Thanh Xuan Valley: Why BIM Land and WATG Let the Landscape Lead

Set against the pine-covered foothills of the Tam Dao mountains north of Hanoi, Thanh Xuan Valley represents a new vision for luxury living in Vietnam – one that places nature, wellbeing, and community at its heart. Conceived by BIM Land as a 167-hectare residential and hospitality destination, the development is shaped by a simple yet ambitious aspiration: to create a place where people can reconnect with the landscape, slow down from urban life, and embrace a more considered way of living.

WATG has been involved since the earliest stages of planning, helping translate this vision into a masterplan that works with the valley’s natural terrain, forests, lakes, and views. Building on this foundation, the firm’s scope expanded to include the architecture for the Residence Villas, Country Club, and the forthcoming InterContinental Thanh Xuan Valley Resort. As the first residential collections welcome their earliest residents, we sat down with Ms. Nguyen Huong Giang, Deputy CEO of Real Estate & Head of Marcom at BIM Land, Marcel Padmos, Planning & Urban Design Lead Consultant at WATG, and Roger Gaspar, Principal & Studio Director of Architecture at WATG, to discuss the vision, partnership, and design philosophy behind one of Vietnam’s most distinctive destination developments.

Thanh Xuan Valley feels different from many luxury residential developments in Vietnam today. What was the original vision for the project, and how did BIM Land and WATG align around that ambition?

Ms. Nguyen: From the outset, BIM’s vision was to create an eco-sensitive, wellness-focused retreat for urban dwellers that honors the existing mature pine forest, embraces the natural valley setting, and offers a complete lifestyle environment for residents, guests, and visitors. WATG shared our belief that the landscape should lead the design, rather than the other way around. That alignment established a strong foundation for the project and enabled us to create a destination where hospitality, wellness, nature, and community come together in a cohesive and authentic way.

Marcel: What stood out about Thanh Xuan Valley was the opportunity to explore a new and evolved approach to real estate development. Luxury is no longer defined solely by what we build, but also by what we choose not to build, and by how a place makes people feel and live. We aimed to create an environment that enhances everyday life through a deeper connection with nature.

This project reflects what we believe is a new era of luxury living, centered on well-being, sustainability, and meaningful experiences as the true drivers of value.

WATG and BIM Land have collaborated on more than 30 projects over the years. How has that long-standing partnership shaped Thanh Xuan Valley?

Ms. Nguyen: BIM Land highly values its long-standing partnership with WATG, built through a series of landmark hospitality and residential projects across Phu Quoc, Ha Long, and now Thanh Xuan Valley. Beyond design excellence, our partnership is founded on a shared commitment to creating places with enduring value that respect their natural context, elevate everyday experiences, and contribute meaningfully to the evolution of Vietnam’s luxury residential and hospitality landscape.

WATG has been involved in Thanh Xuan Valley since the earliest master planning stage, when BIM Group commissioned the 1/500 Concept Master Plan. Throughout the journey, WATG played an important role in translating our vision into a thoughtful planning and design framework. From the land-use plan and illustrative master plan to the landscape strategy, building typologies, and spatial experience studies, the team helped shape a destination where architecture, hospitality, wellness, and nature are integrated with care and sensitivity.

What we value most in WATG’s contribution is its ability to read the land before designing for it. Rather than imposing architecture onto the landscape, the design approach respects the valley’s natural topography, lake setting, mature pine forest, and inherent sense of retreat. This philosophy has been fundamental in shaping Thanh Xuan Valley into more than a residential or resort project. It is a timeless valley destination where people can live, rest, reconnect with nature, and experience a more considered way of life.

Today, the first milestones of Thanh Xuan Valley are taking shape. Orchard Residences and Valley Park Residences have welcomed their first owners, while the Country Club by InterContinental Thanh Xuan Valley Resort has emerged as an architectural and lifestyle landmark overlooking the lake. Looking ahead, the InterContinental Thanh Xuan Valley Resort – InterContinental’s first valley resort in Vietnam and our third InterContinental collaboration with WATG – will mark another important chapter in this partnership.

Marcel: Our collaboration with BIM Land spans more than 30 projects across Vietnam, and over time we have developed a strong foundation of trust built on shared values of innovation, quality, and sustainability.

What makes the relationship successful is a mutual willingness to challenge convention and explore new possibilities. We have consistently looked beyond individual buildings to create destinations with lasting relevance. That shared trust allowed us to move quickly from vision to implementation because we already had a common understanding of what success looked like.

Roger: Every project begins with understanding a client’s aspirations, brand values, and long-term objectives. Having worked closely with BIM Land for many years, we were able to focus our efforts on defining what would make Thanh Xuan Valley unique within Vietnam’s luxury residential landscape.

Together, we saw an opportunity to apply hospitality design principles to define a new niche within Vietnam’s luxury residential market – one centered around nature, wellness, and community.

The valley’s landscape is one of its defining characteristics. How did the natural setting influence the masterplan and overall design approach?

Marcel: Master planning is about choreographing daily life. Our approach begins with understanding people and their aspirations before designing a product. The landscape is the starting point. We developed a set of guiding principles that informed every aspect of the project, which includes preserving the site’s natural terrain, fostering community, enhancing walkability, and ensuring that architecture works seamlessly with the surroundings.

Ultimately, the masterplan is designed around people and their relationship with nature. Every pathway, park, gathering space, and residential cluster contributes to a healthier and more connected lifestyle.

Roger: The valley’s landscape shaped every design decision. Before considering buildings, we studied the natural slopes, forests, waterways, mature trees, and view corridors that define the site.

Unlike many coastal developments where the terrain is relatively flat, Thanh Xuan Valley’s mountainous setting presented both challenges and opportunities. The masterplan follows the contours of the land, allowing villas to cascade naturally across the slopes while preserving forest areas and maintaining privacy between homes.

This approach is consistent with other mountain destinations we have designed, including the award-winning Rissai Valley, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Jiuzhaigou. In both projects, the objective was not to compete with nature, but to amplify it, allowing architecture to merge with the landscape rather than dominate it.

As luxury residential developments evolve, buyers are increasingly seeking experiences rather than simply homes. What lifestyle does Thanh Xuan Valley offer its residents?

Ms. Nguyen: We believe Thanh Xuan Valley offers something increasingly rare: the opportunity to live within nature without compromising comfort, convenience, or quality.

The destination has been designed as a complete lifestyle environment where residents can enjoy outdoor recreation, wellness amenities, hospitality experiences, and meaningful community connections. Whether spending time by the lake, exploring forest trails, participating in wellness activities, or gathering with family and friends, the experience extends far beyond the boundaries of a private residence.

Marcel: Thanh Xuan Valley offers an unparalleled way of life that prioritizes health, wellbeing, and sustainability. It is a sanctuary where residents can disconnect from the pace of city life to fundamentally restore and thrive. Luxury is increasingly measured by quality of life underpinned by wellbeing, and this development has been carefully crafted to support that aspiration every day.

Roger: We imagined each day unfolding in harmony with light, trees, views, and movement through nature. Morning begins with soft sunlight spilling across terraces overlooking the valley. As the day unfolds, spaces invite connection through private pools, shaded balconies, and gardens surrounded by trees. By evening, gentle paths lead home as the mountain silhouette fades into dusk.

Our intent was to shape an emotional landscape of serenity and renewal, enabling people to slow down, breathe deeply, and rediscover a sense of belonging.

The Country Club has quickly established itself as one of Thanh Xuan Valley’s defining landmarks. What role does it play within the wider destination?

Roger: The Country Club was conceived as the social and lifestyle heart of Thanh Xuan Valley. Strategically positioned beside the valley’s largest scenic lake, it maximizes the connection to the landscape while creating opportunities for outdoor pools and gardens, lounges, recreational amenities, children’s play areas, and flexible spaces for gatherings and community activities. 

Its location offers unobstructed views of the surrounding greenery while remaining easily accessible from across the development, allowing it to become a natural gathering place for residents. More than a clubhouse, it embodies a lifestyle centered on connection, wellbeing, and shared experiences in nature, reflecting the broader vision and aspirations for Thanh Xuan Valley. 

How did the contemporary architectural language of the InterContinental Thanh Xuan Valley Resort & Residences respond to both the landscape and the InterContinental brand?

Roger: We were inspired by the valley’s natural beauty and sought to celebrate its temperate climate, dramatic mountain scenery, forests, streams, lakes, and rich biodiversity. 

The architecture blends a contemporary design language with tropical sensibilities, drawing inspiration from the spirit of the place. A key influence was the Japanese concept of komorebi—the ever-changing dappled light filtering through a forest canopy—which informed spaces that immerse guests in the surrounding landscape and the subtle interplay of light and nature. 

The resort is conceived as a village of low-rise, boutique-scale buildings. Larger elements, such as the guest wings, are articulated into smaller volumes with tiered rooflines that follow the mountain terrain, creating an architecture that feels understated, welcoming, and seamlessly integrated with its surroundings while expressing the timeless sophistication of the InterContinental brand. As with the valley itself, luxury here is quiet and deeply sensory, defined by comfort, material richness, and an effortless connection to nature. 

As Thanh Xuan Valley continues to evolve, what legacy do you hope it will leave for Vietnam’s residential and hospitality landscape?

Ms. Nguyen: We hope Thanh Xuan Valley demonstrates that successful developments can create value by working with nature rather than against it. For us, this project is about creating a destination with enduring relevance that enriches everyday life while respecting the landscape that makes it possible.

The encouraging response from customers, investors, residents, and the wider market has reinforced our belief that Thanh Xuan Valley represents a distinctive direction for Vietnam’s high-end real estate that is rooted in nature, shaped by international design expertise, and guided by a long-term commitment to sustainable destination creation.

Marcel: We believe Thanh Xuan Valley reflects an important shift in how luxury destinations are conceived. The preservation and enhancement of the site’s natural assets are fundamental to the development strategy, ensuring the landscape is never merely a backdrop but the defining luxury experience. The future belongs to places that prioritize wellbeing, sustainability, and authentic connections to their surroundings.

Roger:  If there is one idea that captures the spirit of the project, it is that the most meaningful expressions of luxury are often those that work in harmony with nature rather than seek to dominate it. We hope the architecture quietly supports the landscape, allowing residents and guests to feel more connected to the place around them. Thanh Xuan Valley offers a peaceful retreat into nature, where luxury is defined by a sense of calm, authenticity, and belonging.