Astonishing Foundation Engineering Techniques Unveiled in Can Gio’s Revolutionary Coastal Megacity

With advanced foundation treatment technology, a representative from Vingroup, the project’s investor, affirmed their lifelong commitment in the sales contract: they will take full responsibility for any settlement issues at the Can Gio project.

Filling Material Sourced Directly from the Project

According to Vingroup’s representative, Can Gio, being a coastal area, has a geology formed by multiple layers of sediment. The top layer consists of soft clayey sand, 18-24 meters thick, while the lower layers are composed of clay and sandy soils, ranging from plastic to semi-hard states.

At depths of 36-40 meters, the soil becomes firm, with compact sand and hard soil layers—an ideal foundation for large-scale construction projects.

Can Gio’s geological formation is similar to that of riverside areas in Ho Chi Minh City. Compared to Binh Thanh, the two regions share comparable geological features. Specifically, Binh Thanh has a weak topsoil layer approximately 30 meters thick, while Can Gio’s weak layer is about 20 meters thick. The deeper layers improve in quality. At depths of 36-40 meters, both areas reveal good soil suitable for pile driving.

During construction, the Vinhomes Green Paradise project applied advanced coastal land treatment technology, advised by leading international experts from the Netherlands, a pioneer in land reclamation and water control projects.

According to Vingroup’s representative, these coastal land treatment technologies were successfully applied in the VinFast 335-hectare factory project in the coastal area of Cat Hai, Hai Phong, since 2017.

After thorough research, leading construction design consultants for land reclamation projects proposed the following solutions: For low-rise buildings, piles will be driven to the good soil layer at depths of 36-40 meters.

For high-rise buildings, bored piles or barrette piles will be used, with pile tips placed in the compact soil layer at depths of 65-80 meters (similar to Vinhomes’ successful application in the Central Park and Golden River projects).

To treat Can Gio’s soil foundation, the project employs modern sand spraying technology combined with a unique balanced excavation-filling principle. Most of the filling material is sourced directly from water areas within the planning scope, then used to fill the land.

This approach conserves resources, minimizes offshore extraction, and avoids environmental disruption during the filling process.

Sand is pumped in, spread into a thick layer over the weak mud surface, then compacted and reinforced to allow rapid water drainage, aiding soil consolidation. This sand layer replaces the weak soil, creating a stable foundation capable of supporting urban structures.

“This solution has been proven in many countries, notably in Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah artificial islands and major port expansion projects in Asia. Now, this technology is being applied in Can Gio, enhanced with site-specific geological studies to ensure long-term safety and sustainability,” said Vingroup’s representative.

Vingroup’s representative noted that, as a reclaimed land area, Can Gio is continuously shaped by natural sedimentation. Advanced foundation and land reclamation solutions applied here are highly effective.

From the filling stage, experts calculated specific settlement allowances of 0.5 to 1.5 meters, depending on the geological area, combined with periodic dredging plans to ensure long-term stability for the entire project.

Vingroup also stated their lifelong commitment in the sales contract: if any settlement occurs at the Can Gio project, the group will directly handle maintenance and repairs at their own expense. This guarantee ensures the sustainability of the property and investor confidence.

Blazing Fast Construction

After just six months of construction, the Can Gio Reclaimed Urban Area – Vinhomes Green Paradise project has completely transformed the once vast, murky mudflat into a filled land area. Thousands of machines, engineers, and workers are continuously at work on the site. Many have exclaimed, “The project is progressing at an astonishing speed.”

Speaking to VTC News, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Van Song, Rector of the Eastern University of Technology, stated that the land reclamation and erosion control technology in Can Gio has been thoroughly researched by experts and utilizes advanced techniques.

“When visiting the site, I was amazed by the construction speed in Can Gio, which can be considered a world record,” said Mr. Song.

According to Mr. Song, the project will feature the world’s largest artificial saltwater lake, Paradise Lagoon, covering 800 hectares. This lake was created by dredging sand to fill the project’s elevated areas. It includes a seawater filtration system with a capacity of 20,000 m³/h, an impressive feature.

The Can Gio Reclaimed Urban Area project began research in 2004 as part of a large-scale master plan. Ho Chi Minh City aims for Can Gio to become a new growth engine, boosting residents’ income. The project is one of several mega-projects contributing to local economic and social development.

Regarding feasibility, domestic and international experts agree that Vietnam can successfully implement land reclamation techniques and technologies. Globally, the Netherlands has been reclaiming land since the 1960s, and Dubai’s reclamation projects involve deeper waters than those in Ho Chi Minh City.

Geologically, Can Gio is similar to Binh Thanh, with hard soil found at depths of about 60 meters. Vinhomes has experience building Vietnam’s tallest building, Landmark 81, in Binh Thanh. Therefore, construction on Can Gio’s geology is not a significant challenge.