Thu Thiem Eco Smart City is one of the major riverside developments of District 2 in Ho Chi Minh City. With its prime location opposite District 1, this project is set to become a prominent landmark of the Saigon River waterfront.
The project is being developed by the Lotte Group from South Korea, and originally the title of the project was Lotte Eco Smart City.
Like the other projects on the Thu Thiem riverfront though, this project has been mired in delays and controversies. Initially proposed in 2007, work has yet to start at the end of 2019.
One of the major causes of the delay has been to do with land clearance of the proposed development area. While most of the former Thu Thiem village has been cleared, the government could not come to an agreement with the Thu Thiem Parish Church. The church compound sits on the riverfront section of the plots designated for the Lotte development area.
[Thu Thiem Church and the Empire City site under construction.]
After nearly a decade of deadlock the government decided that the church would stay. With this news, Lotte’s previous plan had to be redrawn. The land allocated to Lotte was reduced from 10 lots down to 6, with the 4 reduced lots being the riverfront land.
Delays were further compounded by confusion over the planning map of Thu Thiem, which had apparently gone missing.
As for the name, there are few details yet as to why this is an “eco” and “smart” city. We shall wait for more information from Lotte when the buildings are formally announced.
Official Websites
Lotte Construction Management Division
Thu Thiem Eco Smart City Location
[Map of Thu Thiem Eco Smart City.]
Address: 2-5 Dai Lo Vong Cung, Thu Thiem, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City.
Transport and pedestrian access
Thu Thiem Eco Smart City will be the site of a metro station for the future Line 2 extension from Ben Thanh to Thu Thiem Central Station. The northern boundary of the site is the Thu Thiem Square, where a new pedestrian bridge will connect District 1. This central location will make it one of the most sought after addresses in the city.
News Archive
2020
Go-ahead given for Lotte eco-smart city – [29/07/20]
“The green light has been given for the continuation of a $900-million eco-smart city invested by a consortium of Lotte Group affiliates, which had been delayed for more than three years.”
2019
HCMC church recognized as historic relic – [29/12/19]
“Ho Chi Minh City authorities have conferred the status of historic relic on the Congregation of the Holy Cross Lovers and Thu Thiem Church in District 2.”
Ho Chi Minh City green-lights Lotte Eco-smart City – [16/09/19]
Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee will propose Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc to permit Korea’s Lotte Group to continue its Eco-smart City located in Thu Thiem New Urban Area.
In 2018, Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee asked for the PM’s permission to scale down Lotte’s Eco-smart City from 10 to six land plots, citing difficulties in site clearance and compensation as grounds.
2018
[An earlier version of the final design of Thu Thiem Eco Smart City.]
Lotte promises best places to live in Viet Nam – [05/12/18]
“The smart city projects will improve people’s living standards by providing them with access to spearhead technologies including Internet of Things (IoT), open platforms, cloud computing and environmental friendliness”.
Sisters in Vietnam refuse government order to turn over convent lands – [04/06/18]
Korea’s Lotte to build $884mn complex in Ho Chi Minh City this year – [18/04/18]
– “Lotte wants to construct an iconic tower in the Thu Thiem New Urban Area, the CEO asserted, adding that the smart complex would boast a modern design and function with smart and cutting-edge technology.”
– “The construction will take approximately 72 months to complete.” – 6 years.
2017
[A version of Lotte Eco Smart City with 10 lots.]
Lotte to develop $885mn smart city in Saigon – [26/07/17]
Lotte signs contract to build $884 million Eco-Smart City – [26/07/17]
“The 74,000-square metre site will incorporate a shopping mall, offices, hotels, serviced residences, and apartments. The 11 residential towers, 15-40 storeys each, covering 50,000sq.m, will be built first.”
2015
$2bn Thu Thiem Eco Smart City set to break ground this year – [08/07/15]
Lotte, Japanese partners to develop $2bn Eco Smart City in Vietnam – [05/03/15]
2009
Diocese will move neither the church, nor the sisters of Thu Thiem – [18/08/09]
2007
Lotte Group lifts curtain on $2bn development – [13/11/07]
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