with function, orientation, climate and your real budget.

Take the style quiz