Real estate major FLC kicks off $760 mln project in central Vietnam

Vietnam’s major real estate developer FLC Group on Saturday broke ground on a nearly VND20 trillion ($760 million) golf, entertainment, resort and urban area complex in Gia Lai province.

The FLC Pleiku Golf Club & Luxury City Resort Complex project is FLC’s first and largest international-standard golf resort urban development in Vietnam’s Central Highlands.

Large-scale integrated resort urban model

Spanning 517 hectares in Dak Doa Integrated Complex, the project is designed as a fully integrated ecosystem featuring urban areas, villas, townhouses, a golf course, an eco-park, a sports complex, a commercial center, and schools - all developed to international standards.

Residents and visitors will enjoy a multi-cultural living environment with exclusive on-site amenities, including a musical fountain plaza, art stone garden, yoga and wellness garden, spaces for meditation, glamping and zipline, a five-senses jogging track, and a system of restaurants showcasing Central Highlands cuisine.

At the heart of the development is a 36-hole golf course covering over 171 hectares. Beyond being a sports facility, the course is expected to create distinctive value for the entire project.

According to Nguyen Huu Que, Vice Chairman of the Gia Lai People’s Committee, the province aims to attract around 15 million visitors and generate tourism revenue of approximately VND35 trillion ($1.33 billion) during Visit Vietnam Year 2026.

However, he noted this goal also highlights pressure on existing infrastructure, as the province still lacks large-scale resorts, high-end hotels, and high-value tourism products such as international golf courses and convention centers - constraints that limit visitor spending and hinder the full realization of tourism potential.

The FLC Pleiku complex is therefore seen as a strategic project to fill these gaps, positioning Gia Lai to capitalize on new growth opportunities in 2026 and beyond.

The Dak Doa golf course alone is designed to international standards with 36 holes over more than 171 hectares, requiring over VND1.15 trillion ($43.67 million) in investment. It is envisioned not just as a sports facility but as a multifunctional complex integrating tourism, leisure, and entertainment services.

Martin Moore, chairman of Flagstick Golf Course Construction Management, noted that this is the seventh golf project his firm has done in partnership with FLC. Built on unique highland terrain, the 36-hole course is expected to deliver a distinctive experience.

He said his company has successfully implemented projects such as FLC Quy Nhon Golf Links and FLC Ha Long Golf Club, which have received prestigious regional and global awards. With FLC’s vision and commitment, the Pleiku project is set to become a golf tourism icon in the Central Highlands.

Aiming to replicate Quy Nhon success

FLC is expected to replicate its success in Quy Nhon where the FLC Quy Nhon Beach & Golf Resort, launched in 2016 with a scale of 1,300 hectares and similar investment, helped transform the province’s tourism profile. Quy Nhon town was part of the former Binh Dinh province. Binh Dinh and Gia Lai were merged last July to form the new Gia Lai.

After nearly a decade, the complex has welcomed millions of visitors, with South Korean tourists accounting for over 20% of international arrivals, turning Quy Nhon into a well-known destination among visitors from Northeast Asia and the world in general.

Building on that experience, the FLC Pleiku project is expected to follow a similar trajectory. While Quy Nhon attracts visitors with its coastal landscape, Pleiku offers a cool year-round climate, pristine highland environment, and a 171-hectare golf course integrated into natural terrain - appealing strongly to high-end real estate buyers, particularly from South Korea, China, and Japan.

Huong Tran Kieu Dung, standing vice chairwoman of FLC Group, said Dak Doa possesses unique advantages, including climate, ecological landscape, and Central Highlands cultural depth, while serving as a key gateway connecting Pleiku and inter-regional traffic axes.

“A destination cannot rely solely on natural resources but it needs high-quality products, strong connectivity, and a synchronized ecosystem. FLC Pleiku is developed with that vision, not as a standalone project but as an integrated destination ecosystem,” she said.

Dung emphasized that FLC aims not only to invest but also to help develop a green tourism ecosystem that respects nature and promotes local culture, enabling Gia Lai to grow in a sustainable and distinctive way.