Vietnamese Signages

Signages have always existed in multiple countries. Vietnam included—in particular, Saigon. With a rich history, the 21st century has made the country undergo rapid modernization and economic growth. Unfortunately, this progress often erases the city's unique features in favor of newer, more generic developments. While there is considerable concern about the destruction of Saigon's heritage buildings, there is a lack of attention given to the smaller elements that contribute to the city's distinctiveness.

Signs are replaced when new buildings are built. Those that change either undergo a digitized process. Even before the advent of computers, not all standard languages had the tonal types, accents, and characters that many cultures do. Plastic lamination, acrylic panels, and LED lighting emerged as more visually appealing assets, quickly dominating the market. Many artisans were forced to abandon their trade due to a decline in income. So, the dominant industry for large signs in Vietnam was people who handcrafted and painted signs for a living. The majority were family businesses that learned from their parents or grandparents. Many signs in Vietnam use similar typefaces or fonts that appear similar in order to make an impact on the average viewer. It's eye-catching—the layout and colors weren't the most important aspects of the signage. Impact is a popular font, as are drop shadows, and typeface combinations are common in Vietnamese design. It wasn't the most technologically advanced country, and it didn't immediately adopt new trends. Even if the overall design appeared disorganized, readability is critical. 

In Vietnam, certain families are associated with specific stylistic choices for signage. Someone's cursive style on handmade signs may be standard when compared to someone else's. Outlines, italics, bold and thick lettering details are still common in the vintage style. Although the craft has declined significantly, there are still artisans who create custom and traditional signs.