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Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday launched four major infrastructure and urban projects with a total investment of 142 trillion dong, implemented through public–private partnership (PPP), BT contracts and private capital, and without using the city budget.
The Metro Ben Thanh – Thu Thiem line, about 6.2 km long, will be built by Dai Quang Minh Investment Real Estate JSC, a THACO affiliate, under PPP/BT. Total investment is about 46.295 trillion dong. The project is described as a key initiative and is planned for completion in 2030, designed to align with other metro lines and improve connectivity between the existing city center and the Thu Thiem new urban area.
The line is expected to connect with strategic transport corridors, including the potential Metro Line 2 and other rail links, to enhance access to Tan Son Nhat and Long Thanh airports.
SunGroup is developing two major components in Thu Thiem: a central square and the city’s administrative–political center. Together, the Thu Thiem projects cover 46.7 hectares and carry total investment of nearly 29.600 trillion dong.
The central square is planned to host major economic and political events, with capacity for about 268,000 people for political events and up to 500,000 for cultural festivals.
The Administrative Center building is 33 stories high, including 30 floors above ground and 3 basement levels, with about 272,000 m² of floor space. It is intended to accommodate around 8,000 public officials and workers, plus 1,500–2,000 daily citizen and business visitors through a modern one-stop system.
Other components include a 2,000-seat conference and performance center with investment of about 6.856 trillion dong, and supporting infrastructure estimated at 3.5089 trillion dong.
The SunGroup projects are advanced under a PPP framework with a BT contract. The investor plans to mobilize more than 5.963 trillion dong in equity and about 23.673 trillion dong in debt. Financing is largely supported by land-value payments worth about 22.1356 trillion dong, while the city contributes the remainder of roughly 7.4556 trillion dong.
Another major project is the renovation and upgrading of the Ho Chi Minh Museum branch in the Ben Nghe area, part of the Song River waterfront development. It is also implemented via PPP/BT and is linked to the redevelopment of the Can Rong–Khanh Hoi port area.
The first phase involves 20.000 trillion dong in investment for a cultural park featuring nine chapters reflecting key milestones in President Ho Chi Minh’s life. Phase 2 expands to a 138-hectare riverside green space along the Saigon River, forming a major urban-eco redevelopment.
Completion is targeted to coincide with national celebrations on September 2 this year. The design emphasizes a “memory corridor” along the riverfront and a digitally upgraded exhibition system.
Berjaya International University City, developed by Berjaya Việt Nam (a VinGroup ecosystem member), totals about 59.000 trillion dong and covers roughly 880 hectares. It is expected to house around 135,000 residents and 60,000 students, with formal operations planned from 2035.
The project is positioned alongside other major initiatives in the western Bac Giang area and is intended as a knowledge-driven urban district to support education, investment and innovation.
In addition, the Can Gio international port project has a total investment of 128.872 trillion dong and covers 571 hectares. It aims to reach a regional capacity approaching 17 million TEU.
The joint venture includes Vietnam’s Vietnam Maritime Corporation (VIMC), Saigon Port Joint Stock Company (SGP), and MSC through Terminal Investment Limited Holding S.A. (TIL). The port’s location near Cai Mep–Thi Vai and its connectivity to strategic waterways are expected to deepen Vietnam’s integration into the global logistics network.
Nguyen Van Duc, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, said the four projects reflect the city’s commitment to turning strategic resolutions into reality under the motto “saying and doing, doing till the end, for the people.” He described the projects as “bricks” for a new growth phase, with ambitions for double-digit growth and a goal of placing Ho Chi Minh City on regional and international leadership tracks.
The inauguration also included the approval of an investor for the Can Gio Transshipment Port, with total investment of 128.872 trillion dong (approximately USD 4.99 billion). The joint venture comprises VIMC, SGP and MSC via TIL, described as a milestone for national logistics and global supply chains.
Overall, the simultaneous groundbreaking of the four projects under PPP/BT and private funding—without direct city budget allocation—signals Ho Chi Minh City’s push to develop a modern, interconnected mega-urban center with international-scale governance, culture and transportation infrastructure.
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