Overview

Slated for completion in 2045, Saigon South is a 3,200-hectare expansion of Ho Chi Minh City intended to be the region’s primary solution to overcrowding in the coming century. Conceived in the mid-1990s by NQH, SOM, and Kenzo Tange Associates, the master plan envisions a necklace of residential neighborhoods, commercial centers, a complex for technological development and production, and a university campus, all connected by highway and light rail, along the entire southern border of Ho Chi Minh City.

Its initial phase, the Phu My Hung district in the east, is the first city center in Asia to be planned and built in complete accordance with international design standards. NQH finalized the master plan and facilitated its government approval before designing over half of its buildings. The district is a handsome adaptation of Ho Chi Minh City’s vibrant downtown: its arcaded storefronts and wide boulevards redraw the city’s essential fabric, and its meandering backstreets and green corridors lead to some of Vietnam’s most coveted residences.

Green Space

NQH’s belief in the symbiosis of ecological integrity and human prosperity has guided Phu My Hung’s creation from the beginning. Natural waterways weave uninterruptedly through the site, recirculating runoff and floodwater while affording countless venues for leisure and reflection; over 90% of Phu My Hung’s waterfront is preserved for public use. Zoning and circulation networks ensure complete walkability in all its neighborhoods, and its infrastructure, from permeable softscape to sophisticated interior cooling systems, draws from leading international techniques of green design. Carefully meshed with Ho Chi Minh City’s downtown on one side and a pristine network of canals on the other, Saigon South is a paradigm of thoughtful, sustainable design in Asia.

The Crescent

Situated in the heart of Phu My Hung, the Crescent Promenade is the social and commercial center of the area. A gentle curve of handsome offices and apartment buildings line Crescent Bay, framed by Crescent Mall to one side and Cham Charm restaurant to the other. Crescent  Mall, completed in December 2011, is Vietnam’s first international mall, and solidifies Phu My Hung as a premiere shopping destination in the region. The ground level of every building on the Promenade is reserved for shops and restaurants, beckoning passersby with spacious arcaded storefronts. Beyond Cham Charm, Starlight Bridge acts as a graceful portal to several scenic neighborhoods and parks.

By night, the Promenade glitters with light along the verdant pathway, and young people and families fill the area to dine, socialize, or simply enjoy the waterfront. Starlight Bridge is illuminated with thousands of LED lights embedded along the top and the sides, powered by solar energy captured during the day. The bridge becomes a fountain at dusk, with water cascading from the sides and gently echoing through the bay.