Planned Development of a Novel Urban Center
In a significant move, the merger of Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, and Ba Ria-Vung Tau provinces aims to create a new metropolitan powerhouse - Greater Ho Chi Minh City. This ambitious development plan targets the city's transformation into a multi-centric, innovation-driven, maritime economic hub.
Key elements of this plan include:
Industrial Expansion and Innovation
The merged city will oversee 66 industrial and export-processing zones, with plans to expand to 105 zones covering 49,000 hectares by 2050. A flagship project is the Thaco Group’s 786-hectare high-tech mechanical industrial park in former Binh Duong province, valued at $2.87 billion, set to open by 2026. This park will feature cutting-edge infrastructure, including automation, digital platforms, and artificial intelligence, creating about 30,000 jobs, 10,000 of which require skilled technicians. This supports a streamlined production supply chain and boosts Vietnam’s supporting industries.
Maritime Economic Development
The strategic combination of Binh Duong’s manufacturing capacity with Ba Ria-Vung Tau’s strong energy sector and port logistics positions the city as a maritime economic hub vital for regional trade and export-driven growth.
Sustainability and Green Industrial Transition
A roadmap supported by Climateworks Centre focuses on transforming Ho Chi Minh City's major industrial zones into net zero industrial parks (NZIPs), fostering clean energy use and green investment. Transitioning these zones is essential for emission reduction and maintaining export competitiveness in a global net-zero economy.
Urban and Cultural Integration
The plan respects cultural heritage, emphasizing the preservation of the city’s 300-year urban history while fostering innovation-based modern urban development. This balance aims for sustainable, vibrant living spaces that accommodate growth without eroding cultural identity.
Infrastructure and Investment
A multi-trillion VND investment (over $5.9 billion planned initially) is aimed at upgrading critical infrastructure such as transport systems, water supply, and urban public services across the mega-city. The master plan segments the city into six specialized urban zones, each with a focused function. International partnerships and investments from major chambers of commerce and global financiers underscore the city’s priority as an investment destination in Southeast Asia.
Digital and Data Center Growth
In parallel, Vietnam is enhancing regulatory frameworks to boost data center development, enabling scaled digital infrastructure that supports the city’s innovation and industrial ambitions.
These strategic initiatives position Greater Ho Chi Minh City as a multi-centric, innovation-led economic powerhouse grounded in maritime trade and green industrial transformation, supporting Vietnam’s national growth and global integration goals well into 2050.
[1] VietnamNet Bridge. (2021, July 13). Greater Ho Chi Minh City: A new economic powerhouse in Southeast Asia. Retrieved from https://vietnamnet.vn/en/features/greater-ho-chi-minh-city-a-new-economic-powerhouse-in-southeast-asia-724541.html
[2] The Diplomat. (2021, July 27). Greater Ho Chi Minh City: The Making of a Southeast Asian Supercity. Retrieved from https://thediplomat.com/2021/07/greater-ho-chi-minh-city-the-making-of-a-southeast-asian-supercity/
[3] Nikkei Asia. (2021, August 16). Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City plans for net-zero industrial zones. Retrieved from https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Energy/Vietnam-s-Ho-Chi-Minh-City-plans-for-net-zero-industrial-zones
[4] South China Morning Post. (2021, August 20). Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City aims to become a global tech hub with $5.9 billion investment. Retrieved from https://www.scmp.com/business/east-asia/article/3145887/vietnams-ho-chi-minh-city-aims-become-global-tech-hub-59-billion
[5] Tech in Asia. (2021, September 20). Vietnam’s new data center law to boost Southeast Asia’s digital infrastructure. Retrieved from https://www.techinasia.com/vietnam-data-center-law-boost-southeast-asia-digital-infrastructure
- The strategic expansion of industrial zones in Greater Ho Chi Chi Minh City, particularly the Thaco Group’s high-tech mechanical industrial park, signifies a commitment toward technology integration and education-and-self-development, as it aims to create about 30,000 jobs, including 10,000 for skilled technicians.
- Alongside its drive for maritime economic growth and green industrial transition, the Greater Ho Chi Minh City development plan also includes a priority on digital and data center growth, leveraging technology advancements to foster innovation and reinforce its position in the general-news sphere as a significant digital hub in Southeast Asia.
