Center of Economic Activity
Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, is the historical center of business and commerce in Vietnam. Its deep-water port, relatively developed infrastructure, and abundance of both human and natural resources have helped HCMC power Vietnam's economic success. Today, its strategic location at the center of Asia's great business cities - Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore and Bangkok - makes Ho Chi Minh City the gateway to Southeast Asia.

Explosive Growth of HCMC
HCMC was originally designed to support a population of no more than 400,000 citizens. Today it is home to over 7 million residents. Even the most conservative studies project the population will grow to 10 million inhabitants by the early 21st century. The City's infrastructure cannot sustain the current rapid pace of development.

Challenges in of Doing Business in HCMC Without Saigon South

• Overtaxed Infrastructure - Transportation, water and electrical infrastructure are burdened by overpopulation.
• Joint Venture - Joint Venture partners usually only contribute land to the partnership, but have equal voice.
• Licensing - Lengthy, expensive and unclear application processes make it difficult to obtain a 100% foreign-owned license for property development.
• Hidden Costs - Delays in license approval and the slow resolution of resettlement claims result in lost time and substantial opportunity costs for investors.
• Financing - The transfer of assets and enforcement of contracts is difficult because of unclear land titles and insufficient legal structures.

The Vietnamese government has adopted the Saigon South Master Plan as its comprehensive vision for the future of HCMC. Its carefully planned and sustainable growth provides a means to deal with these pressing issues and to ensure a better quality of life for all of Saigon's inhabitants.