Economic development in Vietnam has led to the spontaneous development of new housing
in many parts of Vietnam without consideration of environmental protection, cultural
suitability, or resource reduction. The transition of Vietnamese housing into a sustainable
industry is both an opportunity and challenge. Vietnam has to satisfy a growing demand for
housing while confronting the issues of climate change, extreme weather events, nature
conservation and cultural heritage. To that end, model green building guidelines are being
developed to facilitate Vietnam’s adoption of sustainable development principles and
practices. This paper presents the results of a survey and interviews carried out in Vietnam to
ensure that model green guidelines align with the cultural and consumer preferences of the
Vietnamese people.