Ho Chi Minh City Selects Investors for Two Urban Areas Spanning Over 516 Hectares

The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee has submitted to the City Council a list of land plots slated for auction and investor selection for projects utilizing land within the city in 2025 (Phase 2). Among the 11 plots proposed by local authorities, only two meet the auction criteria: the Binh Quoi – Thanh Da New Urban Area (Binh Quoi Ward) and the Cu Lao Ben Dinh New Urban Area (Vung Tau Ward).

These two projects, spanning over 516 hectares, are expected to significantly transform the urban landscape of the central and coastal regions. The selection of land plots for auction was based on various legal and planning criteria evaluated by the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee.

The Binh Quoi – Thanh Da New Urban Area covers nearly 406 hectares, comprising various land types, including residential, public utility, waterways, and religious sites. Approximately 18 hectares are managed by state agencies.

However, this area has not yet received a land revocation decision, and compensation for land clearance remains incomplete. It is also not included in the local land use plan for 2025. Consequently, the land does not meet the conditions for a land use rights auction under the Land Law. Nonetheless, under investor selection regulations, the Binh Quoi – Thanh Da Urban Area fully meets the criteria for inclusion in the auction list.

This area aligns with Ho Chi Minh City’s 2021-2030 planning, vision 2050, and the city’s 2040 master plan for central urban development. The 1/2000 zoning plan for Binh Quoi – Thanh Da has been approved. Although a detailed 1/500 plan is not yet available, compliance with the zoning plan is sufficient to meet the requirements.

In August 2025, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee approved the adjusted 1/2000 zoning plan for the Binh Quoi – Thanh Da New Urban Area in Binh Quoi Ward. The planning area is bordered by the Saigon River to the east, northwest, and north, former Ward 27 (now part of Binh Quoi Ward) to the west, and the Saigon River to the south and southwest.

The total area is approximately 549 hectares, including 424 hectares of land (measured along the riverbank) and 125 hectares of river surface. The planned population is around 54,000.

The project aims to develop a modern urban and waterfront park, featuring a synchronized tourism urban area with technical and social infrastructure, interspersed with parks, waterlogged areas, and attractive landscapes.

The plan includes a high-rise urban center, reduced construction density, and mixed land use, creating natural ecological landscapes and supporting functions such as housing, administration, offices, hotels, commercial services, cultural activities, and riverside tourism.

The Cu Lao Ben Dinh New Urban Area covers over 110 hectares, consisting of two distinct land sections. Approximately 49 hectares were reclaimed by the state from the former Sao Mai – Ben Dinh project, while the remaining 44 hectares include public land and land used by local residents. Authorities are adjusting the investment policy of the previous project to avoid legal overlaps with the current land.

The Cu Lao Ben Dinh area fully complies with planning requirements. It is designated as a mixed-use urban development zone, aligned with the 1/2000 zoning plan and a detailed 1/500 plan, which defines it as a modern mixed-use urban area combining housing, commercial services, offices, and comprehensive social and technical infrastructure.

For the remaining nine land plots, the reviewing agency noted that the documentation does not clarify the land’s origin or provide sufficient evidence to determine if they fall under the auction requirements of Article 126 of the Land Law and Article 4 of Decree 115/2024/ND-CP. These plots also fail to meet the criteria set by the City Council in Resolution 45/2025. They will be re-evaluated in subsequent phases.