Collaborated with S-River Creative Agency
All rights belong to the agency and/or client
Sông Cái Distillery is perhaps one of Vietnam’s most distinctive spirit brands—known not only for its product quality but also for its deep commitment to crafting spirits rooted in Vietnamese heritage. From the botanicals used in their gin to the stories behind each blend, Sông Cái has always celebrated the spirit of the land and the people who inhabit it.
Last year, we had the opportunity to collaborate with a Hanoi-based creative agency on a small but meaningful project for Sông Cái: developing label designs for Khà, a new line of Pet-Nat rice wines. The collection features two varieties—Khà Nếp Cẩm (made from purple sticky rice) and Khà Nếp Cái Hoa Vàng (made from golden glutinous rice). These products are primarily distributed overseas, especially in the U.S., and are positioned quite differently from Sông Cái’s more traditional gin line.
For those unfamiliar, Pet-Nat (short for pétillant naturel) is a naturally sparkling wine produced through ancestral fermentation methods. It’s often unfiltered, spontaneous, and full of character—qualities that align perfectly with Sông Cái’s artisanal, experimental spirit.
With Khà Nếp Cẩm “Tung Tóe”, we designed the label around the form of a single rice grain. Metallic circular imprints radiate across the surface, evoking the playful bubbles bursting “tung tóe” (splattering joyfully) as the wine is poured or enjoyed.
For Khà Nếp Cái Hoa Vàng “Bong Bóng”, the label draws from the image of tiered rice fields seen from above—overlapping squares that symbolize cultivation and care. Beneath the geometric composition, subtle cloud motifs inspired by Hàng Trống folk paintings connect this new design back to the traditional spirit and visual language found in Song Cái’s earlier gin bottles.
Both bottles are accented with small, playful stickers wrapped around the glass—tiny details that add a sense of joy and spontaneity, fitting the lively character of Pet-Nat wines.
And just like that, the concept for the two Sông Cái – Khà labels came to life. Though there were a few refinements after we handed the project back to the lead agency, we were happy to see the final result come together just as we first imagined it.
