Vietnam's richest man wants to build 4-level mall under Ho Chi Minh City central park
Ho Chi Minh City is taking public comment on a plan to build a nearly 292,000 sq.m shopping and parking complex beneath September 23 Park, wired directly into Ben Thanh metro station at the city center.
Vietnam's wealthiest individual, Pham Nhat Vuong, aims to construct a four-story shopping mall beneath Ho Chi Minh City's central park, according to VinSpeed, a rail company under the Vingroup conglomerate. The sprawling project covers over 9.3 hectares, incorporating the park and Ben Thanh underground station. The first subzone would feature an underground complex of approximately four levels, comprising nearly 318,000 square meters of floor space, including retail, service, parking, and other amenities.
Parking would occupy around 147,000 square meters, while the remaining area would accommodate the station, offices, an operations center, and technical rooms. Shops, restaurants, entertainment venues, and public facilities would fill the mall's underground spaces, with skylights and greenery providing natural light and air circulation.
The second subzone, the existing Ben Thanh underground station, would continue as a standalone project. The park, situated in the heart of downtown Ho Chi Minh City, is adjacent to Ben Thanh Market, Quach Thi Trang Square, and two major thoroughfares. It also hosts Metro Line No. 1's Ben Thanh station, which opened in December 2024 and is slated as a key interchange for future urban rail lines.
The city had previously planned a 45,000 square meter underground shopping center on a nearby site, but the project fell through. The revised Ho Chi Minh City master plan, spanning 2040 to 2060, designates September 23 Park for commercial and parking spaces linked to urban rail stations and nearby structures. The city has authorized VinSpeed to develop a detailed 1:500 plan for the park site, which includes underground development.
VinSpeed, founded in May 2025, is currently constructing the Ben Thanh-Can Gio metro line, which began construction on December 19.
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