In this Autumn of Love, DNNLY Vietnam has the pleasure of journeying alongside Docemeo – a brand born in Vietnam – to explore the delicate resonance between Vietnamese culture, fashion, landscape, and love. On this path of “Don’t Be Afraid to Say Love” with Docemeo, DNNLY invites you to enter the quiet grounds of Binh An Village.
Binh An Village
Nestled along the coastal edge of Vung Tau, this charming sanctuary carries architectural contours that awaken memories of ancient Vietnamese homes. Upon this peaceful oasis, terracotta-tiled roofs weave softly amidst verdant canopies and stone-paved paths, breathing whispers of heritage and the open sea into the crafted space. Beyond, waves crash rhythmically against the shore. Wandering through, quiet souls find a place of solace, gently seeking their own peace.
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| -Heidi Studio- |  |
Joining us on this voyage, DNNLY collaborates with Heidi Studio, a standout local makeup artist and studio in Vung Tau, to delve into how regional culture and coastal scenery shape their creative sensibility: where the sea’s spirit of freedom inspires an approach grounded in the natural, the minimal, and the uninhibited, acting as an extension of the earth itself.
How do the living environment and regional culture of Vung Tau shape your inspiration and approach to design practice?
The boundless freedom of the sea guides me to prioritize what is natural, minimal, and uninhibited.
What is your perspective on creativity and artistic pursuit in our contemporary era?
All our creative expressions are, in essence, merely a natural extension of this world. I believe nothing we make can ever truly surpass the wonders of nature; we are simply learning to channel it through our personal lens – ultimately fostering a profound emotional bond between the creator and the beholder.
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| –Docemeo– |  |
DNNLY extends our heartfelt gratitude to Docemeo for sharing this expression of Vietnamese love. We warmly invite our readers to explore our latest story.
How do the living environment, culture, and ancestral memories shape Docemeo’s inspiration and approach to design practice?
Docemeo was not born knowing precisely where its steps would lead; it is like a child learning to understand the world and searching for its own identity.
To Docemeo, “identity” is never a static portrait. It resembles geological strata: layered, compacted, and transformed through time and space, yet never losing a single stratum.
Inheriting the innate sensibility of the Vietnamese spirit and our cultural landscape naturally guides every creation, much like these foundational layers. Yet, the definitive imprint upon Docemeo’s designs is a dedication to meticulous craftsmanship and resourcefulness, transforming everyday elements into functional, adaptable, and imaginative artifacts for life. Docemeo rarely accepts raw materials in their given form; we deconstruct, shift, layer, restructure, and grant them an entirely new existence.
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What is Docemeo’s perspective on creativity and design practice in the present and the future?
Creativity does not spring from dreams. In an era where imagery and ideas multiply at an unprecedented pace, originality of thought is no longer what is rare. The true scarcity is an individualized frame of reference capable of discerning what is worth preserving.
To Docemeo, creating is not an attempt to conjure what has never existed; it is a discipline of observation, accumulation, and forging novel connections between seemingly unrelated elements. Much like geological strata, layers of knowledge and experience settle upon one another until a new structure takes form.
As future technology renders the generation of the “novel” increasingly effortless, the designer’s essence will hinge upon the capacity to curate, connect, question, and bestow meaning. Amid the relentless influx of information and influence, value lies not in consuming in abundance, but in digesting and restructuring these currents into a language entirely one’s own.
What lessons regarding love and nature has Docemeo gathered along its journey?
Years in the craft have taught me that not everything brought into being needs to endure, and not everything new holds greater value than what already exists. In nature, perpetual growth does not exist; there are seasons of blossoming, seasons of falling away, and elements that decompose simply to nourish another cycle of life. This realization reframes how we view our creations: rather than asking “what else can we make?”, we find ourselves asking “is this truly worth creating, and how can we make someone cherish it longer?”.
To me, love mirrors this truth. Loving something is never about accumulating possessions, but about offering it time, care, and heartfelt reverence.
What is a Việt expression-of-love (lời yêu Việt) Docemeo would like to share with everyone?
Loving Vietnam, to Docemeo, is recognizing the cultural layers that reside eternally within ourselves, allowing them to continually settle into a contemporary form.
A living culture never ceases to grow; each generation leaves behind a stratum, and the next adds another – much like the growth rings of an ancient tree. The newer ring does not displace the old; they coexist, uphold one another, and weave a resilient, ever-deepening structure. Outer contours may shift with the passage of time, yet the inner core never truly fades.
As our journey along the tides of Binh An Village draws to a close, Strata & Waves reveals itself not merely as a confluence of creative disciplines, but as a quiet reminder of how we lean into nature to rediscover ourselves. Where Docemeo views culture as geological strata: layered, preserved, and continually evolving through time; Heidi Studio channels the uninhibited, minimalist spirit of coastal waves. At Binh An Village, we realize that loving a place, a person, or a craft stems from the exact same touchpoint: mindfulness, reverence, and the courage to connect.
Credits
Project by ChiLab Viet Nam
Interview Docemeo, Heidi Studio
Location Bình An Village Resort
Photographs DNNLY Viet Nam
Support Hải Mân, Việt Thắng
Fashion Docemeo
Make-up Heidi Studio
Models Khánh Vi, Ánh Dương
Content Việt Thắng
Layout Thiện Tài
