Thaigroup unveils plan for a 128-trillion-VND mega-project spanning more than 1,000 hectares in Ninh Bình

According to Tiền Phong newspaper, Thaigroup Group has unveiled plans to implement a mega-project complex in Ninh Bình by the end of this year. The complex will span more than 1,000 hectares with an estimated total investment of up to 128 trillion dong (about 5 billion USD). The complex will include 15,000–20,000 hotel and resort rooms to meet the growing demand for accommodation in Ninh Bình, which welcomed about 19.4 million visitors in 2025. The project is also expected to introduce new tourism products, particularly in entertainment and nighttime experiences, thereby extending the average length of stay to approximately 4–5 days. ThaiGroup expects the project to help position Ninh Bình as an internationally oriented experiential and entertainment destination, moving beyond its traditional heritage tourism image. The company also stated that, based on preliminary calculations, the project could contribute more than 35 trillion dong in land-use fees to the State budget, creating additional resources for local infrastructure investment and social welfare. To realize the ambition of building a new iconic destination for Asia, ThaiGroup has partnered with two U.S. design and planning firms, Populous and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM). Populous is a design firm with more than 40 years of operation, having completed over 3,500 projects with total value exceeding USD 60 billion. It operates a network of 32 offices worldwide, offering services ranging from architecture and urban planning to landscape design, hotels–resorts, and transportation infrastructure projects. SOM is an architectural and planning consulting firm founded in 1936, behind many global iconic projects such as Burj Khalifa, One World Trade Center, Guoco Tower, and One Bangkok. SOM projects are characterized by sustainable design, energy efficiency, and adherence to many international green-building standards. ThaiGroup, formerly Xuân Thành Group, was established in 1976 with core activity in construction and cement. Over the years the company expanded into real estate, transportation, insurance, and many other fields. ThaiGroup is known for projects such as ThaiSquare Caliria, Khu tổ hợp Kim Liên, Enclave Phú Quốc, and LPBank Tower. Currently, Mr. Nguyễn Chí Kiên serves as Chairman of the Board of the group.