Global retail giants gravitate to Da Nang as shopping mall boom gathers pace

In early July, AEON, one of Japan's long-established corporations, invested in its first shopping mall in Da Nang. 

Alongside this, a series of supermarkets and large-scale stores belonging to international brands have also continuously emerged, creating a retail landscape never seen before in this city.

Large supermarkets continuously emerging

Located right at the intersection of Dien Bien Phu with Nguyen Tri Phuong Streets, just about 1km from Da Nang International Airport, AEON MALL Da Nang Thanh Khe is the first facility in the coastal city within AEON's system of 11 outlets currently operating in the Vietnamese market.

The complex has a floor area of about 30,000m², with a leasable area of more than 21,000m², housing nearly 60 stores in the fields of retail, dining, fashion, electronics and appliances, furniture, and entertainment. Nearly 50 percent of the brands are making their debut in the Da Nang market.

For many days since AEON MALL Da Nang Thanh Khe went into operation, the number of shoppers and visitors each day has remained very high.

The presence of this large-scale business from a Japanese brand has created a vibrant shopping atmosphere, with local residents benefiting from a range of spin-off services.

At the same time as AEON MALL, the fashion brand UNIQLO also just opened its first store in Da Nang, on a floor area of 1,500m². 

This brand belongs to Fast Retailing Group (Japan), a retail company headquartered in Tokyo with total revenue in 2025 reaching more than US$23 billion. The Da Nang store is part of UNIQLO's global network of 2,500 stores.

Besides AEON MALL, Da Nang has recently seen a number of supermarkets and large-scale retail facilities from various corporations go into operation. 

Most recently, 1.92ha MM Mega Market opened in Hoa Khanh Ward at a cost of nearly $20 million.

This is the first retail model serving individual customers that the company has newly built in Vietnam.

Welcoming 3-million-strong market

About five years ago, Da Nang’s network of supermarkets and shopping malls was relatively limited, with most developments backed by domestic investors.

Today, however, the city is attracting investment from some of the world’s leading retail groups, creating a business landscape unlike anything seen before.

If Da Nang was previously known mainly as a tourist destination, it is now being viewed by international retail groups as a customer market large enough to invest in for the long term.

Speaking to Tuoi Tre (Youth) online newspaper, Tezuka Daisuke, general director of AEON, said that Vietnam is currently a key market in which the group is making very significant investments.

Among major cities, Da Nang has recently received special attention because it now has a population of three million people after an administrative merger with Quang Nam Province last year.

According to Tezuka, Da Nang is also a city with great growth potential, with an annual GDP growth rate higher than the average of other provinces and cities.

AEON Group said it is also preparing to invest in another shopping mall in Hoa Xuan Ward, with a scale about three times the size of AEON MALL Thanh Khe.

This will be the largest shopping mall in the central region, expanding into the suburban areas of Da Nang. 

Regarding this project, on July 2, the Da Nang People's Committee issued a decision allowing AEON MALL Vietnam Co., Ltd. to lease more than 101,800m² of land in Hoa Xuan to carry out the development.

According to Ho Ky Minh, standing vice-chairman of the Da Nang People's Committee, the continuous investment of corporations in Da Nang will lead to the presence of specialty store chains, with many brands making their debut locally, bringing customers new retail models and new shopping experiences.

The fact that businesses are pouring capital into Da Nang not only reflects their long-term business vision, but also demonstrates their belief in the city's favorable investment environment, thereby making a more practical contribution to local socio-economic development.