VI EN
Old Saigon shophouse
Exterior architecture

Old Saigon shophouse

Old Saigon townhouse, Chinese-French shophouse, vintage Saigon house

Two-storey fronts, shuttered windows, encaustic tiles and a streetscape of layered time.

Colour moodboard
Cream yellowShutter greenBrick brownMoulding whiteEncaustic blue
Material moodboard
Blue encaustic tileCream encaustic tilePastel yellow renderGreen timber shuttersWhite concrete mouldingBlack wrought-iron railBrown fired brick

Origin: Shophouses took shape in Saigon and Cholon from the late 19th to mid 20th century, blending French and Chinese influences.

The old Saigon shophouse combined home and shop and developed from the late 19th century under French and Chinese influence. The front is typically two to three storeys, with a balcony, shuttered windows, encaustic floor tiles, mouldings and often a skylight. Cream yellow, green and grey are common.

In the north today it is mainly a nostalgic reference: a small balcony, shutters, encaustic tiles and arched openings. Note that cooler, damper regions than the year-round tropics need extra care, so shutters need good insulation and seals, patterned tiles need anti-slip treatment in humid weather, and the front must be well waterproofed.

Old Saigon shophouse
Old Saigon shophouse

Materials

  • Rendered brick walls in pastel paint
  • Patterned encaustic tiles on verandas, balconies and floors
  • Timber or wood-effect aluminium shutters
  • Concrete mouldings with iron or turned balustrades

Furniture & forms

  • A two- to three-storey front with a balcony over the street
  • Louvred shuttered windows and arched openings
  • A central skylight and timber stair
  • A tiled or flat roof with a roof terrace

Lighting

  • Skylight and shutters for daylight
  • Vintage wall lights on the balcony
Old Saigon shophouse
Old Saigon shophouse

How it differs from similar styles

Old Hanoi
Old Saigon shophouse vs Old Hanoi

The old southern shophouse has shutters, airy galleries and bright cement tiles, a French-Chinese blend; the northern old-quarter house is darker, with narrow fronts, mossy tiles and yellow walls.
Cholon Chinese-Vietnamese
Old Saigon shophouse vs Cholon Chinese-Vietnamese

The old shophouse leans French: iron balconies, shutters, cream walls; the Chinese-merchant style leans Chinese: curved roofs, red and gold and ceramic ornament.
Indochine
Old Saigon shophouse vs Indochine

The old shophouse is a practical home-and-shop type layered over time; Indochine is a curated romantic decorative style in dark wood, rattan and cement tiles.
French colonial villa
Old Saigon shophouse vs French colonial villa

The old shophouse is narrow, terraced and combines home with shop; the French colonial villa stands alone in a garden with thick walls, steep roof and iron gate.
Old Saigon shophouse vs Traditional three-bay northern house

The old shophouse is two storeys with shutters, cement tiles and urban French-Chinese influence; the three-bay house is a single-storey village home with tiles and a brick yard.
British Colonial
Old Saigon shophouse vs British Colonial

The old shophouse stresses cement tiles, wooden shutters and a trading ground floor; British colonial has broad verandas, ceiling fans, rattan and teak in warm dark tones.

Best for

  • Townhouses combining home and shop
  • Cafes, homestays and nostalgic shops
  • Renovating old shophouses while keeping their character

Home types

Townhouse

Typical finishing level

Premium

Estimate building cost at this level

Common mistakes

  • Overusing colour and pattern so the front looks busy and loses its nostalgia
  • Glossy patterned tiles in damp areas, which are slippery

Care & northern Vietnam climate

Repaint the front regularly as nồm and dust stain it; check balcony waterproofing and repaint iron railings against rust. Encaustic tiles need sealing and anti-slip finish.

Old Saigon shophouse
Old Saigon shophouse

Reference photos

Old Saigon shophouse
Old Saigon shophouse
Old Saigon shophouse
Old Saigon shophouse
Old Saigon shophouse
Old Saigon shophouse
Old Saigon shophouse
Old Saigon shophouse
Old Saigon shophouse
Old Saigon shophouse
Old Saigon shophouse
Old Saigon shophouse

Styles in the same family

Thai-roof house
Exterior architecture

Thai-roof house

A steep tiled roof that shelters the whole house, shedding rain fast and keeping heat out.
French colonial villa
Exterior architecture

French colonial villa

A symmetrical villa with columns and wrought-iron balconies, the elegance of a bygone city era.
Modern tube house
Exterior architecture

Modern tube house

A narrow front and great depth: solving light and air with skylights and a smart façade.

Want a home in the Old Saigon shophouse style?

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

Take the style quiz