Ho Chi Minh City breaks ground on the Rach Chiec National Sports Complex mega-project.

On the morning of January 15, 2026, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, in collaboration with Sun Group, held the groundbreaking ceremony for the Rach Chiec National Sports Complex in Binh Trung Ward (formerly Thu Duc City). With a total investment of over 145.000 billion VND, this large-scale infrastructure project, restarted after more than 30 years of planning, is expected to improve the urban landscape of the eastern area and meet the standards for hosting international tournaments.

National Sports Complex Rach Chiec It is a large-scale “mega-complex” project for sports, culture, and entertainment. Ho Chi MinhIt is expected to become a regional and international center for sporting events. According to published information, the project is being implemented at Binh Trung Ward (including Thu Duc City), nearby area Rach Chiec Bridge and key connecting routes in the East, providing convenient access to the city center and neighboring urban areas. The Rach Chiec Sports Complex offers convenient connections to Thao Dien. Thu Thiem urban area as well as the city center (District 1), adjacent to the “New Downtown” urban area. The Global City.

In terms of scale, Rach Chiec is planned to cover an area of ​​approximately 186,78 ha, with the total investment amount mentioned at over 145.000 billion VNDThe highlight is central stadium large about 24 ha, capacity approximately 70.000 seats, aiming for the standards of organizing major tournaments such as the SEA Games/ASIAD and other international events.  

The project is not just about the stadium; it is also envisioned as a multi-functional complex with various facilities for competition, training, and performances; some published information also mentions this. The arena has approximately 18.000 seats. Along with specialized sports centers (aquatics, tennis, multi-purpose sports, etc.), this forms the foundation for creating a new sports and entertainment “destination,” serving both community needs and large-scale events.  

In terms of legal aspects and implementation mechanisms, the project has made significant progress when The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Council approved the investment plan using the PPP (Public-Private Partnership) method., and the detailed 1/500 scale planning mentioned in recently published summary information. Ceremony groundbreaking the project is underway date 15 / 01 / 2026.  

From a development perspective, some information from participating units/international partners indicates that the project is being “master-planned” with the ambition of elevating the event experience: the stadium is expected to have… retractable awningThe soundproofing and air conditioning solutions are zoned according to seating areas, allowing for flexible switching between sporting events and large-scale music/entertainment events. This helps Rach Chiec become not only a sports facility but also a modern event infrastructure for Ho Chi Minh City in the long term.

The Rach Chiec Sports Complex was planned in 1994, but to date, the transportation infrastructure serving the project has only consisted of the Lien Phuong bridge and road – a route directly connecting to Vo Nguyen Giap Boulevard, Mai Chi Tho Street, and the Ho Chi Minh City – Long Thanh – Dau Giay Expressway.

The project is being implemented according to Public-private partnership (PPP) model, BT contract (Build-Transfer). The investor proposing to undertake the project is Vung Tau Sun Company Limited (a member of Sun Group).

The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by high-ranking leaders including: Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Tran Luu Quang; former President Truong Tan Sang; former Standing Member of the Party Central Committee, General Le Hong Anh; and many former Party leaders and former leaders of Ho Chi Minh City from various periods.

A 70.000-SEATER STADIUM – AN ARCHITECTURAL HIGHLIGHT

The most important component of this complex is the central stadium. 24 hectares with the total investment for this project alone estimated at approximately 35.000 billion dong.

• Capacity: 70.000 seats (The largest in the South and comparable to major stadiums around the world such as Wembley or the Bird’s Nest).
• Design: Inspired by the image coconut palm leaves – a distinctive symbol of the waterways of Southern Vietnam.
• Technology: System equipment The awning has the ability to open and close automatically. The stadium incorporates soundproofing technology and a climate control system for each seating area, ensuring suitable conditions for hosting events in all weather conditions. This stadium is designed not only for sporting events but also for hosting large-scale cultural and entertainment events.

THE TARGET IS TO SHORTEN THE PROJECT TIMELINE TO 5 YEARS

According to the initial plan, the project was expected to take about 8 years to complete. However, at the groundbreaking ceremony, representatives of the investor and leaders of Ho Chi Minh City stated that they would focus resources and accelerate land clearance to strive to shorten the completion time to less than 8 years. Approximately 5 years.

The restart of the Rach Chiec project is significant given the existing sports infrastructure in Ho Chi Minh City (such as Thong Nhat Stadium and Phu Tho area) is either deteriorating or overloaded. The project is part of a series of four key projects that will be launched/break ground simultaneously (including Metro Line 2, Can Gio Bridge, and Phu My 2 Bridge). Upon completion, the project is expected to meet the requirements for Vietnam to host major international tournaments such as the SEA Games and ASIAD, while also promoting socio-economic development in the eastern part of Ho Chi Minh City.

Rach Chiec Groundbreaking Ceremony 2026: What Opportunities Will This Present for Nearby Real Estate?

Job Rach Chiec National Sports Complex going into implementation (scale ~186,78ha, located between the axes) Mai Chi Tho – Vo Nguyen Giap – Ho Chi Minh City–Long Thanh–Dau Giay Expressway) often creates a “two-layer” impact on the area’s real estate: short term (during construction) and medium- to long term (When operational, it forms a destination)

1) What impact will this have on the real estate market in the area?

Enhancing “location value” through infrastructure and iconic status.

• A sports and events complex with a stadium of approximately 70.000 seats and a multi-functional design will elevate the “place-making” status of the East area: easily attracting commercial and service activities (F&B, hotels, retail), increasing demand for short-term rentals during seasonal events, and enhancing the area’s visibility.  
• At the same time, this area is located near the main artery connecting to the city center via Mai Chi Tho Street and is linked to important transportation hubs of the city.  

Improve rental demand and business occupancy.

• When there’s a tournament/event, the group that benefits most is usually… Apartments for rent, officetel/retail units, shophouses Within a short travel radius (5–15 minutes), as it’s possible to pick up hotel guests, event organizers, and event participants.
• In the long term, large-scale “amenities” increase the attractiveness of residential living for those who prefer an active lifestyle (sports, entertainment, community).

2) Which projects/areas are likely to benefit?

From a market perspective, the impact of the Rach Chiec Sports Complex will spread in the following ways: the “beneficiary loops”Notably, projects located near the An Phu – Nam Rach Chiec area have an advantage. welcoming the flow of people – services – rental needs Almost immediately, the progress of the event’s implementation and operation became clear.

Round 1 – Direct Benefits (Rach Chiec | Binh Trung – Nam Rach Chiec – An Phu):

This core area benefits most significantly from its proximity and quick connectivity. Mai Chi Tho and the potential to form a service ecosystem centered around sports activities and events. (Group) townhouses, villas, and existing residential land. Projects located along major transportation routes often benefit from increased demand for short-term accommodation, food, entertainment, and ancillary services. Within this group, The Global City (An Phu) stands out because of its “next-door” location, offering convenient connectivity, a large urban scale, and a comprehensive range of amenities — this is a factor that allows the project to directly benefit from both aspects. both ownership value and commercial exploitation potential when the area experiences increased activity. In addition, Lakeview City (Nam Rach Chiec) is also a noteworthy name due to its location right in the adjacent benefit zone. In addition, the products shophouse/commercial podium around the axis Nguyen Duy Trinh – Do Xuan Hop – Lien Phuong There will be room for increased revenue if we effectively utilize services during weekdays and event seasons.

Round 2 – Double benefits (Metro Line 1 corridor & Mai Chi Tho axis):

Projects along Metro Line 1, especially around the stations. Thao Dien – An Phu – Rach ChiecThey often enjoy a “double” benefit: convenient transportation and easy access to rental demand for events. Thao Dien With the advantage of high-end services, suitable for international/expatriate groups, the rental and commercial exploitation margins are usually good when the area is bustling.

Round 3 – Benefiting from urban image and value (Thu Thiem core):

As the East region develops another major “event hub,” Thu Thiem These projects will benefit from increased urban vibrancy, the new city center’s image value, and the high demand for premium rentals. Sala urban area, empire city, The Metropole Thu Thiem Often mentioned for its location along Mai Chi Tho street and its high standard of living, it suits a discerning group of tenants.

The formation of the Rach Chiec Sports Complex will create a great utility – a large-scale event for the East region, thereby promoting rental demandcommercial services and location value of neighboring projects (especially along the Mai Chi Tho axis and metro stations), but the level of benefit will be higher. Differentiation is based on deployment progress, service operational capabilities, and actual travel distance.