Vietnam's Ba Ria–Vung Tau breaks ground on $1 billion resort expansion

Spanning 35 hectares in Xuyen Moc District, Ba Ria–Vung Tau Province, the expansion will add more than 6,000 rooms and is projected to host up to 18,000 guests daily once complete, according to the project’s developer.

The groundbreaking ceremony drew senior Vietnamese officials, including Nguyen Van Nen, Politburo member and Party secretary of Ho Chi Minh City, along with provincial leaders and representatives from U.S. private equity firm Warburg Pincus and Vietnamese investment group VinaCapital.

The expansion is part of The Grand Ho Tram's larger integrated resort complex, which has a total committed investment exceeding $4 billion. 

The development includes luxury hotels, villas, a casino, golf courses, and wellness facilities. 

Hotel brands already involved in the project include InterContinental, Holiday Inn, and Fusion, according to VnExpress.

Warburg Pincus, which co-owns the project through Lodgis Hospitality—a joint venture with VinaCapital—is supporting the new phase as part of its long-term investment strategy in Vietnam.

Local officials highlighted the importance of ongoing infrastructure projects that will enhance access to the area. 

New expressways connecting Ho Chi Minh City, Bien Hoa City and Long Thanh District in Dong Nai Province, and Ho Tram Town in Ba Ria–Vung Tau Province are expected to significantly reduce travel times. 

A planned expressway linking Long Thanh International Airport and Ho Tram is scheduled to begin construction on September 2 under a public-private partnership model.

Authorities also noted that potential administrative restructuring that could see Ba Ria–Vung Tau integrated into the broader Ho Chi Minh City metropolitan region would further boost the province’s tourism appeal.

Tourism is a key economic sector for the province, said Nguyen Van Tho, chairman of the Ba Ria–Vung Tau People’s Committee. 

He pledged continued support for large-scale investments in the industry.

Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism has set an ambitious target for tourism to account for up to 17 percent of the country’s gross domestic product by 2030.