Vietnam's "Gold Coast" Emerges as Extraordinary Investment Frontier and Australian Inspired Way of Life
- Written by: The Times
$2 Billion super-city in Vung Tau set to replicate Australia's Gold Coast success story
A culturally metamorphic development aptly named "Gold Coast" is set to reshape Vietnam's southern coast below Ho Chi Minh City, becoming a major investment opportunity with returns that could mirror the remarkable growth trajectory of Queensland's iconic City of Gold Coast.
The $2 billion master-planned community in Vung Tau will eventually house over 200,000 residents and is set to become one of Southeast Asia's most significant lifestyle developments - deliberately modelled after Australia's own Gold Coast.
Ms Xuan Pham, Chief Commercial Officer for Gold Coast, Vung Tau, says the Australian connection is more than just nominal.
"We've studied the evolution of Australia's Gold Coast over its 70-year transformation from quiet coastal town to renowned global city," said Ms Xuan Pham. "Our vision is to create a similar pathway for Vietnamese families and international investors, offering a beachside lifestyle with city access that has made Australia's Gold Coast so successful – whilst of course adapting it to Vietnamese culture and way of life."
The Gold Coast Vung Tau development comes as Vietnam experiences an unprecedented expansion of its middle class, who are increasingly seeking first-world living standards, amenities, and lifestyle-focused communities. It’s construction significantly coincides with the merging of three Vietnam provinces:
• Ho Chi Minh City: Vietnam’s financial city with 13 millions residents
• Ba Ria – Vung Tau: An International logistic and terminal port city with 1.7 millions residents
• Binh Duong: An industrial park city with 3.3 millions residents
Once merged, Gold Coast Vung Tau will be central to a mega city of 18 million residents, responsible for 40% of Vietnam’s GDP – emerging as the economic hub of Southeast Asia.
The development hopes to appeal to international investors with the potential for exponential returns comparable to those achieved by early investors in Australia's Gold Coast during the 1970s. In 1975, the median house price in Surfers Paradise was approximately $17,500. By 2023, similar properties commanded prices exceeding $1.7 million—representing a staggering 9,600% increase over the 48-year period.
"What took Australia's Gold Coast seven decades to achieve, we believe can be accelerated here given Vietnam's robust economic growth rate and the lessons we've learned from studying successful coastal developments worldwide, particularly Queensland’s Gold Coast," added Ms Xuan Pham.
The project's location—south of Ho Chi Minh City with proximity to pristine beaches and more than 300 hectares of waterways—mirrors the geographical relationship between Brisbane and Australia's Gold Coast, a parallel that developers hope will attract Australian investment and expertise. As part of the project, a motorway is being constructed which is set to reduce the commute between Gold Coast, Vung Tau and Ho Chi Minh to 45 minutes. A new International Airport is also set to open in Long Thanh Commune, Dong Nai Province by January 2026, making the location even more relevant for international travellers.
"For investors who understand the value of coastal development but find themselves priced out of mature markets at home, Vung Tau represents an opportunity to invest during the early stages of what could become Southeast Asia's premier coastal destination," said Ms Xuan Pham.
Construction has begun on the initial phases of the development, with Australian design firms and consultants playing pivotal roles in master planning. The city is predicted to take 8 years to build, and will include a mix of residences, schools, universities, commercial centres, theme parks, greenspace and parkland.
