HCMC announces S$21.5B investment in 12 projects at Autumn Economic Forum

Ho Chi Minh City has approved 12 investment projects worth a combined S$21.5 billion (US$16.4 billion), led by the International University Urban Area, Can Gio International Transshipment Port and Lotte Eco Smart City Thu Thiem. The projects span urban development, seaports, logistics and high-tech

Ho Chi Minh City announced 12 investment projects with a total pledged capital of about US$16.4 billion at the 2026 Autumn Economic Forum on 28 Oct. The announcement was made during a high-level plenary session attended by Prime Minister Le Minh Hung and Nguyen Thanh Nghi, head of the Central Policy and Strategy Commission.

The largest project is the International University Urban Area, with revised investment capital of about US$6.61 billion, followed by the Can Gio International Transshipment Port at US$4.92 billion and Lotte Eco Smart City Thu Thiem at US$2.29 billion. These three projects account for nearly 84 per cent of the total investment announced.

Seaport and logistics projects account for about US$6.75 billion, including the Can Gio International Transshipment Port, Gemadept–Terminal Link Cai Mep Port, My Xuan 6 Port and Swift Logistics. The 571-hectare Can Gio port is designed to handle 4.8 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) annually by 2030, increasing to 16.9 million TEUs by 2047.

Urban development projects account for about US$8.9 billion, led by the International University Urban Area and Lotte Eco Smart City Thu Thiem. The 880-hectare International University Urban Area will combine education, housing, commercial facilities, healthcare, sports and parks. Lotte Eco Smart City Thu Thiem, in Functional Area 2A of the Thu Thiem New Urban Area, is expected to add commercial, service and urban facilities to the city's emerging central business district.

Several projects, including the International University Urban Area, Lotte's Thu Thiem complex and Gemadept–Terminal Link Cai Mep Port, have already held groundbreaking or construction commencement ceremonies. The remaining projects focus on high-tech manufacturing and industrial infrastructure, including factories producing energy-efficient glass, high-tech electrical cables, cast and fabricated metal products, thermoelectric semiconductor materials and automation equipment.