Transport infrastructure is a crucial factor driving Thu Thiem’s development.

Acting as the Eastern gateway, Thu Thiem is on track to
become the city’s new financial hub, experts stated at the Ho Chi Minh
City Real Estate Forum themed “The Central Core,” held on November
18.

According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
Development (OECD), a modern Central Business District (CBD) is an area that
concentrates commercial, financial, and service activities with the highest
labor density within an urban region. With its vast land bank and systematic
planning, Thu Thiem possesses many characteristics approaching the model of a
modern CBD.

Transport infrastructure is a crucial factor driving Thu
Thiem’s development. Specifically, Metro Line 1 (Ben Thanh – Suoi Tien) and
bridge projects connecting the historic District 1 with Thu Thiem are being
accelerated.

Coupled with the planned Thu Thiem – Long Thanh railway,
these projects create an inter-regional transport network, attracting
residents, experts, and businesses to the East. This serves as the foundation
for a future “dual center” dynamic between the historic District 1
and Thu Thiem.

Consequently, the central Ho Chi Minh City real estate
market is witnessing robust growth, particularly in the luxury apartment
segment. Data from Batdongsan.com.vn reveals that in the first 10 months of
2025, although central apartments accounted for only 28% of the supply, they
attracted 45% of consumer interest.

Additionally, urban areas adjacent to Thu Thiem are also
drawing significant attention from both investors and residents.

Deputy General Director of Batdongsan.com.vn Nguyen Quoc Anh
noted that Thu Thiem is not merely an extension of the city center but has the
potential to become a counterbalancing economic and financial hub within the
next 5 to 10 years.

“With its strategic location, extensive land bank, and
orientation toward becoming an International Financial Center (IFC), Thu Thiem
is viewed as the fulcrum for Ho Chi Minh City’s next development phase. The
division of roles among localities in the Southern economic region also
contributes to optimizing regional resources and promoting the balanced
development of the entire urban ecosystem,” Anh said.

According to real estate experts, a comparison with
megacities such as Seoul, Shanghai, or Singapore shows that HCM City’s
development is following a similar trajectory: shifting from a mono-centric
structure to a network of functional centers. Infrastructure remains one of the
key driving forces behind this transition.

Vneconomy-H. Vinh