Vinhomes unveils mega urban area project near northern Vietnam’s world heritage bay

Vinhomes, the real estate arm of Vietnam’s conglomerate Vingroup, has debuted its 6,200-hectare urban area project located by the side of the UNESCO-recognized world natural heritage site of Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh province.

At an announcement ceremony last Saturday, Vinhomes Global Gate Ha Long was introduced as one of Vinhomes’s large-scale urban developments in the northeastern region of Vietnam.

The project, located in the wards of Tuan Chau, Ha An and Dong Mai, broke ground on December 19, 2025. Land clearance is set to be completed within the first quarter of 2026. According to the schedule, the first phase of sales (low-rise villas, townhouses, and shophouses) may begin handing over houses and basic infrastructure/landscaping from the end of 2026 to the beginning of 2027.

According to its development orientation, the project is not merely a residential area but is planned as a new city integrating diverse ecosystems of amenities, services, resorts, commerce, education, healthcare, and finance.

One of the highlights of Vinhomes Global Gate Ha Long is its connectivity along the Hanoi-Hai Phong-Quang Ninh Expressway Corridor. This is considered a key development axis linking major economic, tourism, industrial, and logistics centers in northern Vietnam.

Notably, the project is located opposite the depot station of the planned Hanoi-Quang Ninh high-speed railway. Once operational, travel time between Hanoi and Quang Ninh is expected to be reduced to about 23 minutes.

Early residents of Vinhomes Global Gate will have the privilege of using the Hanoi-Ha Long high-speed railway with a monthly pass priced at around VND5 million ($190), offering unlimited trips.

At the ceremony, Nguyen Thu Hang, CEO of Vinhomes, stated that the event marks an important milestone in the company’s journey to develop large-scale mega urban areas meeting international standards.

According to Hang, the project holds unique advantages due to its large scale and location within the Ha Long Bay area. This provides a foundation for forming a new urban model where residents can live in harmony with nature while maintaining fast connectivity to the capital and major economic centers.

Vinhomes Global Gate Ha Long is positioned as a “new Hanoi” by the World Heritage Bay, with ESG++ living standards. This positioning reflects a shift away from traditional urban cores toward areas with better natural conditions, lower density, and greater sustainability potential.

Amid increasing demand for green living spaces, integrated amenities, and clean environments, this urban model is expected to offer more options for residents seeking to live, work, and relax within the same space.

According to Vinhomes, the project is oriented to become the world’s first city meeting ISO 37125 standards - a new international benchmark for sustainable cities. On this foundation, Vinhomes Global Gate Ha Long aims to create a green ecosystem with clean air and balanced physical and mental well-being. This approach aligns with global sustainable urban development trends, where humans, nature, and technology coexist harmoniously.

The project features over 2,500 hectares of greenery, water surfaces, and mangrove forests, including 680 hectares of naturally filtered sea water, 200 kilometers of white sandy coastline, and more than 660 hectares of Globe Ha Long Forest Park. These landscape elements are planned to form a regenerative and sustainable green complex, creating a distinctive living environment compared to traditional urban areas.

In terms of residential products, Vinhomes Global Gate Ha Long comprises villas, townhouses, shophouses, and high-end apartments. The project is divided into key functional zones such as Paradise Bay, Festival Bay, Wonder Island, Green Energy Bay, Elite Green Island, and Sports Excellence Island.

Notably, it features an “island within a city” model, leveraging natural terrain with three small islands surrounded by the sea: New Horizon Island, Diamond Island, and Crystal Island.

Beyond housing, the project offers an “all-in-one” ecosystem of amenities, including a cultural and events system with a seaside outdoor stage accommodating over 60,000 people, the 3,000-seat Wonder Theatre, an 81-hectare VinWonders complex with an aquarium park, an international convention and exhibition center with over 4,500 seats, and an 18.5-hectare Vietnamese culture and cuisine village.

The project also includes luxury hotels and resorts, integrated casino systems within hotels, a complex of 12 golf courses spanning 950 hectares, an 800-hectare mangrove fishing park, and the Wonder Marina yacht harbor. These components aim to establish a premier destination for leisure, entertainment, and coastal lifestyle experiences in Ha Long.

The development features a 24/7 shopping, dining, and lifestyle ecosystem with branded outlet chains, Vincom Mega Mall, Vincom Collection commercial streets, and the VinBeauty complex. Additionally, there is a sports ecosystem featuring a 13.3-hectare Sports District, a professional sports academy, and over 50 kilometers of cycling paths.

In healthcare, the project features Vinmec Cleveland Clinic International Hospital, Vin New Horizon senior living center, Minh Triet Academy, and Golden Residence retirement villas. The education system is also comprehensively planned with the Vinschool inter-level school, an American international school, public and private schools, and the Wonder Young Hub youth development center.

According to Hang, Vinhomes Global Gate Ha Long reflects Vinhomes’s commitment to developing projects of lasting value and scale. She affirmed that with its unique positioning, strategic vision, and comprehensive ecosystem, the project will become a new symbol of Vietnamese urban development in the era of green and sustainable growth.

Resting on three core pillars - connectivity, regeneration, and excellence, Vinhomes Global Gate Ha Long is expected to gradually form a new urban hub by Ha Long Bay. “The project not only expands Quang Ninh’s development space but also contributes to shaping integrated urban trends, where economic growth is closely tied to quality of life, health, environment, and resident experience,” she noted.

Vinhomes is listed on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange as VHM, which closed Friday at VND141,200 ($5.36) per share.