As a result of Vietnam’s colonial history, subsidy period, and subsequent economic reforms, contemporary Vietnamese architecture (from 1986 to the present) has had a reliance on Western design. The perception of French colonial-style buildings representing “opulence” has led to its heightened use in shaping urban landscapes. This article analysis the impact of Vietnam’s history on contemporary architecture, evaluating the positive and negative uses of the European “revival” architecture for Vietnamese landscapes and audiences. The article demonstrates that these architecture trends have been an inevitable phenomenon, following other revival trends across history, and discusses the future for modern Vietnamese architecture in the context of globalisation and a focus on sustainability for up-and-coming architects. It is, therefore, concluded that Vietnamese architecture is on a path to create new designs that incorporate Western influences with a stamp of local traditions, cultures, and climate needs.