The Growth Axis of Eastern Saigon Shifts to Thu Thiem – Nam Rach Chiec

Eastern Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) is currently receiving over 70% of the city’s total infrastructure investment. Key projects such as Metro Line 1, Ba Son Bridge, Mai Chí Thọ Avenue, Ring Road 3, and the inter-regional transportation network are nearing completion, paving the way for sustainable development across the area.

According to a report by Đất Xanh Service, in Q3/2025, the average apartment price in this region ranges from 80 to 120 million VND/m², marking a 32–48% increase year-on-year.

HCMC’s primary apartment supply reached nearly 4,700 units in Q3, a 40.5% rise from the previous quarter. The majority of these units are concentrated in Bình Trưng, Linh Xuân, Tân Đông Hiệp, and Lái Thiêu wards—areas directly benefiting from Thu Thiem’s development. Approximately 35,000 new apartment units are expected to launch soon, with the Eastern region dominating due to rapid urbanization and ample land availability.

Beyond apartments, shophouses and villas are also experiencing significant price growth. Data from Batdongsan.com.vn reveals a 16% average increase in shophouse prices across inner-city districts, with Thu Thiem surging over 20% in the first five months of the year.

Notably, luxury projects like The Privé in Bình Trưng Ward, developed by Đất Xanh Group, are gaining attention for their strategic location adjacent to Thu Thiem and high profit potential as infrastructure improves and attracts intellectuals, entrepreneurs, and international experts.

Real estate experts emphasize that while the old city center has reached its development peak, the Eastern region—with Thu Thiem, Nam Rạch Chiếc, and surrounding areas—offers new price growth opportunities, both short-term and long-term.

Mr. Lê Hoàng Châu, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Real Estate Association (HoREA), stated: “Thu Thiem is the ‘core’ of HCMC’s International Financial Center. Its synchronized planning, strategic location along the Saigon River, and proximity to other city hubs give it unparalleled advantages.”

“Thu Thiem is a ‘promised land’ embodying the essence of a modern urban center. It will house the Symphony Theater, the largest square in the South, and notably, HCMC’s International Financial Center—a project attracting significant foreign investor interest,” added Mr. Châu.

According to HoREA’s Chairman, establishing the international financial center will not only boost Thu Thiem but also energize HCMC’s entire real estate market. However, this requires developing a world-class financial hub with integrated infrastructure, flexible legal frameworks, and transparent investment policies to attract major financial institutions.

Echoing this sentiment, Ms. Phạm Thị Miền, Vice Director of the Vietnam Real Estate Market Research and Evaluation Institute (VARS IRE), noted that the Eastern region’s real estate market, anchored by an international financial center, will be more sustainable and secure, driven by tangible factors like capital flows, businesses, and high-quality jobs.

She highlighted that Grade A offices, hotels, luxury apartments, and ultra-luxury residences will benefit most as demand from financial institutions, consulting firms, and multinational corporations grows.

“As the financial center takes shape, the influx of international experts for long-term work and residence will surge, driving demand for premium accommodations and ancillary services such as F&B, healthcare, luxury retail, fashion, and entertainment—creating a true international urban ecosystem,” she emphasized.

Ms. Miền also noted that the ripple effect of Thu Thiem’s financial center extends beyond its core, benefiting neighboring areas through integrated infrastructure and transportation.

“Historically, the emergence of a new urban center elevates surrounding areas through investment, services, and urban quality improvements,” she added.

One such beneficiary is the Nam Rạch Chiếc Urban Area in Bình Trưng Ward (formerly An Phú), Thu Duc City. Spanning over 90 hectares, it is one of HCMC’s last remaining central land reserves, poised to become a modern, integrated urban cluster directly connected to Thu Thiem.

The An Phú interchange is taking shape, on track for completion before the 2026 Lunar New Year.

Adjacent to Thu Thiem’s International Financial Center, Nam Rạch Chiếc enjoys a flood-free topography and seamless connectivity via key routes like the HCMC–Long Thành–Dầu Giây Expressway, Mai Chí Thọ Avenue, Đỗ Xuân Hợp Street, and the An Phú interchange. This positions it as a vital link to HCMC’s economic hubs and surrounding regions.

In the Eastern region, Thu Thiem’s rapid development is creating a clear ripple effect on Nam Rạch Chiếc—the “expansion ring” of HCMC’s new urban center. Together, they form a strategic development axis where finance, commerce, urban living, education, and healthcare converge into a holistic ecosystem.