Vietnam's Lá Library: A Model for Sustainable Living

Nestled near Cúc Phương National Park in Ninh Bình Province, Vietnam, Lá Library stands as an educational center promoting sustainable living through organic agriculture, earthen building techniques, and a philosophy of mindful relaxation. Established in 2016, the project is run by a small group of young locals from Hải Phòng and Hanoi, quietly developing into a regional example of a simple, alternative lifestyle. Occupying a 15,000-square-meter plot, the team of four friends and housemates collectively manages a food forest. They also operate Lá Architects & Construction, a design agency specializing in earthen building, and lead various programs in gardening, organic materials research, and sculpture. A makerspace within their communal nhà sàn (stilt house) welcomes artists and creatives to experiment with natural materials. Founder Nguyễn Minh Vũ explains the project's ethos: "We want to put an end to the education of damaging which teaches people to change and fight nature. We want to establish a new education of living in harmony with nature, where human beings are a part of nature and all living activities stick to healing nature, such as building the soil, building homes with natural materials, etc." The team spent years restoring the soil nutrients depleted by a former pineapple farm. Today, the grounds are lush with fruit trees, vegetables, herbs, nuts, and even a source of honey. Daily routines are integrated with the project's educational philosophy of "Life," involving gathering food for wood-fired cooking and observing the cycle of growth. "I manage to have a living style of sustainability which connects all living activities with healing nature," Vũ shares. "We cook with a fire stove, we use organic waste and ashes for the garden. We lead the grey water to a swale near the house, then anytime we wash our veggies or dishes, the garden is watered. I can share so many simple things like these." Many of the center's activities focus on developing natural building techniques. Visitors can learn hands-on skills such as bamboo construction design, Japanese wattle and daub methods, and the creation of compressed earth blocks (CEB) and adobe bricks. In 2018, Lá Architects & Construction was founded to offer consultancy and construction services to external clients. This marked a significant milestone, allowing the group to share their knowledge and philosophy through projects now being built around Hanoi. "We consider ourselves as connectors, between people and nature; and as successors of ancient and modern achievement," Vu stated. "Hence, each and every construction is based on people's needs and our observation of natural factors combined with landscape design for a true home to crop up from the land." The Lá Library represents a grassroots movement towards sustainable living, offering a stark contrast to Vietnam's national focus on rapid economic growth, driven by a one-party system. In the context of increasing urbanization and industrialization, its emphasis on coexistence with nature and the reevaluation of traditional wisdom holds significant value. It also emerges as a potential model for diverse values and community structures within Vietnam, a nation navigating complex relations with China. Source: Saigoneer