Investors pledge $16.4B for 12 projects in HCMC

Twelve projects in Ho Chi Minh City have received investment approvals or licenses, with combined registered capital of about US$16.4 billion, mainly targeting urban development, seaports, logistics and high-tech manufacturing.

HCMC announced the investment projects at the 2026 Autumn Economic Forum on Oct. 28, with the largest investments going to urban development and seaports.

The announcement was made during a high-level plenary session attended by Prime Minister Le Minh Hung, Nguyen Thanh Nghi, head of the Central Policy and Strategy Commission, and other officials. The projects have received investment policy approvals or investment registration certificates.

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

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.

Seaports and logistics

Seaport and logistics projects account for about $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.

Developed alongside the Cai Mep–Thi Vai port complex, road infrastructure and international shipping networks, the project could expand container handling and transshipment capacity while attracting maritime, warehousing and freight forwarding services.

Gemadept–Terminal Link Cai Mep and My Xuan 6 are also expected to expand regional port capacity.

Swift Logistics, backed by an investor linked to the TikTok ecosystem, plans to develop postal, delivery and logistics services for digital commerce.

Urban development projects account for about $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. It is expected to create a new development hub in northwestern HCMC, with more space for educational institutions, services and residential communities.

Lotte Eco Smart City Thu Thiem, in Functional Area 2A of the Thu Thiem New Urban Area, has registered investment capital of about $2.29 billion. It is expected to add commercial, service and urban facilities to the city's emerging central business district.

Details of the 12 investment projects

The remaining projects focus on high-tech manufacturing and industrial infrastructure.

They include factories producing energy-efficient glass, high-tech electrical cables, cast and fabricated metal products, thermoelectric semiconductor materials and automation equipment, alongside investments in industrial park infrastructure.

The projects are expected to expand HCMC's manufacturing capacity and strengthen its role in electronics and industrial equipment supply chains.