Ha Giang's 100-square-metre garden sits on the fourth floor, reinforced with a steel frame and divided into two 50-square-metre levels. In addition to growing fruits and vegetables, he and his wife raise fish, chickens, and pigeons.
The fully automated system covers irrigation, organic composting, and pest control, significantly reducing the couple's time.
Giang consulted with the house's architect and carefully calculated the weight and structural integrity before building the garden. He initially invested VND250 million (USD9,861) to reinforce the rooftop with steel framing.
Last year, he invested another VND450 million to upgrade all the planting beds. He bought 10 tonnes of organic waste to ferment into nutrient-rich fertilisers for the plants.
The garden follows an aquaponics model combined with a wicking bed system. To enrich the soil, Giang uses vegetable scraps as organic fertiliser.
The couple raises 12 bantam chickens, two pairs of pigeons, and nearly 100 fish in their rooftop garden, including tilapia, carp, and livestock and fish in this space visitor in their rooftop gardeners are always surprised by the absence of any unpleasant odours.
"When the animals produce waste, the plant roots absorb it immediately, eliminating odour. I also grow plenty of flowers, filling the space with a gentle and natural fragrance," Giang added.
Giang's family rarely buys vegetables, eggs, or fish from outside, thanks to the rooftop farm. The garden also serves as a peaceful retreat for the family to relax.
