A Financial Center NOT From Scratch
Why Is Vietnam Accelerating Reforms Now?
The 14th National Party Congress of Vietnam has concluded successfully, with General Secretary To Lam continuing into his second term. Looking back at his previous term, the scale and direction of reforms are unprecedented in Vietnam’s modern history.
Key Reforms Reshaping Vietnam’s Future
- Administrative restructuring, merging 63 provinces into 34, removing long-standing bottlenecks in public fund allocation—especially for transportation and infrastructure.
- Acceleration of game-changing mega projects, such as Long Thanh International Airport, the Can Gio Deep-Sea Port, and major expressway expansions.
- The reactivation of the Financial Center master plan in Thu Thiem, a vision that Vietnam has carried for decades.
Why Thu Thiem Did Not Succeed in the Past?
The concept of a Thu Thiem Financial Center was first introduced in 1996. At that time, Vietnam faced major constraints:
Complex social and legal challenges in relocating local communities
Ineffective compensation and resettlement policies, leading to long-term dissatisfaction
Most importantly, Vietnam was not yet economically, institutionally, or globally ready to support a true international financial center
Today, these barriers have largely been addressed.
Why a Financial Center Matters — And What It Requires?
A true financial center is not symbolic — it is transformational.
At a minimum, it has the potential to attract USD 100 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI). This is capital at a national scale, not individual corporate investment.
To put this into perspective, USD 100 billion could fund:
5–6 Long Thanh International Airports, or
3–5 Phu My Hung–scale cities, or
An entire world-class Global City with metro lines, ports, universities, theme parks, and full infrastructure
Beyond capital, a financial center attracts people:
8,000–12,000 top-tier financial experts
18,000+ professionals across legal, consulting, technology, logistics, and services
It also creates:
A powerful economic ecosystem effect
The foundation for international common-law frameworks
Global-standard urban planning, architecture, and lifestyle
Successful global models include:
Canary Wharf & Soho – London
Marina Bay, Orchard Road & Sentosa – Singapore
DIFC & Downtown Dubai – Dubai
Is Vietnam Ready Now?
The answer today is yes.
Since 1975, Vietnam has undergone two major transformations:
Đổi Mới (economic reform) (1986) shifted the country from a subsidized economy to a market-oriented one.
Today, under Prime Minister To Lam, Vietnam is entering what many call “Đổi Mới 2.0”, marked by:
17 global free-trade agreements
Comprehensive strategic partnerships with major global powers (US, UK, France, China, Russia, and others)
Sustained high GDP growth over the past decade
Vietnam emerging as the top China+1 destination amid US–China trade restructuring
This is why we are seeing rapid progress in infrastructure:
Long Thanh Airport
An Phu Interchange
Expressway expansions
Ring Road 3
Metro Line 2
Can Gio Bridge
These are not isolated projects. They are prerequisites for a financial center.
Financial Centers Always Come With Elite Residential Living
Globally, financial centers never stand alone:
Canary Wharf comes with Soho
Marina Bay comes with Sentosa
DIFC comes with Downtown Dubai
This is not a coincidence.
Attracting experts is one challenge.
Retaining them requires world-class residential living.
Just like a restaurant may attract customers with marketing, but keeps them with food and service — a financial center may attract talent, but quality housing is what makes them stay.
Thu Thiem Financial Center & The Global City
This is not speculation.
It is a logical outcome based on urban planning fundamentals.
The Global City stands out as the most suitable residential hub to support Thu Thiem Financial Center due to:
Large, well-planned land bank
Low high-rise density
Sustainable, green development standards
Direct access to Metro Lines 2 and 5
TOD connectivity to Long Thanh International Airport
Immediate proximity to Thu Thiem Financial Center
Close to new urban landmarks such as the Rach Chiec Sports Complex
Most importantly, current pricing remains highly competitive:
1-bedroom units from ~USD 300.460
2-bedroom units from ~USD 545.037
Flexible, well-structured payment schedules
There is much more I would like to share with you about Vietnam’s economy and real estate outlook, but this email can only cover so much. I will follow up with more insights in my next message.
If you would like urgent support, detailed information, or a personalized discussion about The Global City, please feel free to reply to this email. I will get back to you promptly.
