Ho Chi Minh City, 09 July 2026 – On the morning of 07 July, IMG Investment Joint Stock Company and MHL Investment Joint Stock Company officially broke ground on the Saigon LightHouse project at 448 Nguyen Tat Thanh Street, Xom Chieu Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, marking the project’s formal transition into the construction phase following years of preparation and completion of the necessary conditions for implementation.
Set along Nguyen Tat Thanh Boulevard, in the immediate vicinity of Nha Rong Wharf, the historic site from which the young Nguyen Tat Thanh departed on June 5, 1911 to begin his journey abroad in search of a path for national salvation. Saigon LightHouse stands in a place where urban memory and national history converge. In this sense, the project is envisioned not simply as a new real estate development, but as a contemporary landmark emerging from one of the most symbolic riverfront corridors in Ho Chi Minh City.
The groundbreaking takes place at a particularly meaningful moment for the city. In 2026, Ho Chi Minh City marks 50 years since Saigon-Gia Dinh was officially renamed after President Ho Chi Minh by the National Assembly on July 2, 1976, a milestone commemorated through citywide ceremonies, cultural programmes and infrastructure activities that reflect both remembrance and ambition.
The ceremony welcomed leaders from central agencies, Ho Chi Minh City authorities, representatives of departments and sectors, financial institutions, consultants, contractors, and domestic and international partners, underscoring the significance of the project within the city’s current development landscape. More than a ceremonial beginning, the event affirmed the investors’ commitment to delivering the project with clear priorities in quality, progress, safety and regulatory compliance throughout the implementation process.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Le Tu Minh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of IMG Investment Joint Stock Company, described the groundbreaking as an important milestone in IMG’s development journey and a reflection of its long-term commitment to creating enduring value through strategic investment. Public company information indicates that IMG has built its footprint across real estate and broader investment activities, while continuing to position itself for long-term growth through integrated business development and expansion into adjacent sectors.
Developed on one of Ho Chi Minh City’s important connector axes, Saigon LightHouse benefits from direct access to the central area, the riverfront urban corridor and surrounding districts undergoing continued infrastructure improvement and urban transformation. According to the project’s stated orientation, the development is designed to prioritise practical value, connectivity and harmony with the broader urban landscape, contributing a new architectural presence to Nguyen Tat Thanh Boulevard.
From a design perspective, Saigon LightHouse is being shaped around the ambition of establishing a distinctive architectural identity through façade treatment, lighting strategies and the thoughtful organisation of space. The project’s name evokes more than a visual landmark; it suggests direction, connection and confidence – the qualities that resonate strongly in a location defined by both historical departure and modern-day renewal.
Alongside its cultural and historical significance, Saigon LightHouse also reflects the economic momentum of a city entering its next chapter of growth. Over the past five decades, Ho Chi Minh City has evolved into Vietnam’s largest economic, financial, commercial, scientific and technological centre, while continuing to play a leading role in innovation and international integration. Within that broader context, the commencement of Saigon LightHouse signals investor confidence in the long-term potential of Nguyen Tat Thanh Boulevard and in the continued repositioning of riverfront urban space as a driver of value, connectivity and quality of life.
IMG and MHL have stated that the project will be implemented with a sustainable development orientation, prioritising operational efficiency, responsible resource use and the gradual application of appropriate technical standards in both construction and future operations. This approach aligns with a broader investment philosophy that seeks not only to deliver physical assets, but to create long-term value for communities, markets and the evolving urban fabric of the city.
As part of the event, IMG and MHL also announced cooperation with partners across finance, consultancy, design and construction, while acknowledging the presence of more than 40 strategic distribution partners nationwide. This expanding network is expected to play an important role in bringing the project to market effectively, broadening customer reach and reinforcing confidence in Saigon LightHouse from the very beginning of its construction journey.
Launched in the year that Ho Chi Minh City reflects on the 50-year journey of bearing the name of President Ho Chi Minh and rising beside the historic wharf where a defining national journey once began, Saigon LightHouse carries meaning beyond that of a new building. It represents a meeting point between memory and modernity, between cultural inheritance and economic aspiration, and between the enduring spirit of Ho Chi Minh City and the vision of enterprises seeking to help shape its next era of development.
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