‘Hoa gio,’ a traditional screen element in the pre-colonial period, was adapted and reinterpreted by Vietnamese modernist architecture after independence from French colonization, especially in Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City). By actively incorporating global influences, this adaptation reflected its pragmatically tropical response and regional identity, contributing to unique Vietnamese modernism, which studies have discussed and highlighted its impacts. Similar elements, defined as ventilation blocks outside Vietnam, received academic attention mainly due to their functionality and regional significance. However, a gap exists in existing research focusing on these traditional-turned-modern components within the context of Vietnamese modernism. This study is the first to conduct a detailed survey and analysis by documenting the architectural qualities of these elements’ designs in Saigon’s public buildings built during the 1950s–80s. Using a primarily qualitative approach regarding primary sources, mainly through fieldwork and supplemented by other sources on selected public buildings, data is systematically categorized and re-visualized according to attributes: background, elevation, section, modular axonometric diagrams, openness ratio, and architectural purposes. Simultaneously, a review of secondary sources offers interpretations of these elements in the context. The outcome is an information-visual historical survey and analysis, proving ‘Hoa gio’ as a traditional and local legacy within Vietnamese modernist architecture. Regarding international influences on today’s Vietnamese architecture, these insights contribute to a better understanding of Vietnamese modernist architecture while offering prospects for contemporary designs with regional roots. Internationally, these results offer lessons for studying other regional ventilation blocks as one distinct yet diverse tropical feature.