UOA expands Vietnam footprint through $68 mln land acquisition in HCMC

By Hai Yen
Sat, September 27, 2025 | 3:44 pm GMT+7

United Overseas Australia (UOA), listed on the Australian Securities Exchange and Singapore Exchange, has acquired a prime land lot in Ho Chi Minh City for $68 million as part of its expansion strategy in Vietnam.

The transaction was completed through the full acquisition of VIAS Hong Ngoc Bao JSC, as announced in a company release on Friday.

Illustration of the upcoming Grade-A office tower developed by UOA in Ho Chi Minh City, southern Vietnam. Photo courtesy of the firm.

Illustration of the upcoming Grade-A office tower developed by UOA in Ho Chi Minh City, southern Vietnam. Photo courtesy of the firm.

UOA plans to invest $120 million to develop the 2,000-sqm commercial land into a sustainable Grade-A office building, with a gross floor area (GFA) of 20,000 sqm.

Construction is scheduled to begin in Q4/2025 and is expected to be completed in Q2/2028.

The site is situated in District 1, which is condensed with Grade-A and Grade-B office towers that have attracted many multinational corporations, financial institutions, and leading domestic companies.

The acquisition will expand UOA’s Vietnam office portfolio to three properties, totaling nearly 120,000 sqm of GFA, including the Grade-A UOA Tower and Millennial Tower, both located in HCMC’s Phu My Hung area.

“Our expansion in fast-growing Vietnam capitalizes on its government-led transition to a global financial hub, with heavy state investment in high-tech sectors and infrastructure,” said Dickson Kong, head of investment at UOA.

UOA is actively exploring residential development opportunities in Vietnam, Kong said. In March 2024, UOA entered into a joint venture with CapitaLand Development, the development arm of CapitaLand Group, to develop the 3,500-unit Sycamore residential project in HCMC.

Comments (0)
  • Read More
Malaysia forecasts 4.3-4.7% economic growth in 2026

Malaysia forecasts 4.3-4.7% economic growth in 2026

Malaysia’s economy is expected to maintain steady growth in 2026 despite persistent global uncertainties, according to economic experts.

Southeast Asia - Tue, December 2, 2025 | 9:59 pm GMT+7

Vietnam drafts rules to upgrade professional standards for securities practitioners

Vietnam drafts rules to upgrade professional standards for securities practitioners

Vietnam’s securities regulator has proposed amendments to licensing rules aimed at improving the quality and oversight of market professionals, including shifting from paper-based to electronic practising certificates and recognizing certain international qualifications.

Finance - Tue, December 2, 2025 | 8:57 pm GMT+7

EVF General Finance JSC labor union holds congress, sets priorities for 2025-2030 term

EVF General Finance JSC labor union holds congress, sets priorities for 2025-2030 term

The labor union of EVF General Finance Joint Stock Company (EVF) recently held its sixth congress for the 2025-2030 term, outlining key tasks to strengthen worker representation and support the company’s development.

Companies - Tue, December 2, 2025 | 8:15 pm GMT+7

Hoa Phat Agriculture to maintain annual cash dividends after listing

Hoa Phat Agriculture to maintain annual cash dividends after listing

Hoa Phat Group said its agriculture arm will continue paying annual cash dividends after listing, as its investment needs through 2030 amount to only about VND1.5 trillion ($56.87 million), funded by IPO proceeds and depreciation, leaving room to distribute profits to shareholders.

Companies - Tue, December 2, 2025 | 5:41 pm GMT+7

Elon Musk company close to securing pilot licence for Starlink satellite internet services in Vietnam: official

Elon Musk company close to securing pilot licence for Starlink satellite internet services in Vietnam: official

The U.S.'s SpaceX is preparing to resubmit its application for a pilot licence to provide Starlink satellite internet services in Vietnam, after addressing several issues raised by regulators.

Industries - Tue, December 2, 2025 | 4:44 pm GMT+7

Central Vietnam province Ha Tinh seeks investors for $664 mln wind power project

Central Vietnam province Ha Tinh seeks investors for $664 mln wind power project

Ha Tinh province authorities have begun seeking investors for the 400MW Ky Anh wind power plant, the largest of its kind in north-central Vietnam, according to their announcement.

Energy - Tue, December 2, 2025 | 3:08 pm GMT+7

Growth recorded in Vietnam's manufacturing sector despite severe typhoons, floods

Growth recorded in Vietnam's manufacturing sector despite severe typhoons, floods

Output, new orders, and employment all continued to rise in November, despite reports of disruption caused by severe typhoons which impacted supply chains and the ability of manufacturers to complete work on time, according to S&P Global.

Economy - Tue, December 2, 2025 | 11:42 am GMT+7

Vietnam's multi-sector group Thaco to sell bananas to Fresh Del Monte under 10-year deal

Vietnam's multi-sector group Thaco to sell bananas to Fresh Del Monte under 10-year deal

Truong Hai Group (Thaco), a leading private conglomerate in Vietnam, will supply Fresh Del Monte, a leading global fruit and vegetable producer and distributor based in the U.S., with bananas under a 10-year contract, beginning with 71,500 tons this year.

Companies - Tue, December 2, 2025 | 8:30 am GMT+7

Malaysia’s e-commerce revenue rises sharply

Malaysia’s e-commerce revenue rises sharply

Malaysia’s e-commerce revenue for the first nine months of 2025 totalled MYR937.5 billion ($226.8 billion), up 1.9% compared to the same period in 2024, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).

Southeast Asia - Mon, December 1, 2025 | 10:31 pm GMT+7

Vietnam’s benchmark VN-Index climbs above 1,700 points

Vietnam’s benchmark VN-Index climbs above 1,700 points

VN-Index, which represents the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE), rose past the 1,700-point mark in the first trading session of December, supported mainly by gains in VIC (Vingroup), VPL (Vinpearl), and VHM (Vinhomes).

Finance - Mon, December 1, 2025 | 5:13 pm GMT+7

Samsung Vietnam appoints its first Vietnamese senior executive

Samsung Vietnam appoints its first Vietnamese senior executive

Samsung Vietnam has appointed Nguyen Hoang Giang as vice president of Samsung Electronics Vietnam Thai Nguyen (SEVT), marking the first time a local national has been named to such a senior leadership position at a manufacturing unit of the company in Vietnam.

Companies - Mon, December 1, 2025 | 4:30 pm GMT+7

Vietnam to apply Euro 1 emission standards to pre-1999 cars from next March

Vietnam to apply Euro 1 emission standards to pre-1999 cars from next March

Vehicles manufactured before 1999 in Vietnam must meet Level 1 emissions standards (equivalent to Euro 1) from March 1, 2026, according to a new government decision.

Economy - Mon, December 1, 2025 | 2:55 pm GMT+7

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

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.

Industries - Mon, December 1, 2025 | 1:46 pm GMT+7

EV makers in Vietnam likely to be exempted from battery collection, recycling requirements

EV makers in Vietnam likely to be exempted from battery collection, recycling requirements

Manufacturers of electric vehicle batteries in Vietnam are likely to be exempted from collection and recycling responsibilities, as producers currently do not have battery waste to recycle.

Economy - Mon, December 1, 2025 | 10:14 am GMT+7

Confidence in a new cycle for Vietnam’s stock market

Confidence in a new cycle for Vietnam’s stock market

Financial expert Huynh Hoang Phuong believes that Vietnam’s market status upgrade from "frontier" to "second emerging", set to be effective from September 2026, will provide an important foundation for the stock market to enter a new development cycle - one filled with many opportunities but also challenges.

Finance - Mon, December 1, 2025 | 6:59 am GMT+7

Malaysia leads Southeast Asia’s digital economic growth

Malaysia leads Southeast Asia’s digital economic growth

Malaysia is now the fastest-growing digital economy in Southeast Asia with a year-on-year increase of 19%, and on track to reach $39 billion in gross merchandise value (GMV) this year, according to the 10th edition of the e-Conomy SEA Report 2025.

Southeast Asia - Sun, November 30, 2025 | 4:19 pm GMT+7