The government of Ho Chi Minh City has chosen US architect Sasaki and enCity, an urban planner with offices in Vietnam and Singapore, to develop plans to build "Highly Interactive Innovative Districts".
The two firms, which were chosen from a shortlist of six, will work on ideas for "innovation hotspots" to be located the city’s east, including its second, ninth and Thu Duc districts. These are:
- The Thu Thiem FinTech Hub, which will host financial services companies.
- The Rach Chiec Sports and Wellness Hub, a sports district that will also have facilities for sports medicine and biosciences.
- The Saigon Hi-Tech Park and Automated Manufacturing Hub, which will promote innovative production and design.
- The National University IT & EduTech Hub, hosting a cluster of educational institutions near the Vietnam National University.
- The Tam Da EcoTech Hub, a riverfront development dedicated to culinary and agro-tech industries.
- The Truong Tho Future Hub, focusing on the renovation of a disused port into a smart city demonstration project.
Romil Sheth, Sasaki’s principal, said: "Ho Chi Minh City has the potential to expand upon the traditional triple helix model of an innovation district’s structure, involving academia, government, and industry, to more directly involve communities and society at the core of its innovation activities while ensuring long-term ecological and environmental resilience."
Dzung Do Nguyen, enCity’s managing director, said: "The potential of Ho Chi Minh City lies on its long history of innovation and inclusivity, its young and creative workforce, and its growth-supportive urban structure.
"Our approach aims to cultivate these unique strengths while planning for the region’s long-term adaptability and resiliency."
Sasaki and enCity will work with Ho Chi Minh City’s Department of Planning and Architecture and other stakeholders on the projects.
Images courtesy of Sasaki and enCity
