The focus on clean lines and minimal ornamentation is underscored through beautifully sculptured woodwork. A new palette of light-toned finishes imparts sophistication with subtle flair. Playability of Games remains at the core of every elevated feature, from handcrafted leather net to climatic adjusters to metal foosmen and more.
DINH Collection at Salone del Mobile.Milano 2025
Since 2014, the Games collection has played a quintessential role in capturing the evolving transformation of District Eight’s design language and sensibility.
Our journey began with prototypes that explored the possibility of updating nondescript games with a new, refreshing perspective. That first iteration became archetypal of our earlier, industrial aesthetic – privileging material rawness, robust lines, and earthy finishes.
A Decade of Games Collection
Over the years, the collection has expanded in range and advanced in refinement. Its full line-up – including Ping Pong, Shuffleboard, Foosball, Poker and Mahjong Tables, as well as Chess Set – has become markers of our uncompromising standard when it comes to craftsmanship and originality. The lines are pared down to clear-cut simplicity, materials rigorously well-honed, and local culture increasingly an integral factor in our inspired design.
Whereas previous editions echo our industrial roots, the DINH collection represents a new chapter in our cultivation of contemporary design that honors Asian craftsmanship and culture. Throughout its entire run, District Eight’s Games Collection always sustains a sense of innate novelty, seamlessly integrating fun and functionality into well-made objects for home and public alike. DINH is the culmination of a journey that spans over a decade, in which constant curiosity and commitment to excellence remain the driving force at the heart of our every design.
DINH /zïŋ˧˧/ – the new edition of District Eight’s Games Collection – lends its name from the Vietnamese word for ‘mansion,’ ‘villa,’ or ‘palace.’ In Saigon, an architectural style known as Vietnamese modernism reigned supreme during the mid-20th century. Its soulful blend of international ideas and vernacular ingenuity still defines much of the city’s urban landscapes, and inspires our latest take on the Games’ table design.
VAR BUILDING 09 Hồ Tùng Mậu, Dist. 1 HCMC, designed by LE VAN LAM - 1973
Many of Saigon’s modernist structures are visual delights unto themselves. Geometric patterns figure prominently on the buildings’ facades. Brise-soleil, devised to mitigate exposure to the elements in a tropical climate, is a common feature that also reflects the locals’ long-held relatedness to nature, as it generates the subtle interplay between shadow and light, interior and exterior.
The modernist principles of clean lines and minimal ornamentation are inherent in the buildings’ composition. However, intrinsic too are functional yet expressive arrangements of columns, louvers, beams, and loggias. The overall effect is a distinct aesthetic that captures the Vietnamese sensitivity for harmony and balance.
Nam Định Construction College
That timeless spirit is translated into DINH, in which classic game tables are reimagined as exceptional collectibles for the contemporary home. In this new edition, woodworking craft takes center stage and forms the tables’ sculptural build, whose monolithic frame mirrors the elegant placement of beams and columns that characterize Vietnamese modernist structures. Handcrafted features, namely the leather net on DINH Ping Pong Table or leather edges on DINH Mahjong and Poker Tables, further highlight the collection’s nuanced aesthetic.
An homage to Saigon and its creative heritage, the DINH edition embodies District Eight’s passion for elevating crafts. From the initial concept to development, from the artisan's touch to the meticulous production line, every detail is infused with intention and dedication, resulting in designs of exceptional worth and character, of which our Games collection is a prime example.
Đà Nẵng University of Science and Technology
DINH Shuffleboard Table is a statement in robust simplicity. Its straightforward lines parallel the structural clarity of Vietnamese modernist buildings, as well as the elemental patterns that exemplify their distinct facades. An oak board varnished with lacquer coating delivers exacting performance, with the landing surface outfitted in hand-stitched leather. Climatic adjusters are integrated underneath the tabletop to accommodate different levels of game for both casual and competitive players.
DINH Shuffleboard Table Large (L401 W78 H78 cm)
DINH Shuffleboard Table Small (L279.5 W78 H78 cm)
DINH Foosball’s design employs the fine skills of our woodworking craftsmen to create a sculpturally shaped table outfitted with characterful details. Its distinct frame is crafted from solid oak, faithfully emulating the architectural elements that typify Saigonese modernist buildings. A concrete playing surface ensures quality game time, while the steel foos-men take on a refined form with sculpted headwear inspired by Vietnamese traditional hats.
DINH Foosball Table (L154 W187.5 H91 cm)
DINH Ping Pong Table seamlessly blends aesthetics and ease with its clean-lined silhouette. Featuring a detachable leather net, it can shift from a game table to a relaxed gathering point for work or leisure. Well-crafted joinery enhances the design’s material modernity. A sense of pleasing symmetry is imbued within its structured oak frame, making it a contemporary classic that effortlessly fits into interiors inspired by everyday living.
DINH Ping Pong Table (L274 W181 H90.5 cm)
Anchored in modernist precision, DINH Mahjong Table incorporates practical features that define its depth and elegance. The softened edges are arrayed in leather, providing comfort for long, engaging play. The felt-lined surface assumes a monochromatic palette that accentuates its unifying tactility. Drawers for game pieces and drink placement add to its all-encompassing functionality, with every component perfected and crafted with care.
DINH Mahjong Table (L96 W96 H75.5 cm) pairs with Collette chairs
DINH Poker Table’s well-rounded charm is derived from a balance between volume, texture and style. Its singular structure is crafted from solid oak, and composed of the modernist-architectural motif that inspires this collection. The tabletop’s edges are overlaid with high-quality leather, while its playing surface is covered with felt fabric. These hands-on detailing adheres to a harmoniously restrained palette, and enriches the table’s quiet sophistication.
DINH Poker Table (L160 W160 H76.5 cm) pairs with Ames chairs
More than a collection, DINH is a monument to Saigon, to craft, and to a decade of dedication. It reflects not just where District Eight has been, but where we are headed: toward deeper storytelling, enduring quality, and a broader conversation between past and present.
To explore the DINH Collection in greater depth, we invite you to contact us or visit our showroom and trusted distributors — spaces where craft finds calm expression, and the joy of play is shaped with Vietnamese soul.
