Thailand expected to become regional luxury retail hub
Thailand's luxury retail market is valued at $4.4 billion and projected to grow by approximately 5% annually through 2028, placing the country at the forefront of luxury retail in Southeast Asia and seventh in Asia-Pacific, according to property consultant CBRE Thailand.
The Chanel store at Siam Paragon, Thailand. Photo courtesy of Bangkok Post
CBRE Thailand’s 2025 Real Estate Market Outlook highlights a strong synergy between tourism and retail, supported by 35.5 million international arrivals in 2024 and the addition of over 410,000 sqm of downtown Bangkok shopping mall space between 2024 and 2025, the Bangkok Post reported on Tuesday.
This robust expansion is providing luxury retailers with new strategic opportunities as demand from both affluent locals and international visitors rises.
In addition to tourism-driven gains, Thailand has made significant progress in attracting wealthy expatriates and foreign buyers through long-term visa programs and its reputation as a "safe haven".
With the recovery of airline capacity and a favourable visa policy, the number of high-net-worth individuals visiting and residing in Thailand is expected to further increase, presenting additional opportunities for retail developers.
Developers have responded by reallocating prime retail space in key central business district malls, prioritizing luxury brands, elevating experiential offerings with fine dining and premium entertainment, and redesigning layouts for flagship stores and dedicated luxury zones. Services such as multilingual assistance and tax-free shopping are increasingly being incorporated to enhance the customer experience.
Luxury brands entering or expanding in Thailand are now highly selective, favoring venues that closely align with their brand image and client base. This has driven a comprehensive and strategic approach among developers and mall operators, targeting areas with dense populations of affluent consumers.
Chotika Tungsirisurp, head of consulting and research at CBRE, said that developers and retailers that prioritize location, innovation, and premium environments will be well positioned to capture the next wave of growth.
As Thailand cements its place as Southeast Asia's leading luxury market, the synergy between tourism and retail will remain a defining factor in shaping the industry's future, she said.
- Read More
Vietnam’s pepper exports surpass $1 bln in 8 months
Vietnam’s pepper industry recorded export revenue of more than $1 billion in the first eight months of 2025, the highest level for the period in seven years, according to the Vietnam Pepper and Spice Association (VPSA).
Companies - Tue, September 9, 2025 | 11:13 pm GMT+7
Indonesia, EU to sign CEPA after decade of negotiations
The Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IEU-CEPA) is set to be signed on September 23 after a decade of negotiations, according to Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto.
Southeast Asia - Tue, September 9, 2025 | 10:07 pm GMT+7
Vietnam lifts asset freeze on ex-FLC chairman Trinh Van Quyet
Authorities in Vietnam’s central province of Khanh Hoa are moving to lift restrictions on asset transactions and transfers linked to Trinh Van Quyet, former chairman of property developer FLC Group, the provincial Department of Justice said on Tuesday.
Economy - Tue, September 9, 2025 | 9:26 pm GMT+7
Abbott-backed medical firm Domesco to pay 25% cash dividend
Domesco Medical Import Export JSC (HoSE: DMC) will distribute a 25% cash dividend for 2024, equivalent to VND2,500 (9.5 U.S. cents) per share.
Companies - Tue, September 9, 2025 | 8:39 pm GMT+7
Vietnam’s finance ministry proposes raising personal deduction to $588 per month
Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance has proposed raising the personal income tax deduction to VND15.5 million ($588) per month and the dependent deduction to VND6.2 million ($235).
Economy - Tue, September 9, 2025 | 4:09 pm GMT+7
PM requests prompt finalization of feasibility study for Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong railway project
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Sunday evening chaired a high-level meeting with key ministries and agencies to accelerate the implementation of the Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong railway project, during which he stressed the need for prompt completion of the project’s feasibility study.
Economy - Tue, September 9, 2025 | 3:06 pm GMT+7
WB, ADB to provide over $12 bln to green projects in ASEAN
The World Bank has allocated $2.5 billion, while the Asian Development Bank has set aside $10 billion to support green projects in ASEAN, said Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
Southeast Asia - Tue, September 9, 2025 | 3:01 pm GMT+7
Central Vietnam province seeks investors for $42 mln wind power project
Vietnam’s central province of Quang Tri is seeking investors for the Hung Bac wind power project, with total investment estimated at VND1.1 trillion ($41.69 million), according to the provincial People’s Committee.
Energy - Tue, September 9, 2025 | 2:56 pm GMT+7
Vietnam's leading conglomerate Vingroup sues 68 entities, individuals for false information
Vingroup JSC (HoSE: VIC) on Monday reported to authorities, notified foreign embassies, and filed civil lawsuits against 68 organizations and individuals at home and abroad for spreading false information about the corporation online.
Companies - Tue, September 9, 2025 | 10:45 am GMT+7
Warburg Pincus unit, Masterise eye $739 mln expressway to Vietnam’s mega airport
A subsidiary of U.S. private equity firm Warburg Pincus and Vietnamese developer Masterise Group have separately proposed building an over VND19.52 trillion ($739 million) expressway connecting a major tourism area to the under-construction Long Thanh International Airport in the southern region.
Infrastructure - Tue, September 9, 2025 | 8:00 am GMT+7
Hoa Binh Construction wins $5 bln contract for mega urban project in southern Vietnam
Vietnam's leading contractor Hoa Binh Construction Group has secured a contract to build the first phase of a mega urban area project in Vietnam’s southern metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City.
Real Estate - Mon, September 8, 2025 | 9:22 pm GMT+7
Vietnam's monetary policy remains accommodative: WB
Vietnam's monetary policy has remained accommodative, as State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) interventions contained foreign exchange pressures and increased credit growth, the World Bank Group said in its country economic update.
Economy - Mon, September 8, 2025 | 7:46 pm GMT+7
Property, technology, energy among sectors recording highest M&A activity in Vietnam
Vietnam’s M&A landscape in July recorded 34 completed transactions with the total disclosed and estimated deal value of $786 million, according to Grant Thornton Vietnam.
Economy - Mon, September 8, 2025 | 3:49 pm GMT+7
Vietnam's Van Thinh Phat-tied firm incurs $14 mln loss in H1 as legal woes persist
Bong Sen Corp, the hotel and property arm of troubled Van Thinh Phat Group, posted a net loss of nearly VND356 billion ($14 million) in the first half of 2025, its filing to the Hanoi Stock Exchange (HNX) showed.
Companies - Mon, September 8, 2025 | 3:24 pm GMT+7
Airport-centric urbanization - Vietnam’s new growth engine
In the past, cities in Vietnam would build airports to meet growing transportation needs, but today, airports themselves are becoming the nucleus around which new urban areas emerge.
Real Estate - Mon, September 8, 2025 | 1:36 pm GMT+7
Vietnam’s 8.3-8.5% growth target for 2025 ‘appropriate’: policy advisory council
The Vietnamese government’s GDP growth target of 8.3-8.5% for 2025 and double-digit expansion for 2026-2030 is "appropriate" in the context of favorable macroeconomic conditions and structural reforms, according to the Prime Minister’s Policy Advisory Council.
Economy - Mon, September 8, 2025 | 1:03 pm GMT+7
