Amidst the cramped spaces and limited land of urban centres, lush patches of green are quietly emerging, on rooftops, in tiny front yards, and within the confines of family homes. In Da Nang, urban garden models are gaining popularity, gradually becoming a ‘green living’ trend embraced by many households. These urban oases not only provide a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle but also contribute to a healthier environment, and more importantly, they provide households clean, safe, homegrown produce, a positive move to bring sustainability to the heart of everyday living.
A view of a high-tech hydroponic vegetable garden. Photo: H.T.T
Ms. Tran Thi Hoa, a resident living on Pham Hung Street in Hoa Xuan Ward, Cam Le District, has transformed nearly 100 square meters of her rooftop into a lush, green oasis.
“I was born and raised in a rural district of Quang Nam Province. When I moved to the city to continue my passion for hairdressing, I longed for a small garden of my own. So when we built the house, my husband and I planned carefully: installing large drainage pipes, waterproofing the rooftop thoroughly before laying tiles and designing a transparent polycarbonate roof to let in sunlight, shield the rain, and support climbing plants.”, she said.
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Her efforts were paid off, her rooftop garden now thrives with tomatoes, cabbages, lettuce, cauliflower and a variety of herbs. Despite being busy running a popular hair salon in Da Nang, she still spends much time each day tending her garden. “I spent over two years researching rooftop gardening techniques. Now my garden produces seasonal vegetables all year round, she said proudly.
Ms. Hoa sees herself as a true ‘environmental worker’, collecting organic waste like vegetable scraps, fruit peels and eggshells every evening to make organic compost. “All my composting recipes come from Google,” she laughs. In addition to homemade compost, she supplements the soil with worm castings, cow, chicken, and bat manure, as well as plant-based additives like soybean and rice bran. She uses only organic fertilizers to maintain a balanced ecosystem, planting insect-repellent and pollinator-attracting plants throughout her garden.
Her home is surrounded by impressively greenery, with fresh produce always available for consumption by her family and as gifts to her friends. Her rooftop retreat is also a cherished space for relaxation, a haven to de-stress, take photos and enjoy panoramic views of her neighbourhood.
Hold the same passion for rooftop gardening, Ms. Hoang Thi Sinh, a resident living on Le Do Street, Chinh Gian Ward, Thanh Khe District, has cultivated her own vibrant rooftop garden filled with both native and imported vegetables. “Over a decade ago, when I began managing a preschool, I was alarmed after learning how vegetables could be grown using chemicals and harvested just days after spraying. That fear for the health of my family and kids led me to start growing my own food,” she recalled.
Initially, Ms. Sinh planted quick-growing vegetables like mustard greens, lettuce, and spinach on balconies, allowing kids at her preschool to learn and care for the plants as part of education. As the school expanded, she scaled up her garden to a 100-square-meter rooftop plot, growing seasonal vegetables and fruits. Using knowledge of organic farming and homemade biological products, she fertilizes with ingredients like fish heads, shrimp shells, rice water and vegetable scraps, meeting 100% of her garden’s nutritional needs while significantly reducing household waste.
Driven by her love for the environment and natural living, she launched a Facebook community called ‘Love Planting – Da Nang’ in 2018 that highlights gardening techniques, composting tips, and especially, offering seeds and seedlings to like-minded individuals.
The group has since grown to over 46,000 members nationwide, with a strong core in Da Nang. During the Covid-19 pandemic, this community helped farmers in Hoa Bac Commune, Hoa Vang District, sell over 140 tonmes of melons.
Inspired by her dream to spread green living, Ms. Sinh has also invested in a small eco-farm in Hoa Bac Commune, Hoa Vang District, combining organic agriculture with local cultural and ecotourism experiences.
It can be said that the above-mentioned rooftop gardens are more than just a clever use of limited space because they’re havens for physical and mental well-being. In a fast-paced urban environment, they represent a conscious shift toward living green, living healthy and being in harmony with nature. The air above is fresh, the sun and wind are abundant, rooftop gardening is also a way for city residents to choose to slow down in the hustle and bustle of urban life.
The modern technology vegetable garden model in Da Nang, if replicated and spread, will save space, optimize productivity, quality of green vegetables and be suitable for the current green living trend.
Reporting by HUYNH THANH THAO – Translating by ANH THU
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