Sun Group subsidiary eyes $5.5bn national sports complex project in Ho Chi Minh City

The proposal is scheduled for consideration at the council’s seventh sitting on Friday and Saturday.

Under the proposal, the municipal administration would act as the competent authority.

The project aims to establish a modern national- and regional-level sports center with fully integrated professional functions, serving both the community and broader socio-economic development goals, according to the municipal administration.

Once in place, the complex is expected to host major domestic and international sporting events, including the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, the Asian Games (Asiad), regional Olympic competitions and other international tournaments.

It would also function as a hub for training elite athletes and developing sports professionals for Ho Chi Minh City and the country as a whole.

In addition, the project is designed to meet public demand for physical training and recreation through a system of modern sports facilities and open community exercise spaces.

The integration of commercial, tourism and entertainment services is expected to generate spillover effects for the regional economy, contributing to the development of a distinctive cultural, sports and tourism destination in eastern Ho Chi Minh City.

The project is oriented toward harmonious development with nature, environmental protection and long-term sustainability.

It would help stimulate economic growth, increase state budget revenues, attract investment, promote sports tourism and related commercial activities, while also creating jobs, raising incomes and contributing to social welfare.

The project will be developed under a PPP framework using a build-transfer (BT) contract, with payment to the investor made through land allocation in accordance with regulations.

The project would be financed entirely by the investor, without the use of state budget funds.

Project preparation costs would be implemented in line with the Law on Public-Private Partnership.

If Sun Vung Tau Sun Company is not selected as the project investor, the winning investor would be responsible for reimbursing the preparation costs as prescribed.

Large-scale facilities planned

The municipal administration estimates that the project will require around 186.8 hectares of land, ensuring efficient land use in line with approved planning and avoiding overlap with other projects.

The planned complex will feature multiple functional zones.

The cultural and sports zone will include a stadium, indoor arena, aquatic sports center, tennis center, integrated sports facility and multi-purpose sports center.

The stadium, with a capacity of 65,000-75,000 seats, and the indoor arena, with around 18,000 seats, are expected to be the project’s flagship structures.

Also, an urban public services zone will house facilities for athletes and coaches, a public square, a sports hospital, and a conference and exhibition center.

Green and public-use areas will comprise a park and landscaped spaces.

A technical infrastructure and transport zone will include utility systems and internal road networks.

Additional functional areas include a heritage and religious site, notably the Bung Sau Xa relic area.

The total implementation period is projected at around eight years from the date of contract signing.