Aeon breaks ground on $38 mln shopping mall in Vietnam's Mekong Delta province Dong Thap

Japanese-invested Aeon Vietnam on Saturday broke ground for a VND1 trillion ($37.95 million) shopping mall project in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap, southern Vietnam.

The shopping mall, named Aeon My Tho, is expected to open in 2027, marking the Japanese retailer’s latest expansion in the Mekong Delta region. It will be a medium-sized shopping mall and a key project in the company's development strategy for this region.

The complex will have a total floor area of 51,543 square meters and a spacious parking lot that can accommodate nearly 310 cars and 1,290 motorcycles.

It sits at a strategic location along key transport routes, including National Highway 1A, National Highway 30, Ho Chi Minh City-Trung Luong-My Thuan Expressway, and the Cao Lanh-An Huu Expressway, which provide convenient access to Ho Chi Minh City and the wider Mekong Delta.

Tezuka Daisuke, chief Vietnam business officer of Aeon (Japan) and general director of Aeon Vietnam, said the project is expected to create more than 1,000 new jobs, support the consumption of high-quality products from Dong Thap, and contribute positively to the sustainable development of the province and the region.

Nguyen Thanh Dieu, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, noted that the groundbreaking of Aeon My Tho marks an important step in developing Dong Thap's modern commerce and services.

"Dong Thap expects Aeon Vietnam to closely coordinate with local authorities to build plans that incorporate local products, especially agricultural specialties, into the supply chain of the entire Aeon system," he told the groundbreaking ceremony.

In October, Aeon Vietnam opened its first shopping mall in the Mekong Delta with an investment of over VND1 trillion ($47.95 million). The Aeon Tan An shopping center in Tay Ninh province covers 2.2 hectares, with a total floor area of 27,000 sqm.

Situated next to the National Highway 1A and one kilometer from the HCMC-Trung Luong Expressway, Aeon Tan An is positioned to serve not only Tay Ninh residents but also shoppers from across the Mekong Delta.

By 2030, Aeon plans to triple the number of its shopping centers and stores in Vietnam – a key market in the group’s strategy to accelerate growth in Southeast Asia, Tezuka Daisuke said on October 2 when the retailer opened its first general merchandise store in the northern province of Hung Yen.

Vietnam is Aeon’s second most important market after Japan for stepping up investment, he added.

Aeon built its first shopping mall in Vietnam in 2014 - the Aeon Tan Phu Celadon in Ho Chi Minh City. By October this year, the retailer had invested about $1.5 billion in the country.

Aeon currently operates eight shopping malls, 15 general merchandise stores and supermarkets, 45 small- and medium-sized supermarkets, 182 convenience stores, and 29 specialty shops covering fashion, beauty and bicycles in Vietnam. The retailer has maintained an average annual growth rate of about 30% in the country, according to Tezuka Daisuke.

Tien Giang and Dong Thap provinces were merged in July to form the new Dong Thap, which neighbors An Giang, Tay Ninh, Vinh Long, Can Tho, Ho Chi Minh City, Cambodia, and the East Sea.

Meanwhile, the merger of Long An and Tay Ninh formed the new Tay Ninh province, which borders Dong Nai, Dong Thap, Ho Chi Minh City, and Cambodia.